Quote:
Originally Posted by jenc
When we had our hands done by Saharan refugees we were hosting we had to prepare the skin with oil (can't remember which one, but don't know it it is important which one). then after applying they covered it with a thick paste of I think sugar and water. Once this had dried we had to cover hand with plastic bag overnight and wash off next day. The sugar paste and the plastic bag were to protect henna so it would stay on skin longer and be darker.
Forget to say it was normal henna.
|
I've studied mendhi (henna) privately for a while and its common practise to use an oil to prepare the skin before applying the henna paste I just use a brought specially made henna oil and most henna designs should be covered and wrapped in a plastic bag over night as both procedures produce a darker colour/tint for longer. I think its just as mendhi became popular and people have started using it without fully being aware of all the procedures involved that these additional routines have been forgetten yet recipes and information can be found easily with a little research.
I'm also quite surprised how little is truly known about mendhi, I take pictures of my designs while they are drying and therefore still black because it shows up better on camera, other artists tend to do the same, and I think this confuses the matter because most people approach me expecting the designs to stay black.
Black henna therefore tends to fall into the hands of people who are trying it for the first time or uncaring practioners motivated by consumer demands; people just look for henna in shops and prefer the tube pastes to making ther own (which can be a lot cheaper). I also, like any make-up artist, perform a patch test as some people can find the application a little itchy on their skin although with pure henna major allergic reactions are rare.
Sita