What is the Henna made from?

At Dimpsi Mehndi, the henna paste is always freshly made a few days before your event. Ingredients used are fresh crop Henna powder (comes from the leaf of the henna plant name Lawsonia Inermis). THe leafs are then picked and dried, and grounded to a fine powder as possible. The powder is then sifted through a cloth 3-5 times. The powder is purchased and then mixed with Water, lemon juice, sugar and either eucalyptus oil or lavender oil.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I leave it on for after the Mehndi design has been applied?

Once it is applied, you want to wait for 20-30 minutes for the design to dry (this is where you need to be a bit careful not to hit your hand anywhere and to keep your hand flat with minim movement), and you will see that it will not be as wet and shiny as the water will evaporate, and the henna paste will be firmer. You then leave it on for a minimum of 2 hours, however up to 8 hours is recommended for optimal stain color and for it to last for up to two weeks before it fades gradually. It is a very beautiful process to watch as the color deepens from an orange stain to burgundy reddish brown.

Will this stain my clothes?

Yes! If you have just had henna paste applied and you let it touch your clothes or someone elses, it will stain. Immediately wash the area, and use baking soda and lemon juice mixture to try and scrub it off immediately, or an antiseptic alcohol to lessen the stain on clothing.

How long will the stain last?

Following proper care instructions as outlined above, by leaving it on for minimum 2 hours and up to 8 hours for best results, it lasts two weeks before it starts to fade. There are however factors to the stain not being at its best. The stain result is not guaranteed based just on the henna itself. There have been a couple of cases where if the persons hand has been wet or sweaty or has product on it, the henna paste will not be absorbed fully into the skin and can cause a light stain. Recent research has also indicated that over consumption of alcohol can lessen the color of the stain, also certain hormonal disruptions, and supplements can affect it too.

How should a bride prepare for her Bridal Mehndi?

Firstly, removing the hair from the arms will ensure a neat design and deeper absorption of the henna paste to create a dark stain. If you are waxing it off, it is better to do that at least 2-3 days before so that any redness or bumps can settle down prior to application. Hands and arms must thoroughly be washed and dried without any other lotions applied. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to excess perspiring and may not allow the henna to stain that well, therefore it is important to stay hydrated and minimize alcohol consumption for 3 three days leading up to the henna application.