The auspicious results of having a darker coloured mehndi pattern means that brides will go to considerable lengths to ensure the longevity and depth of the colour, not least because it means a holiday from housework for as long as the henna lasts!
For a deeper and longer lasting bridal mehndi follow the tips below:
- Use good quality henna, which will be naturally darker
- Have a bath or shower just before and don’t apply any oils or lotions on the skin
- Wear suitable clothes and shoes so that the design will not smudge or rub off. Wearing flip flop sandals and loose clothing can make things easier
- Schedule your mehndi 2‐3 days prior to the wedding to allow the colour to deepen
- Keep warm as the natural dye in henna requires warmth to be activated ‐ sit in the sun or by a heater
- After the henna is dry apply a sealant made with sugar and lemon; the sugar helps the pattern stick and the lemon helps to reactivate the henna
- The area is then carefully wrapped with tissue or gauze and finally covered with a plastic wrap, which keeps everything in place and helps generate humidity, which further enhances the staining power of the henna
- After 6 hours the paste is gently scraped off with a spoon
- Avoid getting water on it for 12 hours ‐ if you shower, coat the design with a vegetable based oil and wear gloves if you have to do the washing up
- Finally, you can further extend the life of your henna design by applying pure cocoa butter, shea butter or any balm with beeswax in it
