If you want to, you can find a thousand variations for henna recipes. Some have beautiful stories surrounding them (a memory of Grandmother stirring cloves and spices together with tea over an open fire) and others sound just crazy enough to work (mix 1 part coffee with 1 part camel urine). We promise, with quality ingredients and a little patience you will get excellent results every time with the Henna Caravan KISS recipe.
What's the KISS Recipe, you ask? Keep It Simple, Sister! You just need four ingredients, starting with premium quality fresh henna powder. Add an essential oil high in monoterpene alcohols, some sugar to balance the consistency, and lemon juice to keep the paste stable, and you're nearly there. This is the only henna recipe you'll need for reliable, consistent results time after time.
How to mix a small batch of henna paste with
Henna Caravan 20 gram henna+sucrose packet
KISS Recipe, begin mixing 24 hours before you plan to use the henna. It takes about 24 hours to prepare the henna paste for application.
Yields approximately 3 ounces henna paste
Creates approximately 75 small designs
Fills 3-6 cones depending on their size
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- 1 Packet of Henna Caravan 20 gram henna + sugar
- 1 vial Henna Caravan essential oil for 'terping' henna, 1.5 dram
- Lemon Juice, strained. Fresh or bottled.
- Measuring cup & spoons
- small bowl
- spoon/spatula
- plastic wrap
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- Open the 20 gram packet of henna+sugar
- Pour into a small bowl or mix in the zip lock baggie
- Add lemon juice till consistency is like mashed potatoes (usually it's less than 1/4 cup, start with 1.5 Tablespoons and add more slowly)
- 1 Vial Henna Caravan Essential Oil Blend (1.5 drams)
You can mix all ingredients together at once.
Just dump, pour, mix!
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Mix it up
- Stir
- Stir
- Stir until most of the lumps are smoothed out and the liquid is fully incorporated
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Wrap it up
- Cover the surface of the henna paste with saran wrap (or a plastic bag) and gently press down so it's touching the surface and there's no air contact
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Keep it warm for 24 hours
- Let the covered henna paste rest in a warm location for 24 hours (about 75 degrees Fahrenheit).
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It’s always best if you use a thermometer to monitor temperature. You don’t want to ‘cook’ your henna and ruin it. Digital Candy thermometers work great.
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Check consistency
When 24 hours has passed, take off the plastic wrap and give it a good stir
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To adjust your consistency:
- To thin the paste add 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice at a time until your desired consistency is reached.
- To thicken the paste add a pinch of henna powder.
At HC we like a henna paste that 'ribbons' or flows off the spoon. Some like it thinner, some like it thicker.
Fill applicators and go draw!
- Fill your applicator cone or bottles now
- Go draw beautiful designs!
- Store leftover paste in the freezer for 6-12 months.
- Defrost at room temperature, about 20 minutes.
- Only defrost the amount you’ll use that day. Multiple freeze and thaws will compromise the stain quality.
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