For millennia, henna or mehndi has been in use to tint the skin, hair, etc. It has been a part of Hindu and Islamic cultures. It is utilized for art in Arabia, ancient Persia, Mesopotamia (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey), Tunisia, Africa, and India. Wedding ceremonies include henna or mehndi, which is believed to bring wealth to couples. The deeper the mark, the stronger the link, it is thought.
The mehndi ceremony is an essential element of the Indian Wedding ceremony’s heritage and customs. Mehendi is antimicrobial in function and is thought to bestow fortune and wealth to those who wear it. It not only wraps up the wedding look – the’solah shringaar’ – but also being a popular topic of conversation at all wedding gatherings in India.
For celebrations of festivals and special events, all girls and women desire the ideal, beautiful and flawless Mehendi to embellish their hands, and it aches whenever the perfect shade of mehndi isn’t reached or whether the pigment washes off too quickly. If you want to understand how to make your mehndi dark and long-lasting, this article will show you how.
12 Ways to Make Your Mehndi Darker & Long Lasting
To make the mehndi darker and to keep them remain longer, follow these instructions. Until you get your hands painted with Mehendi, check for these recommendations and implement them to ensure that you obtain that deep shade onto your hands.
1. Use Chemical Free Henna
The natural henna, which has not been processed much and has no added chemicals, delivers more colour. This will also save your hands and legs from harmful chemicals that may cause reactions on your skin.
2. Wash your hands and legs
Washing your hands and legs is a prerequisite as it ensures the removal of any dirt or oil that may hinder the absorption of henna onto your skin. Less absorption of henna on your skin will not help with dark and long-lasting mehndi.
3. Use Heat
The application of heat to the mehndi can help to darken it. Heat the henna on your hands with the help of a blow dryer. Nevertheless, maintain a respectable distance from the dryer and minimize exposure your skin to heat for such an extended period.
4. Add Spices to the henna mixture.
Henna takes on a darker hue when powdered chili and mustard oil are added to the mixture. However, watch the quantity of chili powder you use because too much will blister the skin on your hands and legs. Henna should be mixed with over a teaspoonful of chili powder and a spoonful or so of mustard oil.
5. Use Essential Oils
Henna can indeed be darkened by incorporating some essential oils such as lemon, eucalyptus, or clove. As to darkening henna, combine Mahalabiya oil (an essential oil with such a pine oil base). Monoterpenes, a class of alcohols, which is commonly found in some of the essential oils, are commonly responsible to darken henna.
6. Lemon and Sugar concoction
This is a very old, traditional natural cure for darkening mehendi’s shade. This approach is common because it prevents your hardened mehndi from flaking; the sugar maintains the mehndi in contact with the skin for much longer, and the lime juice acts as a catalyst for the dye to be released and deeper colour. All you should do is heat some sugar in regular water and let it cool. Transfer the liquid into a mixing basin and add an appropriate proportion of lime juice, stirring well to achieve a sticky syrup-like texture. Apply the concoction to the mehndi using a cotton pad. Apply the paste once your Mehendi gets hardened.
7. Darken Mehndi with Clove Fumes
It’s the most wonderful technique for darkening the hue of your mehndi. Warm a few bulbs of clove in an iron pan then put your hand well over vapors created by the cloves upon applying 1-2 layers of lemon and sugar concoction. Try it 5–6 rounds on both sides of your hands. Make sure to keep your hands at a comfortable distance from the pan to avoid burning your hands.
The vapours from the cloves assist to lock in the pigment and provide a long-lasting pattern, therefore this cure is often employed. When attempting out such a procedure, be careful not to damage your skin or melt the henna.
8. Balms
Balms have long been regarded as a go-to solution for Mehendi darkening. After you’ve left the mehndi on for several hours, gently scrape off the hardened mehndi with a dull scalpel until everything has gone. After you’ve wiped all of the dried mehndi off your hands, massage either Vicks Vapour Rub or Tiger Balm into them. Vicks or tiger balm contain menthol, which helps in darkening the Mehendi hue.
9. Vaseline for Protection
Before taking a bath, apply Vaseline to the design area that is, hands and legs. The mehndi tint fades easily with the wash, detergent, shampooing, and also chlorine. Vaseline creates a thin film onto your skin that forms a protective layer for the mehndi stain.
When your mehndi oxidizes throughout the day, you may notice that takes on a darker colour. It takes between 24 – 48 hours for organic mehndi to attain its deepest pitch.
10. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is commonly used by women to deepen their henna designs. It protects the Mehendi from oxidation by sealing the application area and preventing dampness penetration. This allows the colour to stand out and last longer.
11. Coffee and Beetroot
Coffee has a dark brownish hue to it by nature. Coffee can indeed be added to the henna mixture to make it darker.
Beet juice is often used in cosmetic products as a natural dye. It stains a rich dark red colour. To improve the hue of mehndi, you can definitely add beetroot juice or its powdered form.
12. Wrap it Up
When you wrap up the design, you’ll have a richer, darker shade. While you still can wrap it individually, that’s always a good idea to employ the services of the artist to avoid ruining the artwork. You could also use medical tape.
Before Putting Mehndi (Henna) there are a 7 things you need to do.
- Always wash your hands and legs properly, with soap and water before the mehndi application.
- Avoid putting lotions, oils, or moisturizers on your hands or legs will function as a barrier preventing Mehendi from being absorbed into your skin.
- Waxing and mani-pedi appointments are recommended to be done beforehand.
- Before you settle down for Mehdi, ensure you have things the Mehendi designer will need (scrap paper, water, rags, scissors, and so forth).
- Prepare anything you’ll want for yourself during the course of the mehndi application.
- Dress in loose, comfy clothing and tie up your hair neatly.
- To get rid of dangerous chemicals and guarantee that your hands and legs are greased sufficiently to draw the delicate mehndi patterns, apply only a few drops of high-quality Eucalyptus Oil to your hands and legs, and rub them together.
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Conclusion
Mehendi patterns on the forearms, palms and feet are detailed and black, and they can improve your entire appearance. While the purity of the mehndi is essential for a good colour impact, you should also follow the above steps to boost the hue and durability. We are confident that you would not be dissatisfied with the outcomes if you use these ideas and strategies.
