As mentioned in the previous post, henna recipes are precious to the artists who create them. If you become friends with your local henna artist, she might share a special recipe with you. We are going to keep it pretty basic. Remember, though, that one of the best things about working with henna is that you have creative license. Feel free to experiment with essential oils and spices and whatever cool ingredients you find on the shelves of the store. Just be careful of synthetic ingredients.

The first time you make a batch of paste, expect to make mistakes. It might take a while to get the right ratio of henna to water. Keep tying, be patient, and have fun! Give your work your full attention. Do not watch television or talk on the phone as you make mehndi. Make sure that you have ample room, and spread newspapers out before you begin. The work can get messy. Put on your rubber gloves if you do not want your hands to stain. Wear old clothes that you do not really care about.

The simplest recipe calls for just henna and hot water. Do not boil the water; just make sure that it is very hot. You can also mix the henna powder with pure lemon juice. This is an African henna recipe. Roome suggests leaving the lemons in the sun for twelve hours before mixing. This is one recipe using half a cup of henna:

• Boil half a cup of dark tea leaves in four cups of water. Keep boiling until half the water is gone.
• Add cloves, dried limes or lemons, or even instant coffee to the brew. (This is optional.)
• Cover the pot and let it simmer for a while. Let it cool overnight.
• When you are ready to make your paste, pour the tea water into a bowl, being careful not to let the solid matter at the bottom of the pot pour out. First squeeze out any large particles with your hands, and then pour the mixture through a fine strainer.
• Add the juice of one lemon, straining out the seeds and pulp.
• Put your henna powder in a separate bowl, and have two plastic spoons ready.
• Use one spoon to add the powder to the brew while stirring the mixture with the other hand.
• When the consistency feels like cake frosting, stir out all the lumps and air pockets. (Don’t eat the mix)
• Add two teaspoons of eucalyptus oil to the mixture and stir again.
• Test the thickness by holding a spoon of the mixture above the bowl. It should drip slowly like molasses. It should be like a thick lotion or warm hot fudge, according to Roome.
• The henna should sit in a warm place for two hours. Stir it often or cover it with plastic wrap. If it gets runny, you will have to add more powder. It will stay for about two days. Do not refrigerate it. Make sure it is stored safely away from babies and pets.

Now you are ready to paint! The batch will yield enough paste to do one elaborate pair of hands or feet, or about twenty simple bracelets. Heat helps the designs take. Carefully hold the painted part of the body near a heat source, like a candle flame. This is more difficult for larger areas of the body.