How I dye my nails with henna
Henna is a natural and non toxic alternative to nail polish. It can give anything from a light orange to deep red color. It will remain until it grows away.
Mixing the henna
- I use a little glass jar with a tight lid, to mix and store my henna in. I fill it to around 4/5 to full.
- Sugar - Prevents the henna from drying as quickly. Henna will no longer stain it it dries.
- Acid - Helps the pigment to penetrate the nail (and skin). (But it is, however not necessary for dying hair.) Avoid lemon because it will dry out nails. I use apple cider vinegar.
- Essential oil - If you want to, you can add a few drop of essential oils for scent or it's nurturing qualitys.
- Henna and water - Add a little bit of henna and water at a time and blend them well. Warm water will speed up the dye relase, but cold water is fine.
- Make a thicker paste that's not runny. You can always add more water later if needed.
- Henna can be used as soon as it's been mixed. But the dye tends to be more intense if it gets to sit for a bit and the consistency will be more smooth after wating at least an hour. Put on a lid when you let it sit.
- If stored correctly the paste can be used for at least a week after mixing it. I store mine with like this, on my bathroom sink and am currently using a batch that I mixed 13 days ago. It still stains well!
Application
- There are applications tool to be bought. But I use a regular small hobby brush, made for acrylic paint. You can probably use some type of flat stick or similar too.
- I apply some paste to the middle of my nail and gently press it to the edges, with the brush.
- I keep a bit of paper on the side, to wipe off any henna that gets on my skin. Henna will stain your skin and cutticles quite quickly. But it usually disappears after a few days.
- I usually leave the paste on for 20-60 minutes. If it dries it will no longer stain. I sometimes spray the henna with a spray bottle. If I'm in the sauna I quickly dunk my fingers i a bucket with water.
- Some people cover their nails to keep the henna on for longer and make the stain deeper. Others keep the fingers over a steaming pot. I'm too lazy to bother with this.
- The color can get deeper with heath: That's why I often apply it in the sauna. If my hands are cold and I'm at home, I usually make a cup of tea and warm my hands on it, while I drink it.
Washing it away
- I usually start by wiping off most of it with some paper.
- I prefer to fill up a little bit of water and soap in the sink and wash my nails with a toothbrush.
After
- After the first application, the color is like to be a light orange shade. Under the following day/days, the henna will oxidize and get darker. It's alsright to oil or add hand cream to you nails and hands as usall. It won't really interfere with anything.
- The longer you leave the henna on and the more times you do it, the more dark and deep will the color get. You can also get different shades depending on how warm you fingers are and how long you let them grow out before applying more henna. And whether you overlap or not.
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