Jillie's Henna / Mehandi Designs (new added!!)

[Jillie]

I do a lot of henna for myself and my friends.. I'm not a "professional" yet, but I'm getting there little by little and with lots of practice.

Here's some of my recent work, please give me your opinion!

A hand I did today, the design wraps all the way around.
Paste on:



Paste off, after 3 or 4 hours (I'll take more when it darkens!





Another hand from a month or two ago
Paste on:


Paste off, after about 24 hours:




My leg!
Paste on:


Paste off, after 24 hours:



I'm not a huge fan of this design but the stain came out really nice!  You can also see the stars on my chest, which were super fun.





If anyone wants me to post my henna recipe, I'd be glad to.
Scroll down a few posts for recipe!


I have more henna art on my Deviantart site:  http://jillie-geek42.deviantart.com/


Other Designs in This Thread:
Nautilus on Hip:  http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=167500.msg1823755#msg1823755
Milkweed's Designs:  http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=167500.msg1821214#msg1821214
Palm Design:  http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=167500.msg1852033#msg1852033
Celery70's Designs:  http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=167500.msg1974440#msg1974440

[betty_death]

oh wow, your work is gorgeous!  So detailed! 
How long did the first design take?  I love the wrapping.

I'd love to see your recipe if you're willing to share it!

[rozekitten]

I would really love to see it too Jillie!  I have always wanted to give this a go.  It would be a very cool thing to try.

[roxybadoxy]

so beautiful! i like the real henna and not the fake ones that they give you at south padre (over here in texas) it looks really great!

[Jillie]

The first one took about 45 minutes, it would have been a lot shorter if I'd been reasonable!  But I did the palm before the back (silly me) and it was kind of awkward to do the back without being able to set my hand down on a table.  When I first started, it would have taken me over an hour, but with practice I've gotten much faster.


I wrote down the recipe I used today.  It varies a little each time, I'm always experimenting based on what I have in my kitchen cabinet!

I use Jamila henna, which comes from Pakistan.  It always has really nice, dark stains, though it takes much longer than other hennas to be ready to use.

The Recipe:

1. Infuse 5-6 threads Spanish Saffron in about 2 tsp hot water.  Let steep for about 5 minutes, or until the water is yellow.

2. Strain out the saffron pieces, you can use them for cooking rice later if you want.

3. Put the saffron water into a small glass or plastic bowl (henna can tarnish metal dishes and utensils). 

4.  Add about 15g of henna powder.

5. Sprinkle in a pinch of black pepper and a packet of Splenda (Sweet n Low works too)

6.  Add lemon juice (fresh or bottled) until the henna is the texture you want.  I like mine the consistency of yogurt, but yours might be different based on how you apply it!  If you're using a paintbrush, it needs to be thinner.

7.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the henna sit until the dye releases.  You can tell by scraping the surface of the paste, if it's a dark color on the surface but lighter underneath, it's ready!

8.  Put your henna into a squeeze bottle or a cone and you're ready to apply it!

[stitch and stones]

I adore henna and I've always wanted to get into this. Maybe we should do a personal swap where you give me henna and I make you something to your heart's desire haha.

[MareMare]

Wow that's beautiful! You do this free form, without stencils? The only time I tried it I had a little kit with stencils...it turned out well but had to do it on spring break because of my ultra conservative private high school. I went on vaca in Arizona, with the pool and the sun seemed to make it fade really fast. Looks great!

[Jillie]

Nope, no stencils.  I've never tried them before... I make up my own designs, so it would be sooo much work to draw it, cut a stencil, then do the henna.

Sometimes I draw the design first or look at a picture of someone else's design, but usually I just make it up as I go along.

You're right, chlorine will make henna fade faster.  It also depends on where you put it on your body:  hands and feet last the longest, stuff on your torso or face will fade quickly.

[mmd32]

Wow, that's gorgeous!! And thanks for the recipe!! My dd is a henna freak, but she can never get the bought stuff from the Indian shops to work properly. She will be thrilled with something that works properly!

[Phizzychick]

Wow, they look incredible! I love the natural feel to the leg one, like budding vines, even though it's not your fav.