Recipes

Botanical Name : Lawsonia Inermis

Family Name :      Lythraceae

Common Name :  Henna, Al- Henna, Al-Khanna, Egyptian Privet, Jamaica Mignonette, Mehndi, Mendee. 

There are all sorts of recepies and ingredients that can be added to henna to produce an easier paste to work with and / or create a subtle change of colour.

 People & cultures will have their own ideas and advice all of which can be tried with no adverse effects and can give you much fun. Here are just a few that could be tried - let us know how you got on

Add apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to henna when making the paste. This will result in  richer deeper red highlights.  Also add vinegar or lemon juice to add some golden hightlights to your hair. Adding either to your hair with henna will be helpful for oily hair, if your hair is dry skip the vinegar and the lemon juice.

Use olive oil for dry hair use 1 tablespoon or so up to a 1/4 cup depending on the dryness of hair.

Tea is great for hair. Use proper brewed tea not instant. Add the cooled tea to the paste instead of just water. Helps to maximise the effectiveness of hair conditioning. Use red zinger tea to maximise red highllights.

Eggs are great for hair. Use the whole egg for normal to greasy hair but use only the yolk if your hair is dry. Only use 1 egg, and bear in mind that egg addition will result in a more subtle colour 

Coffee can be added to henna to dampen the redness of the henna colour, this is particularly good for those who are more blonde / fair coloured and do not want a too vibrant colour. If your hair is already dark you have no need to use coffee for colour changing.  Adding coffee will help to produce deep brown highlights and darken the red tones. Use fine ground coffee or strong brewed coffee.

Dried gooseberry  powder (Alma)  will give a darker tint.

Cinnamon, Cloves & Paprika will add deeper red toned highlights 

Dry Hair : Use olive oil for dry hair use 1 tablespoon or so up to a 1/4 cup depending on the dryness of hair.

Dandruff: two teaspoons yogurt 

Oily Hair : Lemon juice or vinegar

Brittle hair : A few drops of Mustard Oil

Henna has a natural musty fresh grassy smell, if do not like it add to mask the smell:

Cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice,

A few drops of essential oils - lavender or tea tea. (tea tree is a great natural deodoriser & anti bacterial.

  

Glue - for use with cosmetic glitter

Natural glue mix:

1 cup flour
1 1/2 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1 tspn Vinegar

Mix 1 cup of flour with 1/3 cup sugar
Add 1/2 the wa ter and mix to a paste
Pour in the rest of the water
Add in the vinegar 
Cook over a medium heat.