There are a million ways and recipes to mixing henna. Here’s what most of them have in common:

First start with a fresh batch of henna powder. Here I used 50g (~4 tablespoons). The juice on the left side is my mixture of lemon juice from concentrate, tamarind, and honey (~200ml).

It's essential to pour your mixture of lemon juice gently, as you mix the henna powder. this will allow you to monitor how much the henna powder needs for the mixture. weather changes and temperatures can affect how much henna powder can absorb as liquid.

Mix the liquid fully into the henna powder.

Sometimes the powder absorbs all the lemon juice mixture and gets dry.

Time to add more juice into the henna powder. Mix, mix, mix!

Let it sit for an hour or so, then mix the henna some more!

If needed, add a bit more juice to get a more liquidy consistency.

When done mixing, cover with a cellophane piece. and let sit for 12 hours.

After a few hours, take a look at the henna paste darkening in color.

After 12 hours, the henna paste is ready, take off the cellophane wrap and mix it again.

Only the top layer is brown, if you move some of it, you'll see the henna paste being green.

Mix it well so to crush any lasting clumps in the henna paste.

Add a few more drops of lemon juice (from concentrate works good) to smoothen the henna paste into a toothpaste-mashed potato consistency.

Then add a few drops of your favorite oil (i use Tea Tree oil here) into the mixture. Mix again and let sit for another 2-3 hours.

Your henna paste is ready to be used.

note: that all the utencils in the photos are made of plastic. It is best to use wood or plastic bowls and spoons when mixing henna for better results. It is not recommended to use metallic utencils because the metal can prematurely start the oxidation in the dye release process.

Henna mixing can be rather tricky but truthfully it is the easiest thing I have ever tried after making mashed potatoes! So go ahead try your first batch you won't regret it.

If you experience problems with your paste and need help, don't hesitate to post your questions on the forum.

this section contributed by Yous