If you’d like to dive right into doing traditional henna without using a pre-made batch, here are a few special recipes to get you started.  There are varying intensities of henna out there, so don’t be afraid to test a few out to see which shades you like the best. If you’re looking for a very rich and dark color, be sure to let your mix mellow overnight.

Coffee – Tea Henna Recipe with eucalyptus

3 cups boiling water

2 tbsp. coffee or black tea

1 tsp. eucalyptus oil

juice from 1/2 lemon

1 tsp. sugar

henna powder

Add the black tea or coffee to boiling water and let it simmer until it is reduced to 1/2 cup.  Add the eucalyptus oil, lemon and sugar.  Mix with henna powder until it achieves the consistency of a thin watery paste. Let stand for a minimum of six hours.

Clove Henna Recipe

1 cup water

4 teaspoons of tea

2 tablespoons of coffee

henna powder

5 drops of clove oil or six mashed cloves ground into a paste


Add tea to the water and boil until it is reduced to 1/3. Add this liquid to the coffee and henna powder until it achieves the consistency of a thin watery paste.  Add the cloves, mix and then let cool for 3-4 hours.




Cajeput – Geranium Recipe

2 tbsp. pure henna powder

water

5 slices of dried lemon

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp geranium essential oil

1 tsp cajeput essential oil.


Boil the dried lemon with a teaspoon of sugar until it develops an orangey color then strain. Let this mixture cool until it is lukewarm and mix it with the henna powder.  Let the henna mixture set for several hours or overnight.  Add the geranium and cajeput oil.  Add warm water if the paste becomes too thick.




Quick & Easy Henna Recipe

3 tbsp. henna powder

1/2 tsp mustard oil

juice from 1/2 lemon

room temperature water for mixing


Mix henna powder with mustard oil and lemon then add small amounts of water to adjust the consistency. This mixture does not need to be left overnight.  It’s a great quick recipe for when you need supplies fast.