Batching Henna Paste:
Preparing henna in a process that depends on your conscious application of concentration. Be aware of your happiness. Be heartfelt. It effects the color entirely. It effects those to be adorned with the henna paste. It effects the dance of the design. Gather the following ingredients: henna powder coffee/black tea lemons/lemon juice eucalyptus/clove/mustard oil These are the basic ingredients. Other options are fenugreek seeds and/or okra in the boiled liquid mixture for a smoother texture. Tamarind paste, cloves, beet juice in the boiled liquid mixture Before beginning let it be known: there are no exact recipes for henna. And there are many ways to batch henna.

Basic rules for batching
1. Have the henna powder pre-sifted. You will know if you need to sift the powder if there is small traces of sediment such as leaf stems and if it feels grainy between your finger tips. Having a fine henna powder is mandatory for your sanity during application. Coarse henna will not fit through your cone tip. Also, be sure you are using mehndi henna, not hair henna for best results. To sift henna you will need a coffee can or an oatmeal container with a lid and a panty hose leg with toe. Place the toe halfway into coffee can and pull the ends of the leg over the sides of the can. Place an ounce of henna into the toe. Cover the can and shake until sifted. 2. Boiling hot, well strained liquids added to the henna increase color. 3. Mordents are chemical catalysts that help activate the henna. They include lemon, black tea, camel urine [optional :)], clove (boiled with the coffee or tea). Eucalyptus oil and mustard oil are heating oils and can open the pores of the skin to draw in henna color.

These are the basic proportions:
1 part powder to 1 part boiling hot liquid As little as teaspoon per design/or tablespoon per hand application is needed.

In more detail:
To 1/2 cup black tea (2 or 3 bags) or coffee mixture boiled down dark
add 3T lemon juice. Whisk in a large bowl with an equal amount of henna powder. Add 5 drops of eucalyptus oil. Adjust wet/dry ingredients until a yogurt like consistency occurs. Pour henna into a plastic freezer bag. Place henna in a dark place to set. When the top layer turns dark green, the henna is activated and ready. This can take up to two hours. Peak color will occur over the next 24 to 48 hours. Refrigeration will reserve coloring ability. Avoid exposure to air and light. Freezing the henna will preserve the henna for months.

Other Approaches to Henna Batching:
Some people will claim that hot black tea and lemon are essential. One man who grew up in India spoke of his memory of his mothers kitchen where the pot of henna soup that would be sitting at a simmer on the stove for hours. All ingredients such as henna leaf, lemon, tamarind, coffee, fenugreek seed would be boiled and then strained. Another technique suggests making a clay out the henna by adding lemon juice and letting it sit over night. The coffee/tea mixture and mordant are added the following morning. Following your own instincts through your own understanding of henna is recommended.

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