Step 3: Mix the henna
I recommend making henna a little bit at a time. A little henna goes a long way! The day before you want to use henna, stir in lemon juice a little bit at a time until the paste is the consistency of thick frosting. Cover with a towel and leave in a dark, warm spot over night for 8 to 12 hours. The next day, add sugar. The ratio is approximately 1 heaping Tbs of sugar to 2 heaping Tbs (25g) of henna. Stir in 15-20 drops of essential oil. Let it sit for another 8 to 12 hours.

If you want to make a large batch, divide it up into several ziploc baggies and freeze what you are not using. You can freeze henna for up to 6 months. To use it, thaw at room temperature. Cut the tip off a corner of the bag to fill applicators. Store your unfrozen henna in the fridge and use it within a couple weeks. Be aware that henna paste can have a potent smell. My entire fridge smelled of geranium/tea trea/henna. The crepes I made the next day tasted like my henna paste!

If you want to get creative, you can try using honey, brown, turbinado (unrefined), fructose, molasses, fruit syrups or dextrose instead of sugar. Sugar helps henna paste stay moist and stick to skin. Depending on your local climate and the henna powder, you may need more or less than some recipes call for. If you would like to know more about henna and sugars, read the Henna Page's article about sweet stuff. Instead of lemon juice, you can also try vinegar, wine, cola, other citrus juices, rain water or any other sour liquid.

Certain essential oils are "terps" or terpenes which are created naturally by plants andwill make the stain darker. Cajeput and tea tree oil are always good. You can also use geranium, lavender, cardamom and ravensara. Avoid cinnamon and clove oil since it may cause skin irritation. Eucalyptus is a favorite, but be aware that there are over 600 different kinds of eucalyptus trees. You may not know which kind you're getting unless you stick with a brand you trust. Also avoid "mehndi oil" as it is often a hodge podge of ingredients, some of which may be unhealthy. Only use it if you can read the ingredients list and know what is in it. For more information, read the Henna Page's article about terpenes.

A henna paste recipes can be very simple (powder, sugar, lemon juice and oils) or very complex (lemon/lime slices, cloves, cardmom, coffee, tea and pressure cookers).

Step 4: Apply the Henna