How to get a deeper, darker colour with henna

The auspicious results of having a darker coloured mehndi pattern means that brides will go to considerable lengths to ensure the longevity and depth of the colour, not least because it means a holiday from housework for as long as the henna lasts!

Use good quality henna, which will be naturally darker
Have a bath or shower just before and don't apply any oils or lotions on the skin
Wear suitable clothes and shoes so that the design will not smudge or rub off. Wearing flip flop sandals and loose clothing can make things easier
Schedule your mehndi 2-3 days prior to the wedding to allow the colour to deepen
Keep warm as the natural dye in henna requires warmth to be activated - sit in the sun or by a heater
After the henna is dry apply a sealant made with sugar and lemon; the sugar helps the pattern stick and the lemon helps to reactivate the henna
The area is then carefully wrapped with tissue or gauze and finally covered with a plastic wrap, which keeps everything in place and helps generate humidity, which further enhances the staining power of the henna
After 6 hours the paste is gently scraped off with a spoon
Avoid getting water on it for 12 hours - if you shower, coat the design with a vegetable based oil and wear gloves if you have to do the washing up
Finally, you can further extend the life of your henna design by applying pure cocoa butter, shea butter or any balm with beeswax in it