Want to Make Your Mehendi Darker and Long-lasting? Here's How!
BY The WMG Bride | 08 Mar, 2016 | 8415 views | 4 min read
Okay, so your grandmom tells you to rub your hands over the smoke from cloves and your cousin swears by Vicks Vapourub? We broke down all the advice for you and here is how to get the darkest mehendi.
Picture Courtesy: Angad & Nimrat's Wedding
Here are some easy-peasy ways to make sure your mehendi is darker and more long-lasting! One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of mehendi artists these days get mehendi that's spiked with chemicals which ensures a rich dark brown colour no matter what. But the problem with that mehendi is that not only does it become lighter and gets erased faster, it also could lead to an allergic reaction for those who have sensitive skin. That's why in such a case it would be best to use mehendi that's been procured by you and mixed at home. If you do feel really itchy on your arms or anywhere else after the mehendi is put, do not take it lightly!- Apply your mehendi at least 2 nights before the wedding. It takes about 48 hours for your mehendi to show true colour
- Wash your hands properly with soap so that there's no oil or cream on the hand. You should not apply anything to the skin before to prep it up, keep it dry - that's the key!
- Follow this up with astringent on a cotton ball. This will make sure that the mehendi adheres to your hand better which will lead to better absorption
- Visit the washroom before you begin.. the lesser breaks in between, the more continuous the strokes will be, which lead to better colour.
- Make sure that you haven't waxed or got a mani-pedi just a day or two before getting your mehendi put. This could lead to lesser absorption of the mehendi.
Picture Courtesy: Harin Dalal Mehendi Artist
- Don't try and dry the mehendi before time by using a hair dryer or anything else. Let it take its time. The best option is to leave it overnight and then take it off in the morning
- Whether you want to put that 'neembu-cheeni' mixture on the mehendi is totally up to you. While some say that it makes sure the mehendi doesn't shed faster, others say it doesn't make a difference. But yes, putting that on and then sleeping with the 'chip- chip' could be an issue. You could cover the hands with a plastic bag or skip this altogether. Totally up to you! Also, putting this mixture prematurely when the mehendi is still wet could ruin the design.
- Remember- the thicker the stroke, the darker it will turn out to be. A lot of times very fine designs look amazing when they're put, but look bleh after removing the mehendi!
- An old wives' tale is to also give heat to the mehendi by putting a few cloves on a tawa and then making sure the smoke hits the mehendi. This is said to make the colour better and more long-lasting.
- Another suggestion to make the mehendi more long-lasting is to wrap some paper towels and cling film around the hand when the mehendi is 'crispy-dry'. You could even wear old gloves or socks. This will keep the heat within and also make sure it doesn't shed all over the bed and you.
- Another one of the nuskhas is to rub something warming like Vicks, eucalyptus or mustard oil on the hands once the mehendi sheds from the hand on its own. This will also help in removing whatever has remained.
- Not washing hands or touching water for at least 12 hours after removing the mehendi also helps as it makes sure that the colour sets better. Get someone else to wash your face or hair... you're the bride after all!
- No shaving, waxing and mani-pedis after the henna application- do whatever needs to be done before! This will make the mehendi lighter.
- If you want to make sure the mehendi remains dark even for days after the wedding, then try getting your hair washed at the salon and avoid any housework that involves a lot of washing and scrubbing. And yes, dipping the hands in pool or sea water instantly makes mehendi lighter so remember that as well!
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