Making the Henna Cone
Preparing the henna cone is an acquired skill that will
become easier with practice. If you are planning a henna party, make
up a dozen cones ahead of time and have them ready.
To make a henna cone, you will need:
(a) Quart-sized plastic zipper freezer bags, heavy-duty plastic
freezer bags, or plastic from upper heavy painter's drop Long-bladed
scissors cloth.q Transparent adhesive tape
(b) ong-bladed scissors
(c) Transparent adhesive tape
(d) Straight pins
Follow these steps for cutting and folding the cone:
1. Cut off the reclosable top of the freezer bag with scissors. Cut
along the side and bottom seams to separate the plastic into two
separate sheets. For other plastics, a comfortable cone size can be
from 4 inches by 5 inches (10cm by 12.5 cm) to 4 inches by 7 inches
(10 cm by 17.5 cm).
2. Fold the sheets in half. Holding the open edges with your thumb
and index finger, cut across the closed edge. You now have four
plastic sheets.
3. Holding the two sheets lengthwise, place your middle finger on
the corner of the top one. Bring the opposite diagonal corner to
meet the corner you are holding. Wrap the plastic over and over
around your middle finger to create a cone.
4. Adapt the size of the up opening and width of the cone by moving
your middle inside the plastic sheets. The up should be the tiny
diameter of a straight pin.
5. Have several pieces of 1.5-inch
(4cm) precut tape ready. Carefully tape down the final plastic
corner near the up. Run at least one strip of tape vertically up the
entire open seam. Tape as needed to seal the open edges, but do not
tape the ends shut. You cone will be about 6 inches (15 cm) long and
have an opening that allows just a 2 - finger space at the top.
6. Using a small teaspoon, fill the henna cone two-thirds full. With
the top still open, shake the cone rapidly up and down until the
henna mixture moves down to within ¼ inch (6 mm) of the cone tip.
Wipe off excess henna near the top of the cone. Alternatively, you
may place a heaping tablespoon (15-plus ml) of henna paste in the
middle of the plastic sheets before you form them into a cone.
Fold down the wide end of the cone and use your thumbs and index
fingers to squeeze the henna into the tip. Twist the wide end and
secure it with a rubber band, or fold it down and secure with tape.
Tape shut any other loose edges. If the tip of the cone is too small
and paste is clogging the hole, use scissors to enlarge the opening,
or poke a straight pin into the opening to loosen the clog.
Applying the design
Have a paper towel handy to clear the tip of the cone from
time to time. Remember, the color and design will hold better if the
paste is allowed to remain on the skin for at least 1 to 3 hours.
1. Hold the cone between the thumb and your index finger about 1/4
inch (6mm) from its tip. Touch the tip of the cone to the skin. Then
lift up to release the henna paste. Trace the outline of the design
on the skin, then fill in the details one section at a time.Lefties
should begin at the right side of the design and work towards left.
2.As you are working the pattern, keep it moist so that it doesn't
peel away. Use a cotton swab or a square to gently apply a lemon
sugar solution-3 teaspoon (15 ml) lemon juice mixed with mixed with
one teaspoon (5 mg) sugar- to the design. If you can, moisten the
henna design every 1/2 hour for three hours.
3. When you are ready to remove the paste, apply any oil -
eucalyptus, mustard, avocado, sesame, olive, almond-generously over
the design. Then use the edge of a butter knife, a credit card or
your finger nails to scrap off the hardened excess.
4. Avoid washing the area of henna design for several hours. After
the paste has been removed, smear the area with oil again. Each day
apply the body oil to the design; it will help the drawing last
longer.Those with darker skin tones might want to reapply the design
on the following day for a longer lasting pattern.
