toothpick and carefully place the design on bit by bit. Some use
little squeeze bottles and apply it in smooth lines. The pre-mixed
paste comes in tubes and is squeezed out easily. If you make your
own henna paste at home, the choice is yours as to what you are
the most comfortable with. I, personally, prefer cones. Cones can
also be purchased pre-made, but they are very simple to make at
home and also inexpensive. Cones are less messy, and they are
disposable afterward so they require no cleanup. Here is a very
simple way to make your own cones at home:
What You Will Need:
* Small freezer bags - one will make 2 cones
* Scissors
* Scotch tape
* Twist ties
Step One: Cut the freezer bag into squares
cutting the freezer bag into squares The size you make the cones is up
to you, but you don't want it too big or it will be hard to handle. It
also depends on the size of the freezer bags you start with. I usually
cut the bags into 6" squares. Use a straight edge to make sure your
corners are 90 degrees, as this will help in the actual folding of the cone.
Step Two: Make a funnel shape out of the square
Making a funnel shape out of the square This is not as easy as it sounds.
The plastic is very slippery and you will want to wrap the square
around itself in such a way that it completely overlaps (leaving no
open spaces for the paste to squeeze out). At the same time, you
need to leave a small hole at the bottom of the funnel, just large
enough to allow the paste to squeeze out without difficulty. This
might take some practice and becoming comfortable with the
consistency of your henna paste and what size hole is required to
get an even flow.
Step Three: Taping the cone
Taping the cone After you get the funnel exactly how you want it, you
will need to tape along the side edges where the plastic overlaps.
Be careful not to move the plastic when you do this, or you will have
to start over again. It's good if you already have a few small pieces
of tape ready instead of trying to get it from the dispenser at this time.
Tape all the way from the bottom to the top of the funnel.
Step Four: Filling the cone
Filling the cone Now you will want to put your prepared henna paste
in the cone. Using a small spoon* seems to be the best way to do this.
Carefully place a spoonful of henna paste into the cone, and press
your finger lightly against it (from the outside) as you remove the
spoon. Repeat until the cone is about half full. Filling too much can
cause the cone to be hard to handle and burst due to excessive
squeezing. *Note: Never use anything metal with your henna paste -
use plastic or glass.
Step Five: Closing the cone
Closing the cone One who is experienced in using the cones (or even
in using decorating bags) can usually just twist the end of the cone
and apply the paste. This can become quite messy for one that is not
used to it, though, because not applying the right amount of pressure
and squeezing the proper way can cause the henna to come spilling
out the top. The best thing to use in this case would be a twist tie.
First, twist the bag itself in the direction of the overlapping fold.
Then secure it with a twist tie, and you're ready to go!
And that's it! It takes a little practice, but making your own henna
paste and your own cones is less expensive, and creates beautiful
henna art without a lot of work.
