How to make your mehndi colour darker and last longer

Simple, honest mehndi aftercare: what to do before, during and after application so your stain comes out deep and even.

Before your sitting

Come with clean hands and arms, free of oil and lotion. Oils block the stain. If you are waxing or threading, do it before the mehndi day, not after.

While it dries

Keep the paste on as long as you comfortably can, ideally several hours. Keep hands warm, avoid water, and let flakes fall off on their own instead of washing them away.

The first day after

Water is the enemy of a young stain. Keep hands dry as much as you can for the first day, and use oil, not water, when you must clean them. The colour will keep deepening for a day or two.

For the event days

Moisturise with natural oils, avoid harsh soaps on the designs, and do not scrub. A deep stain fades gracefully from the top of the design, so gentle care buys you extra days of rich colour.

A honest note

Colour also depends on your skin, the henna and how long the paste stayed on. No artist can promise an exact shade, which is why the habits above matter so much.