The best applicator I've ever tried or used is the home-made "Cello Wrap" cone.
I tried those jacquard bottles with the screw-on pastry tips that can be found in the cake-decorating section of the craft/grocery store, and which a lot of other henna artists like to use, but they tend to hurt the thumb muscles in my hand after a short while and I had to constantly refill them. Cones is the best way to go, in my humble opinion.
Here's how to make a cone:
Cut the Cello Wrap (cellophane gift wrapping stuff) into a square and cut across from one point, on the diagonal, to the opposite point. This will form a triangle.
With one finger in the center of the longest edge, lift one corner adjacent to it and begin rolling until you have a cone shape. Tape the end to close it. Fill it with henna and roll the open-end shut and tape it.
Using the lines on my table help a lot with this! I'm going to demonstrate this using 30" wide Cello Wrap.
Roll cello wrap out on table with one edge along table edge.
Put where you want to cut, at the line on your table. In this case we're measuring 15 inches (half the width of the roll to make 2 squares).
Use the line on the table for a nice straight cut.
Cut along the diagonal of the square to create triangles using the lines on the table for a nice straight cut.
Have a piece of tape ready.
Put one finger in the center of the longest edge of the triangle. Start rolling one corner.
Keep rolling...
...rolling...
...rolling...
...rolling...
...rolling...
...done!
Tape it closed.
Finished cone that you fill with henna.
Roll down the large open end and secure with tape. You're now ready to create beautiful designs!
Experiment with different size squares, which will produce different sized cones. I find that 10" to 12" squares produce cones that fit in the palm of the hand the best and holds enough henna to do at least 2 hands. Since the cello wrap demonstrated was 30" wide on the roll, I just cut it in half to make 15" squares and then cut the cones down from the larger open end to make them a bit smaller so they fit in my hand a little better.
"Carrot Bags" is another excellent alternative.
Drawing With Henna
Now that you have your paste made, it's had time to release dye (see the PREPARATION page) and it's in your applicator, it's time for the fun part, decorating yourself and your friends. Skin should be slightly damp and free of lotions for best application and staining results. Gently squeeze the applicator to start the henna flowing. Touch the skin with the henna to anchor it and then lift the applicator slightly and "pull" the henna to create your designs.
Anchor it...
...begin gentle pull and lift as you squeeze...
...pull and squeeze...
...pull and squeeze...
...stop squeezing, anchor and lift the tip away.
Practice Drawing
Practice drawing if you don't feel confident enough to forge ahead with the real thing. Use either cake frosting (which you can just lick off when you're done) or flour and water mixed into a paste that you can just rinse off. Store your henna in the freezer until you're ready and more confident. When you are, let the frozen henna come to room temperature and then go for it!
You can also view videos of artists applying henna on my VIDEOS page. :)
Applying Heat
Once the henna is applied and your design is done, you'll need to apply a source of heat. Heat is another key to getting a good, dark, stain. Since you'll be dealing with heat, please use common sense and don't hurt yourself.
Any gentle warm heat that can be applied to the design will work. There are several ways you can apply heat to the design. One way is to use a hair-dryer. Another way is to use steam from a steam kettle. Another way is by using a heating pad. When using any of these methods, be sure the shine is gone off the henna but has not yet started to crack.
Don't get it too wet with steam because a runny design is a ruined design. Keep a tissue handy to wipe up any excess moisture that may collect from the steam. Apply heat in comfortable intervals for as long as you can stand it and to keep the henna paste on for as long as you can stand it. I apply the heat for as long as I can stand it, wait a little while and then re-apply heat again, sometimes several times.
Sealing Henna
For good staining results, it's recommended to leave the henna paste on over night. If you can't stand it that long, it's still a good idea to seal it so that it doesn't flake off sooner than you want. Leaving the henna paste on for several hours, at least, is highly recommended. Here are different kinds of sealers that you can buy or make yourself. I put these in order of my preference, with the first being my best choice.
Liquid Latex makes an excellent sealer and is applied to the design gently with a Q-tip. Some people may be sensitive to latex, but I love this as a sealer. It's flexible and keeps in body moisture and heat. When I go to peel it off, the henna underneath is wet even though it was completely dried and cracking when I applied the latex. This product can be found in theatrical make-up shops. Once it's dry, dust with a little talcum powder (baby powder) to keep it from feeling tacky. It's a form of rubber and tends to "grip" like rubber. Powder will reduce this tendency.
Elmer's Glue (or any similar white-school-glue product). This is the next best thing to Liquid Latex. Mix 1 part glue to 1 part water. This is also gently applied to the design using a Q-tip. Be careful not to mash your design. Try adding glitter to the mix or get the type that has the glitter already in it for a fun effect. ;)
Press N Seal won't budge and won't hurt to take it off either. Perfect for keeping henna on over night. Highly recommended for ease of use. Just cut the size you need, slap it on and you're done. Nothing to mix/measure or get all gooey in your henna box like could happen with liquid sealers should the container lid come loose.
NEW-SKIN is not only budge proof, it's also water proof. It won't come off in the shower. If you have a design you want to leave on over-night, this is the stuff to use! It's a pain to remove, however. It takes either nail-polish or tape to get it off but for staying power, this stuff simply can't be beat.
Pump-Spray Hair Gel. The super hold kind. Spray it on...works pretty good in a pinch if you can't find anything else to use and most women have this in their beauty supplies.
Sugar and Lemon Juice. Mix equal parts sugar and lemon juice. Dab on with a Q-tip like you would with the Elmer's Glue or Liquid Latex. I've never had it attract insects but I understand this is a possibility.
Keeping Henna On Over Night
To get a good dark stain, it's best to leave the henna paste on for as long as you can stand it. I'm a whimp and can't stand it for more than 1 hour before I get the urge to pick it off.
If you're a brave soul who has the ability to tolerate having henna on your skin over night, that's the best way to go. You'll need to wrap it to keep any henna from flaking off (unless you use "New Skin" for a sealer). You could wrap it by using cotton gloves or socks for hands and socks for feet. If it's on another part of the body, regular gauze bandage and adhesive tape can be used, as if you are patching an injury.
If you don't want to keep it on over night, but want it on for several hours (as if you had it on over night) start early in the day...apply it, seal it, wrap it and then take the wrap and the henna off before you go to bed. For example, applying it at 9 AM and taking it off at 11 PM would be the same as putting it on at 6 PM, going to bed at 10 PM and removing it at 8 AM the next morning.
