To get really good results with your henna paste, you'll need to prepare your henna powder first. That means sifting it. Even if the henna is labeled "pre-sifted", sift it again anyway. If you don't sift it, you'll end up with a bunch of chunky bits of leaves and twigs that will clog the tip of your applicator and there is nothing more frustrating than a clogged tip.
You want to keep the henna contained inside something with a tight lid when you do this, otherwise you'll have a cloud of henna dust fogging up the air around you, getting on everything, into your lungs and messing up your sinuses. The methods described below will keep everything neatly and safely contained.
There are a couple of ways that you can sift your henna. One way is to use a single plastic peanut butter jar with a screw-on lid for small amounts to be sifted, or two peanut butter jars where the lids are cut out, lids glued and taped together, for sifting larger amounts.
The Single Jar Sifter
The single jar sifter is good for sifting small batches of henna. Stretch a knee-high nylon over the opening of the jar and make a well with the toe. Use the type of nylon that does not have a reinforced toe and is the cheapest brand you can find. The cheaper the better. Place a few pennies or small pebbles and the henna into the well (the toe) of the nylon. Screw on the lid tightly and shake. The henna will be sifted through the stocking and into the jar. Once it's all sifted, remove the stocking and you can store your sifted henna in the jar by replacing the lid. Rinse out the nylon, dry, and re-use another time.
The Double Jar Sifter
The double jar sifter is good for sifting large amounts of henna. Cut out the center of the lids. Glue and tape the lids together with the tops facing each other. Stretch a knee-high nylon tightly over the opening of one of the jars (do not make a "well" like you would with a single jar sifter). Use the type of stocking that doesn't have a reinforced toe. Screw on the modified lids. Put your henna into the other jar along with some pennies or small pebbles. Screw it all together and shake. The henna will be sifted from one jar, through the nylon, and into the other jar.
|
