Troubleshooting: Henna Texture is Too Stringy or Not Stringy Enough

Experiencing broken henna lines or poor draping? Use a stringy henna such as ORa and/or add sugar to your paste. Conversely, if your henna feels excessively sticky or snotty, it might be too stringy. Follow these tips to achieve the ideal henna texture for your needs.

  1. Adjust to ORa Henna's Texture:
    • ORa henna has a beautiful stringy texture, which can be different from what you're used to. While initially it can be frustrating, it can offer much faster application and much cleaner lines once accustomed to using it.

      The first time I used ORa, I was super frustrated and didn't understand the appeal, but by the end of the bag I was in LOVE! It was amazing how much cleaner my henna line became.

  2. Thorough Mixing:
    • Mix the henna paste extensively. Longer mixing reduces the stringiness of the henna and keeps it from separating due to freezing.
    • Long mixing of non stringy henna doesn't change the texture, but does help keep it from separating.

  3. Blend with Jamila Henna:
    Combining ORa (or any stringy henna) with Jamila henna allows you to customize the texture to your preference.
    • For a slight reduction in stringiness, use a ratio of 1 part Jamila to 4 parts ORa.
    • For significantly reduced stringiness, mix equal parts of ORa and Jamila.
    • If you prefer no stringiness at all, opt for Jamila henna exclusively.

  4. Increase Oil Content:
    • Adding more essential oil to the henna mixture can mitigate stringiness. Use a ratio of 1 ounce (30 mL) of oil per 100 grams of henna for a smoother consistency for both stringy and non-stringy henna.

  5. Reduce or Add Sugar Content:
    • Stringy henna is naturally more flexible and adhesive than creamy henna. Therefore, you can experiment with using less sugar or eliminating it altogether when working with stringy hennas.
    • Jamila really benefits from added sugar to be smooth and to stick to the skin better. Without sugar Jamila tends to have frequent line breaks and to flake off very quickly.

  6. Freeze the Henna:
    • Freezing henna and then thawing it can significantly reduce its stringiness. Thawing frozen henna helps to tame its texture, providing a smoother consistency for application.