HENNAHAND
The art of mehndi — natural henna paste, patterns, and staining that lasts.
From mixing a batch of paste and estimating cones to timing your stain, planning a pattern, dialing in an essential oil, and judging dry time, HennaHand pairs free hands-on henna calculators with practical guides and a richly illustrated museum. Natural henna, worked out precisely.
Henna & Mehndi Calculators
Free tools for every stage of the craft — paste consistency calculator, cone quantity calculator, stain time guide, pattern time estimator, essential oil ratio calculator, and dry time calculator.
Henna Paste Consistency Calculator
Enter your henna powder weight and target consistency to get the liquid, essential oil, and sugar amounts for a smooth, coneable batch
Henna Cone Quantity Calculator
Choose the area you're covering and how dense the fill is to estimate the paste weight and number of cones to prepare
Henna Stain Time Guide
Find out how long to leave the paste on skin for the stain depth you want, based on skin area and paste freshness
Mehndi Pattern Time Estimator
Estimate how long a design will take to apply, from a quick fingertip motif to a full bridal arms-and-legs pattern
Henna Essential Oil Ratio Calculator
Work out how much essential oil to blend into a paste's liquid, with a recommended safe range for each oil
Henna Dry Time Calculator
Estimate how long a fresh application takes to dry to the crusted, sealable stage, from temperature and humidity
Museum of Henna & Mehndi
Wander an immersive museum of natural body art — the long history of henna and mehndi traditions, jagua and other plant-based dyes used around the world, cultural body art from Japan to New Zealand, and the bridal mehndi patterns that mark weddings across South Asia and the Middle East, each in its own gallery, so you can get to know the stories behind every motif: where it came from, what it means, and how it’s still practiced today.
Tour the museum →From the Journal
Guides on mixing paste, applying and caring for a design, reading a stain, and the craft and culture behind henna and mehndi, plus practical tips for every skill level.
How to Mix Henna Paste From Scratch
A step-by-step method for turning sifted henna powder into a smooth, stain-ready paste — the liquid, the rest period, and the small additions that make a real difference.
How Many Henna Cones Do You Actually Need?
Running out of paste mid-design is a common beginner problem. Here's how to estimate cones by area and fill density before you start mixing.
How Long Should Henna Paste Stay on Your Skin?
The depth of a henna stain depends heavily on how long the paste stays on skin — and that ideal time isn't the same everywhere on the body.
Simple Mehndi Patterns for Beginners
You don't need years of practice to apply a design that looks intentional. These beginner-friendly motifs build real cone control without requiring elaborate freehand skill.
Essential Oils in Henna: What They Do and How Much to Use
Terpene-rich oils are a traditional henna paste ingredient, but not all oils are used the same way. Here's what each common choice does and how much is typically added.
Bridal Mehndi: Planning a Full Hands-and-Feet Design
Bridal mehndi is the largest, densest, and longest henna application most people will ever sit for. Planning ahead makes the difference between a smooth session and a rushed one.
Keep Learning
Plain-language explainers on henna and mehndi traditions, the plants and dyes behind natural body art, and the bridal customs that carry these patterns from generation to generation — everything you need to go deeper with confidence.
Visit the Learn hub →