There’s something incredibly gorgeous about dark intricate designs on your palms and feet that contrasts against the vibrant colours of a bridal trousseau. But a good mehendi artist like Nizami Makeovers at your destination wedding in Goa can only do so much for you. Their work is done once the finishing touch is applied and now it’s all up to you. Let’s make the most of the one chance you have.
Picture Credits - Nizami Makeovers
CLEAN & DRY
Your skin needs to be clear of any grime, moisturiser or cold cream. Creams can prevent the staining from penetrating your skin well. Even water isn’t the best - you wouldn’t want the mehendi artist to have a tough time piping the finest lines. Remember, you can’t really bathe for the next 12 hours at the very least, so take a shower, wash your hands and feet vigorously with soap to remove any traces of moisturiser and dry them well before you begin.
Picture Credits - Studio Grey Photography
NO SALON VISITS
When wedding planning in Goa, schedule your salon visits for beauty treatments and spa therapies to a few days before the mehendi application. Many treatments include exfoliation and can take off a whole layer of mehendi. You’ll end up with a faded look at your destination wedding in Goa. So not worth it.
Picture Credits - Jumping Souls
GIVE IT A DAY OR TWO
Plan your mehendi ceremony a couple of days before you say ‘I do’. This will give the paste enough time to lock in and dry. Mehendi also gets darker over time thanks to the wonderful process of oxidation, so ideally leave a gap of 72 hours between your mehendi ceremony and the reception.
Picture Credits - Mehendi by Joshana
AIR DRY
Don’t try to rush the process. Let your mehendi take its time to dry naturally. Vigorously shaking your hands or attempting to hasten things with a blow dryer is not really going to darken the stain, and there’s a chance you might smudge the design by mistake. Not something you want.
Picture Credits -Picsurely
OIL BE THERE FOR YOU
If anyone remotely suggests synthetic additives to darken your mehendi design for your destination wedding in Goa, kindly show them the door. Many additives can cause severe allergic reactions so stick with natural oils such as olive, sesame seed or coconut. These can be used after the mehendi has fallen off to ensure the stains last long. Before the process begins, use good quality eucalyptus oil. Just a few drops rubbed against your skin will do. Allow it to be absorbed completely before the artist begins.
Picture Credits - Studio RDP
LEAVE IT ALONE
Try not to get impatient. Mehendi is a labour of love and time, and not just from the henna artist’s end. Leave it on for as long as possible rather than picking at it within a couple of hours. For a darker colour, overnight is best so when the paste is dry, get someone to gently bandage your hands and legs with gauze so it stays in position. Your body heat will also get locked in and bring out a more intense shade.
Picture Credits - Misba Mehendi Artist
GIVE IT SOME SUGAR
Everything needs a little love to give the best results. Your mehendi design is no different. Dab the designs with a mixture of sugar and lemon using a cotton ball. Don’t overdo it as that may have the opposite effect.
Picture Credits - Mehendi by Muskaan
HEAT IT UP
Smoke from hot cloves is known to work well to darken mehendi. Simply heat them in an iron pan until they start to smoke. Hover your hands over the smoke for as long as you can manage without scalding yourself. Repeating twice or thrice hits the nail on the head.
Picture Credits - Chandbi Mehandi Artist