In this article we'll show you how to create Hengua, a blend of henna and jagua. By mixing the two you combine the color characteristics of both, the reddish-brown tones of henna with the bluish-black hues of jagua. Hengua produces a rich, dark brown to almost black stain. This mix expands the possibilities for your tattoo designs with varied intensities and shading.
Ingredients to create Hengua
We recommend to start with a 50% Jagua powder 50% henna powder formula and alter by adding less or more Jagua powder for different staining effects.
This recipe gives you approximately 100 grams (100ml) of hengua paste:
- 12.5g Jagua powder
- 12.5g henna powder
- 67.5g water
- 7.5g essential oil (lavender, eucalyptus or squalene)
- 10g sugar
To create a larger batch you can increase the quantities proportionally.
Materials needed
To extend the shelf life of your hengua paste we recommend to use clean materials. Keep in mind that mixing henna and jagua powder with water can leave stains. You may need to take precautions with respect to your surroundings, clothing and skin.
Generally, we recommend to use the following materials:
- a scale to weigh the ingredients
- cups
- mixing bowl
- spatula for mixing
- a pair of nitril gloves to protect your hands from stains
- a 125ml applicator bottle to store your hengua paste
Mixing instructions
- Add Jagua and henna powder to a mixing bowl
- Add water while mixing thoroughly
- Add essential oil while mixing thoroughly
- Add sugar when you are living in a dry heat setting, do not add if you are in a humid setting
- Mix thoroughly and let the formula settle for at least 12 – 24 hours. Please note: The time for Henna powder to release its dye depends. Please see tips below.
- Mix thoroughly again to remove any lumps. Strain your Hengua paste through a stalking if needed
- Now you can put your Jagua paste in an applicator bottle or a cone.
Advanced tips
Use top quality essential oils
The addition of good quality essential oils to your hengua paste is crucial for at least three reasons:
- Essential oils play an important role in releasing the dye molecule, lawsone, from the henna powder. Adding good quality oil without additives ensures that the paste will produce a darker and longer-lasting stain on the skin.
- The right oil can make the paste smoother, ensuring that it adheres to the skin better and can be easily applied, especially when crafting intricate designs.
- Since your paste is applied directly to the skin, use high-quality, pure essential oils to avoid potential skin irritations or allergic reactions.
Experiment with quantities
Adding more or less henna powder in your paste can lead to varied staining effects, offering a broader palette of shades and intensities to work with. Using less henna can result in a lighter, more subtle stain, ideal for those aiming for a softer look or when creating shading effects in intricate designs. Conversely, a paste with a higher henna concentration can produce deeper, more intense stains.
In case you want to use only Jagua powder, read our recipe here:
