henna cracking?

You need to use a sealer to keep the henna moist and in contact with the skin longer.

Apply the sealer when the henna is just-dry and before it starts cracking and falling off.

Use the lemon sugar sealer recipe from the How To page or use spray bandage as a sealer.

Follow up with a wrap for super dark color!

Add sugar to your henna mix.

Sugar makes the henna stay wet against the skin longer, stick to the skin better, and makes the henna more flexible thus helping you achieve a darker stain. It also helps give your henna a great consistency. You may find you like more or less sugar with different brands of henna.

Keep in mind, sugar becomes a liquid when mixed into your henna. It will NOT thicken your paste and will thin it substantially.

Your henna paste is too thick.

Thicker henna tends to crack quicker and bigger chunks of henna fall off. Thin your henna bit-by-bit to find out what you like to use. Try using a little sugar to thin the henna instead of lemon juice.

Steam your henna!

Be careful with this, but steaming your henna can lead to amazing results because you are both keeping the henna moist AND adding heat. Be sure to keep the henna just-moist and not sopping wet.

Should have bought stickers.