Using Transfer Paper With Henna

This tutorial applies to any natural body art, including henna, jagua and jagua-henna

 

A lot of people ask whether stencils work with henna, or if I carry them in my shop. I understand why - when you’re new to it, henna can feel pretty intimidating! Even for more experienced artists, there may be certain styles that are challenging. Personally, Celtic knots are my Achilles heel!

Unfortunately, stencils aren’t a great solution for this. The henna tends to get underneath the adhesive and the result is a bit messy. Not only that, you’ll have to get different stencils for every design you want to do; and you can’t adjust the size for different people / body parts etc.

Transfer paper is perfect for henna! You can use any design you want. One that you spent time drawing/erasing/adjusting until it’s just so, or even one you’ve printed off or had a friend design for you. It’s versatile and easy to use.

Keep reading for my tutorial, or jump to the video

How To Use Transfer Paper

Supplies needed for copying a henna design to the skin using transfer paper

Here’s what you need:

  • Skin-safe transfer paper

  • Henna (or jagua or jagua-henna)

  • Witch hazel (Easy to find at the drugstore. Rubbing alcohol might also work, but can dry too quickly)

  • Cotton pads or cotton balls

  • Scissors

  • Your design, trimmed to remove excess borders

  • A pen

Skin safe transfer paper is used for assisting with complicated henna designs

Separate the sheets

You’ll notice the transfer paper has 3 sheets. The top white tissue paper sheet, a brown center sheet and then a thick dark-blue ink sheet.

Gently pull the center brown sheet out and set it aside.

Set the other sheets down, with the white tissue paper on top.

Copy your own henna design or a printed design to trace

Get your design

Place your drawing directly on top of the transfer paper. Again, the thin tissue paper should be on top and the ink sheet should be on the bottom.

Transfer paper works better than a stencil for henna

Trace the drawing

Carefully trace over all the lines in your drawing. Press firmly, but don’t go crazy. If you press too hard you might tear the tissue paper! So be gentle but firm.

Henna stencils don't work very well so we prefer transfer paper for best results.

Set your drawing aside.

Now, you’ll notice the ink has transferred to the tissue paper where you traced!

We prefer Spirit brand transfer paper for safety and quality

Cut out the transfer

Use your scissors to carefully cut your design out. Trim off any large borders. This will make it easier to apply to your skin later.

Set this aside, ink side up.

Witch hazel is great for skin prep before henna because it's gentle and non-drying

Wipe the skin with witch hazel

Next, saturate the cotton with your witch hazel (or rubbing alcohol) and wipe down all of the skin where the design will go. You want to leave the skin with a nice sheen so that it’s damp but not wet. If it’s really wet, let it air dry for a 5-30 seconds until it’s just damp.

This is what will transfer the ink to your skin. If it’s too wet, the ink will bleed and your transfer will be blurry.

Easily copy complex designs in henna using transfer paper

Apply the transfer to your skin

Carefully place the transfer, ink side down, onto the skin. Gently press it in place so it’s fully stuck down.

For the best custom henna stencil, use transfer paper

Gently press for a few seconds

Press down on the transfer to make sure it’s making good contact with the skin. Just don’t go overboard, you don’t want to cause it to wrinkle. It might help to use a folded washcloth under your hand to create a “flatter” area to press down.

Press for 5-10 seconds.

make your own DIY henna stencil using transfer paper

Peel away the transfer

Grab one edge of the transfer and gently peel it back up from the skin.

Temporary ink transfer on the skin for practicing complex henna designs

Perfect!

Now you’ve got the ink transferred to your skin, ready to be traced over with your henna!

Applying a henna design over an ink transfer on the skin

Trace your design

Apply your henna directly over the ink. Don’t worry, the ink is temporary and will be barely noticeable when you’re done. It will fade on it’s own in about a day.

Quaternary celtic knot henna design on a man's arm

That’s it!

Follow our aftercare instructions to get the best stain possible!

Here’s our video walkthrough

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How To Fill Henna Cones

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Warning About Imitation Henna