Eight Great Gift Ideas from Mehandi.Com

 

The holidays are coming fast. Ancient Sunrise® and Becoming Moonlight® products from www.Mehandi.com make great gifts for a variety of people. You might know someone who has been interested in trying henna, or someone who has been a devoted henna-head for years. Maybe you have a cosmetics-lover in the family, an artist, a frequent flyer, or someone who is always busy but wants to look their best. Here are eight gift ideas to make everyone happy.

 You could also share this post with loved ones (nudge, wink) to point them toward what you might want this season.

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1. A Stocking-Stuffer Starter Kit the Curious But Hesitant

Your friend has been admiring your hair for ages, and they’re finally ready to try henna, but they don’t know where to start. Put together a sweet and simple gift bag with everything they need to begin. ​​  

 If they’re not sure about their mix, start them off with a few kit samples that are closest to what they want. They can use these to conduct strand tests to help them decide on their mix. Add in a packet or two of our famous Ancient Sunrise® Rainwash treatment, some disposable gloves, hair clips, and a warm knit cap. Write a nice note offering to order their first kit and help them apply it once they’ve figured out what they want.

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Sample orders ship free!

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Toss in some extras goodies that are sure to please anyone:

Ancient Sunrise® Zizyphus Spina Christi is a wonderful cleanser and conditioner for any hair type and color. Learn more about Ancient Sunrise® Zizyphus here.

Ancient Sunrise® Cassia adds strength and shine with minimal color change.

Spellstone hair ornaments make beautiful, unique gifts, and are 50% off with coupon code “Spellstone” until January 6th! They come in a variety of designs to fit every hair length and texture. Each design has a unique meaning. Each piece is made from ethically sourced water buffalo horn or bone.

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2. The Ultimate Pampering Package

Know someone who likes to turn their henna day into a full spa day? Make them a basket of Ancient Sunrise® products to make their experience extra special.

Ancient Sunrise® body oils, lotions, and body butters come in soothing and decadent scents, ​​ and are made in small batches with all natural ingredients.

Ancient Sunrise® Amla powder makes for a great facial mask that cleans, exfoliates, tightens, and brightens. It is high in Vitamin C which is known to brighten complexions, and has anti-microbial properties. Ancient Sunrise® Amla powder is tested for purity by an independent laboratory. Amla has many beneficial uses which you can learn about here.

 

Ancient Sunrise® Amla powder is great for the face. Just mix with water and apply for 3-5 minutes once or twice a week.

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Ancient Sunrise® Shaving Soaps make for a smooth, easy shave and leave the skin moisturized. They are great for shaving the body and the face. They come in Amber, Cedarwood Atlas, and Vetiver scents.

Ancient Sunrise® Henna Attar has a wonderful earthy aroma reminiscent of chocolate and tobacco with a faint, sweet floral note. Dab it on the wrists, behind the ears, or dilute it with a carrier oil. A little goes a long way.

Add in a comfy robe or a candle, and this gift is a winner.

 

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3. For the Constant Doodler and/or Glitter Lover

Becoming Moonlight® body art products are wonderful for those who have an artistic spirit, or those who were a unicorn in a past life.

 The Gilding Kits are a great introduction for those who have not used gilding paste. They can be used to create beautiful, sparkling “white henna” patterns and more. Each kit comes with a cone of Becoming Moonlight® gilding paste, glitter, gilding powder, gems, alcohol swabs, and instructions.

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​​ Create gorgeous works of art on your skin with Becoming Moonlight® body art supplies.

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 This is a great gift for teens who can’t stop drawing on themselves, and is much safer than those “white henna” tutorials online which use anything from white acrylic paint to white-out. Becoming Moonlight® gilding paste is specifically designed for body art use, and is non-toxic and latex-free. As it is flexible and water-resistant, Becoming Moonlight® gilding paste lasts up to a week or longer on the skin.

 Print out the free 2018 Henna Page Calendar or one of the many free pattern books, to provide some artistic inspiration.

Becoming Moonlight® glitters, gilding powders, and gems are all body-art quality and make for great stocking-stuffers, too. The gilding powders are wonderful as eye-shadows and highlighters.

 

4. For the Frequent Flyer

You may know someone who is always traveling, be it for work or for wanderlust. Put together a travel bag they can easily take with them wherever they go. These products are much better than those little bottles in hotel bathrooms, and won’t be a problem when going through airport security.

Ancient Sunrise® Shampoo bars are fantastic for travel. Your loved one won’t have to worry about bringing another liquid through TSA, or having a shampoo bottle leak in their luggage bag. They can even cut off small pieces rather than taking the whole bar. The shampoo bars are made from all natural ingredients, are vegan, cruelty free, and pH balanced. They leave the hair soft and moisturized; ​​ following with conditioner isn’t necessary, so that’s yet another bottle they won’t have to pack!

 

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Each Ancient Sunrise® shampoo bar lasts several months. As they are water-soluble, keep them dry to make them last longer.

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 Water quality varies greatly from place to place, and hard water wreaks havoc on the hair. Luckily, Ancient Sunrise® Rainwash Treatment is easy to pack and clarifies the hair to leave it smooth, soft and manageable. It comes in both single-use packets and 50g jars (enough for about ten uses).

Ancient Sunrise® Zizyphus is a great option for those who are going to the beach. It is a natural 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner that protects the hair from salt water and wind. It comes in a powder form which is mixed with water to form a paste. For campers, it’s safe to rinse outside or in a body of water because it does not contain anything that is harmful to the environment.

If the person in mind colors their hair with Ancient Sunrise® henna, ask them what they use, and portion it out into single-use packets that they can take with them to touch up their roots when away on long trips. Root touch-ups usually take about 50g of powder. Add a fruit acid powder into their henna/cassia so they can just add water. Just remember to keep the indigo powder separate from the rest.

 

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5. For the Busy and Bearded

You may know someone who colors their facial hair or beard with henna. As facial hair grows quickly, it can become time-consuming or annoying to do frequent touch-ups. Give the gift of convenience by mixing up a batch of henna and separating it into single-use portions which can be kept in the freezer and thawed quickly.

 

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Dye-release henna and separate into plastic bags for easy application.

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If this person uses a henna/indigo mix, measure portions of indigo powder into individual baggies so they can just thaw their henna, mix their indigo, combine, and apply. This is a great idea for root touch-ups, too.

 Throw in a tinting brush or toothbrush for easy application, and a cool handkerchief so they can keep the paste warm and look like a bandit at the same time.

Add in an Ancient Sunrise® shaving bar for the times they decide to change up their look. Their skin will thank you.

 

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6. For Those Visiting From Afar

Shipping costs can add up quickly, especially for those henna-heads who live on the west coast, or outside of the United States. If you live closer to Ohio and have friends or relatives visiting from a far-off land, offer to order their favorite plant powders in bulk. Ancient Sunrise® products can be brought across borders without problem. If you order for the both of you, you get the benefit of a bulk discount as well.

Just make sure to account for shipping and handling times so they don’t go home without their goodies. Most orders take about 5-6 business days. Shipments within Ohio can be faster.

 

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7. For the Henna Nerd

 

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The Ancient Sunrise® Henna for Hair E-book has become something like the henna for hair bible. Many long-time henna users still visit it over and over again. The newest chapters include wonderful knowledge about the history of henna use. The best thing is, it’s free to download.

Create a unique gift by downloading the chapters onto a USB drive, and taking it to a printer to have it printed and bound. It will be a lovely addition to a library or coffee table, and very useful for when your loved-one is midway through mixing their paste and just needs to do a quick check.

 

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8. Visit The Empire of Magical Thought

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Empire’s windows have placed in the Main Street Kent holiday window decorating contest for several years in a row.

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If you live near Kent, OH, or will be visiting the area, stopping at Empire is a must. As the brick-and-mortar shop of Mehandi.com, it carries Ancient Sunrise® and Becoming Moonlight® products, chocolates from Bittersweets (which you should definitely also visit), and a plethora of items not available on the online store. From clothes, coloring books, and puppets, to an amazing selection of incense, tarot cards, and crystals, there is truly something for everyone. It is also a beautiful place to browse and wander.

 

​​ Empire is full of gifts and treats.

 

 A little goldfish pond near the entrance fills the store with the soothing sound of trickling water. Hand-painted kites float along the embossed tin ceiling. During the holiday season, a beautiful window display can be seen from East Main Street, and the inside sparkles with hundreds of tiny lights.

On select days, Empire offers free body art or tarot card reading with a minimum purchase, so you can grab your henna supplies, buy gifts, and treat yourself as well. (Make sure to leave a tip for your free service! They greatly appreciate it.) Check Empire’s Facebook page to find out what days they are offering free services.

 

Becoming Moonlight® body art done by Alex Limbach.

 

 

The staff at Empire is fully trained on Ancient Sunrise® and Becoming Moonlight® products, just like the Customer Service team. If you have questions about your mix or want to change things up, don’t hesitate to talk to them! This would also be a great opportunity to bring along any friends or family members who have been interested in starting.

The Empire of Magical Thought is located at 135 E. Main St, in Kent, Ohio.

 

 

Final Notes

When ordering your items, remember to check how long the shipping will take, to ensure your package arrives on time. Express shipping is available at extra cost if you order directly with Customer Service through phone, email, or online chat.

Office hours may change during the holidays. Liking and following our Facebook pages is the best way to keep up to date on any changes. Mehandi’s Facebook page is here, and also be sure to join the Ancient Sunrise Henna group if you haven’t already.

Indigo powder, Ancient Blue® indigo crystals, and gilding paste are affected by cold temperatures. If you live in an area whose temperatures fall below freezing, you may want to request extra insulation or express shipping to make sure your indigo stays safe.

Be sure to check the return/exchange policy here.

 

We wish you a wonderful holiday and hope your friends and family absolutely love their gifts.

“White Henna” and Becoming Moonlight® Gilding Paste

 

 

 

You may have seen images of beautiful henna-style body art done in white, silver, gold, or other colors. This technique is often referred to as “white henna,” and has gained popularity in both regions where henna is traditionally used, and in western societies. “White henna” is an interesting new twist on traditional henna. It’s great for formal looks in weddings or events, as well as casual summertime adornment.

 

 

 

What is “White Henna?”

“White henna” is not actually henna. The red-brown stain of traditional henna paste comes from the dye that occurs naturally in the leaves of the henna (lawsonia inermis) plant. To make traditional henna paste, the leaves are harvested, dried, ground, and sifted into a fine powder. This powder is mixed with a mildly acidic liquid, such as lemon juice, which releases the intermediary dye molecules which bind to keratin in skin, hair, and nails. This stain oxidizes from a bright orange to deep red and brown tones. The color stays in the surface layers of the skin until the skin cells shed, allowing the pattern to last a couple of weeks.

On the other hand, “white henna” is a style of body art that involves applying a product to the surface of the skin for a temporary, henna-like effect. It has been done with body paint, adhesives, homemade flour-based pastes, and—as a quick search on YouTube would reveal—acrylic paints, white-out, and other materials that are not safe for skin. Some “white henna” products on the market claim to “stain” the skin white, and may contain some kind of bleach. The problem with many “white henna” products or DIY techniques one might find online is that the product is not safe for use on skin, ​​ and/or does not stay for more than a few hours before cracking or washing off.

Although “white henna” has gained popularity in the past couple of years, Catherine Cartwright-Jones, PhD, began exploring “white henna” work in 2003. In 2012, Becoming Moonlight® Gilding Paste was developed through a collaboration between Catherine and her company, TapDancing Lizard® LLC, and Olena Wilshanetsky.

 

What is Becoming Moonlight® Gilding Paste?

Becoming Moonlight® Gilding Paste was the first product developed specifically for creating henna-like patterns on the skin. It is based on Pros-Aide medical adhesive. It is water resistant, flexible, and latex-free. It is not a paint nor a dye, but rather an adhesive paste that can be applied with a cone just as henna would. The paste dries after 5-10 minutes, and is tacky to the touch. The artist then seals the paste with any body art quality glitter or mica powder for the desired effect.

 Pros-Aide adhesives were originally produced for medical use, but have been widely used by body artists to apply durable, colorful, and sparkling patterns to skin. Both the liquid and cream adhesives tend to dry flat, and transparent. Becoming Moonlight® worked directly with the manufacturers of Pros-Aide to create a skin-safe* adhesive specifically for body art use. Unlike the original Pros-Aide cream adhesive, Becoming Moonlight® gilding paste dries raised and opaque white, making glitters and powders “pop.” The formula is thicker, allowing it to be applied in thin lines and intricate patterns, the same way as traditional henna paste.

 

 

Setting the paste with white or pearlescent mica powder creates the classic “white henna” look. However, any color or combination of colors can be used over the paste. This makes it wonderfully versatile. The design stays in place for up to a week, depending on placement and aftercare. It can be easily removed with mineral oil or by rubbing sticky tape over the design.

Because Becoming Moonlight® gilding paste does not stain the skin, it is an ideal product for school children and workers whose dress codes would not allow them to have visible “tattoos.” The design can be worn for the desired period of time, and then removed prior to returning to school or work.

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How to Use Becoming Moonlight® Gilding Paste

Mehandi.com sells Becoming Moonlight® gilding paste in both single-use cones and in 4oz jars. A single cone contains enough gilding paste to create several small patterns, or 1-2 large patterns, depending on intricacy. A 4oz jar contains enough paste to fill about twenty cones. Becoming Moonlight® offers body art quality glitters, mica powders, and gems in a large assortment of colors. You can also purchase pre-rolled cones, or mylar triangles to roll your own cones.

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 The following videos demonstrate how to roll mylar cones, and how to fill cones with Becoming Moonlight® gilding paste.

 If you are familiar with applying traditional henna, applying gilding paste feels very similar. Simply snip the very tip of the cone, enough to draw thin lines. Clean the skin with isopropyl alcohol, and create the pattern. Allow the paste to become firm and tacky. Once the paste has set, apply your choice of Becoming Moonlight® gilding powders and glitters to seal the design, and dust off the excess.

Here’s a video tutorial for creating a simple but elegant Halloween look.

 

For more tutorials and patterns, visit www.becomingmoonlight.com and http://www.hennapage.com/henna/white_henna/index.htm

 

* Note: Those who are sensitive to adhesives, such as those ones used in bandages, should conduct a patch-test with Becoming Moonlight® gilding paste first.