How can I make my mehndi darker?

Leave the paste on longer, seal it with lemon and sugar, keep the skin warm, and avoid water for the first day after removing the paste.

Should I do a patch test before applying mehndi?

Yes. Apply a small amount of the paste to the inner arm and wait 24 hours, especially if you have sensitive skin or are using a new cone.

When should I apply mehndi for Eid?

Apply it the night before Eid. The stain is lightest when the paste comes off and darkens over the next day.

Gorgeous Eid Crescent Motif Mehndi Design for Foot — Eid Mehndi Design

An elaborate eid mehndi design tailored for the foot, featuring net pattern and paisley. Rated as Easy, this pattern is perfect for Teej.

The soles take henna as well as the palms do, while the top of the foot stains lighter. Stay seated and avoid walking until the paste has dried completely. This is a beginner-friendly pattern: practise the main shapes on paper first, then copy them onto skin with a fine-tipped cone.

In South Asia, mehndi is traditionally applied on Chaand Raat, the night before Eid, when the new moon is sighted. Mehndi is worn for both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as part of dressing up for the celebration.

Application tips: Scrape the dried paste off instead of washing it, and keep the area away from water for the first 12 to 24 hours. The stain starts orange and darkens to reddish brown over 24 to 48 hours as it oxidises.