Henna cone
Also called: Mehndi cone and Henna applicator
A small rolled plastic cone filled with henna paste, with the tip snipped to a fine opening, used to pipe the design onto the skin.
A henna cone is to a henna artist what a pen is to a calligrapher. A sheet of cellophane or thin plastic is rolled into a cone, filled with prepared paste, sealed at the top and cut at the tip. A tiny opening draws hair-fine lines; a wider one gives bold Khaleeji stems and filled fingertips. The artist controls the flow by pressure alone.
Cones are either rolled and filled by the artist from her own paste, or bought ready made. Ready-made cones vary a great deal. Some are natural henna with essential oils; others contain added dyes, including PPD in cones sold as black henna, or preservatives that keep the paste from spoiling on a shelf. A natural paste in a cone has a short life, which is why careful artists mix fresh and keep cones cold.
What to ask: what is in the paste, when it was made and whether the cone is new for you. At Hamd Beauty the henna cone is a single-use item opened for your visit and discarded afterwards.
