Creating Complex Patterns



Complex pattern in 'white henna'

'White henna' is Becoming Moonlight®, a product based on a medical adhesive created for the attachment of surgical appliances and for make up artists. It has been adapted for henna body art, and can be used with other modern media to create beautiful 'white henna' art.

The body adhesives contain water, acrylic emulsion, glyceryl, guar gum, sorbitol, titanium dioxide, and a trace (less than 1%) of benzyl alcohol.

you dust glitter or gilding powder over the surface of ''white henna' you can create any color you desire: the colors of glitter or gilding powder stick to and seal the surface of the adhesive.


'White henna' knotwork pattern

Becoming Moonlight®, Pros-Aide Cream Adhesive, gilding powder , gems and Temptu are a group of materials specially formulated to work together and extend the range of colors and applications available to henna artists. These materials are waterproof, absolutely safe for use on skin, and lasts from three to ten days.


materials for 'white henna'

These materials were used to create this work:


Begin to lay out a complex pattern

If you want to do a complex pattern that cannot be easily freehanded, lay it out first with aquarellable pencil on damp skin.


pencil in a knotwork layout

Aquarellable pencil mistakes can be ‘erased’ from the skin by dabbing with water.


shake the Temptu

The medium of Temptu tends to separate from the pigment. Vigorously shake the bottle of Temptu each time before using.


put down a drop of Temptu

Put a few drops of Temptu temporary tattoo paint on a plate and alow them to thicken for a minute or two. If your Temptu becomes too thick, you can thin it with 91% isopropyl alcohol.


interlace the lines with white Temptu

Apply Temptu with a brush to your layout, painting over the aquarellable pencil, and interlacing the knotwork as you go.


Apply Temptu to create white henna

Apply Temptu on clean, dry skin. Temptu will dry in a few minutes. It will remain slightly sticky.


apply mica over Temptu

When the painting is finished, brush gilding powder over the white Temptu to seal the paint and make it waterproof.


brush away the excess powder

Brush away the excess gilding powder.


wipe away the aquarellable pencil with a damp cloth

Wipe the pattern gently with a moist cloth to remove remaining gilding powder and aquarellable pencil lines.


place dots of adhesive for gems

To add Becoming Moonlight® gems to your art, apply a drop of Becoming Moonlight® gilding paste to each point where you want to place a gem, then set a gem on the paste.


apply gems

Use a birthday candle to pick up the gem and set it into place.


Continue the design with 'white henna' paste

Extend and elaborate on the pattern by applying Becoming Moonlight® gilding paste as you would henna, but use much finer lines. Use the gilding paste to define and enhance your Temptu pattern.

Thicker paste lines will take longer to dry: lines the size of a cat's whisker will dry in about ten minutes.


apply mica over 'white henna'

Allow the Becoming Moonlight® gilding paste to dry. Apply Becoming Moonlight® gilding powder generously to make the paste durable and waterproof.

If your brushes stick to the gilding paste, let the paste dry longer. If there is gilding paste stuck in the bristles, clean the brush with 91% isopropyl alcohol and let it dry.


cover the entire area with gilding powder

Generously cover all of the Becoming Moonlight® gilding paste with Becoming Moonlight® gilding powder.


brush away the excess powder

Brush away the excess gilding powder with a large, soft brush. If excess gilding powder clings to the skin, wait about ten more minutes and rinse the skin with water, or wipe gently with a soft, moist cloth.


Completed 'white henna' design

When your Becoming Moonlight® 'white henna' body art is completed, it will be waterproof and remain on the skin for three to ten days, depending on care.