Reader Mail: Henna Didn't Stain, What Went Wrong?

I only used about a tablespoon of powder, enough boiled down coffee/tea mixture to make a paste, a few drops of lemon juice(from one of those plastic squeeze bottles) and a few drops of veg oil in place of the eucalyptus oil. Eucalyptus oil properties are very different and it's added to help intensify the stain because of the way it helps to dry the skin. Vegetable oil adds moisture to the skin, so it is possible that you actually created a barrier between your skin and the paste. My favorite retailer is Natural Expressions - the website is a bit clunky and they sell tattooing and piercing equipment, which I really despise, but their henna products are outstanding and they have very good prices and super fast delivery.