The best mehndi / henna is made fresh from the freshest henna powder, finely powdered, and free from twigs and crud. The more quickly the henna gets from the bush to your skin, the more dark and beautiful the color. If you purchase mehndi / henna at a store, its hard to tell how long the box has been on the shelf, and how long it was in the warehouses before that. If you can get mehndi / henna from an internet supplier who is getting it straight from the growers, that is probably your best source, unless you have a friend or relative who can bring you some directly from the country, where it is produced . . . or . . . if you can, grow your own.

If you do have very fresh henna powder, you can prolong its usefulness by keeping it enclosed, light-proof and damp proof in your refrigerator.

In a store, look for 100% pure henna powder with no added ingredients that are meant for skin, not for hair. Do not purchase any powder labeled "Black Henna" that seems to be a hair dye. It will not dye your skin black, it will just leave a grubby smudge.