Henna : best way to keep it fresh ?

[Cailie]

What is the best way to store good quality henna powder to keep it the most fresh (if we don't use it all right away, for example ) ?


Can it be frozen ? Kept in a dry cool place away from light ?
About how long can it be kept before loosing it's freshness and quality ?


What about indigo and katam, any different ?

[Natalia]

What is the best way to store good quality henna powder to keep it the most fresh (if we don't use it all right away, for example ) ?


Can it be frozen ? Kept in a dry cool place away from light ?
About how long can it be kept before loosing it's freshness and quality ?


What about indigo and katam, any different ?

I freeze both my powder and my paste (though my paste is for skin use). The powder is divided in sealed 20g bags inside a glass jar. The paste is in its capped bottles each in their own bag inside of a larger bag. I havent had a problem with freezer burn on the paste and i havent mixed any pf the powder since its been frozen but there is no moisture int he jar so it should be fine :).

[CrisDee]

I'm sure this has been answered elsewhere, but wouldn't begin to know how to search for it - how long does henna powder, kept at climate controlled room temperature, stay good? I've had mine since October '09, and it seems ok. And does the same time frame hold true for cassia? Thanks in advance! :flower:

[Erin-86]

I have the same henna for over a year now, and it is still good.

I keep it at room temperature in a sealed bag.

[Katze]

henna artist here.

Henna needs to be kept away from air, heat, and light. I used to freeze my powder, but found that the changes in temperature and humidity when I took it out of the freezer to mix some then put it back in were detrimental to its freshness.

Right now I am working on a kilo my mentor gave me as a wedding present in July. I have it sealed in the double ziploc bags she gave it to me in, then a black plastic trash bag, then in a metal flour/kitchen canister. I keep it in a dark cupboard in my kitchen.

Temperatures where I live are rarely above 15 degrees C and our apartment is relatively dark and cool. if it does get really hot, I store my henna in a closet in our basement, where it is never, ever, ever warm.

[Gulbahar]

I've had henna for years, kept in a plastic bag but not sealed. There seemed to be no difference in the colour outcome. I wouldn't worry too much about it. :shrug:
I mean, I'm sure it's better to use fresh henna but it's a dried powder after all - what can really happen to it?

[Cailie]

Thank you all for those answers !

[RedStripe]

I also keep both powder and paste in the freezer. I haven't kept it for as long as some of the other posters, but I have had the experience of making up much more paste than I needed, freezing it, thawing it and using some, putting the rest back in the freezer, and thawing later to use the rest. Didn't notice any negative effect on quality.

[VintageBrooklyn]

I store my Henna powder in ziplock bags in the freezer and I store my Indigo in the fridge. Apparently according to a lot of researching I did online, these are the methods of storage that the powders prefer, I hope!
:)

[jel]

I also store my henna in the freezer, both the powder and the leftover mix (for hair). I buy henna in multiples of 200g foil packs, and mix a whole pack at a time. I divide that mix into 3, use one on my roots, and freeze the remaining 2 baggies. If anything, defrosted henna mix is even more vibrant on my hair than fresh!