Are you looking for a guide on how to remove mehndi from nails? You are at the right place. Keep reading to get the solution.
Also known as henna, mehndi is a form of body art for women (especially brides) that originated from the native culture of India, a symbol of good luck and prosperity. Brides adorn their hands and feet with the mehndi for their wedding day at what is called a Mehndi ceremony, attended only by women to wish the bride-to-be the best in her marriage.
It is a lush tradition that dates back thousands of years and is still very much in vogue these days.
Mehndi designs are diverse, and it stays on the skin for quite some time, almost like temporary tattoos. Waiting for it to fade off may take longer than you envisage, so you can get it removed all at once by using the most accessible ingredients in your home. Removing mehndi from your hands is not as difficult as getting them off your nails, because the nails are the toughest parts of the body. To save time and energy, you should try these methods:
1. Salt Water Dip
Salt and water are essentials in every home, and you can get rid of the Mehndi on your nails by combining them and soaking your fingernails in the solution for about twenty minutes. Sea salt works best for this, but you can make use of Epsom salt and table salt. Salt is a known powerful cleanser, and it is capable of dissolving the color on your nails and dispersing it into the water as you soak. The active ingredient in salt, sodium chloride is responsible for rejuvenating skin cells. A prolonged saltwater soak may strip the skin of some valuable oils, so ensure to follow up this method with a moisturizer.
2. Olive Oil
This natural oil has moisturizing factors and when combined with salt, makes a powerful exfoliant and Mehndi remover. Mix in some salt with olive oil and dip a cotton ball in the mixture to wipe your nails with. A few more times of doing this will remove the Mehndi completely. You should wash your hands after using this method to remove excess oil.
3. Baking Soda and Lemon Juice
This combo makes for a powerful remover as lemon juice is known to have skin lightening properties while baking soda is famous for removing the toughest stains. Combine a tablespoon of baking soda and two teaspoons of lemon juice into a cup of warm water. Dip a cotton ball into this mixture and wipe the nails for about twenty minutes. This will remove the Mehndi from your nails faster than any other method. The use of lemon juice around the skin can be quite drying, so follow up this method with a moisturizer.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide
This is another skin lightener that can double as an effective Mehndi remover with only a few cotton swabs across the affected nails or submersion of your nails in a small bowl of the solution. Wash off with lukewarm water and moisturize to protect your skin barrier.
5. Toothpaste
Yes, you read that right. You can use toothpaste to rid your nails of Mehndi by just applying a generous amount of it onto your nails, letting it sit on for a while and then scrubbing off the Mehndi with an old toothbrush. Whitening toothpaste will work better for this than the regular ones and don’t forget to moisturize after that.
You don’t have to endure the wait to get that Mehndi off your nails after it has served its purpose. These methods use benign solutions and the active ingredients highlighted will not affect the health of your fingernails and their growth negatively.
