Stain & Aftercare

What is Clove Steam?

Clove steam is a traditional Indian aftercare trick in which cloves (laung) are heated on a tawa and the hands are held carefully above the warm smoke after scraping off mehendi, to add warmth and deepen the stain.

Clove Steam explained

The heat - not the cloves themselves - is what mainly helps the stain darken. Hands should be held at a safe height to avoid burns.

Many families do this as part of the bridal mehendi night. Simple warmth, such as staying in a warm room, has a similar effect.

Also searched as: laung smoke mehendi · clove for mehendi colour · clove heat henna

Related mehendi terms

Dark Mehendi StainA dark mehendi stain is a deep maroon or reddish-brown colour achieved with fresh natural paste, leaving it on for 6-12 hours, sealing it with lemon-sugar, keeping the area warm, and avoiding water for several hours after removal.Mehendi AftercareMehendi aftercare is the set of steps that help a henna design stain dark and last longer: leaving the paste on for hours, sealing it, scraping rather than washing it off, avoiding water for several hours, and moisturising afterwards.Stain DevelopmentStain development is the 24-48 hour process in which a fresh orange henna stain darkens to its final reddish-brown colour as the lawsone in the skin oxidises. Warmth helps; water and soap in the first hours slow it down.Mehendi BalmMehendi balm is any oil or balm - such as coconut oil, mustard oil or a shea-based balm - applied after the paste is removed to moisturise the skin and protect the stain from water, helping the design last longer.

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