ok...long, but here it is. Kree Kones 101.

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Posted by Anne Beltestad on May 11, 2003 at 11:31:05:

In reply to: Re: Kree kone tutorial? posted by Nick on May 11, 2003 at 11:10:05:

You will need: 3M or other high quality clear strapping tape. Scissors. *metal* (that
is foil) or as a last resort plastic (the computer kind) twist ties. And, of
course, the plastic cones and metal pastry tips.
Tape the seams of the bag to help reinforce them, making sure there are *no*
bubbles.
Cut the end of the cone so it fits snugly about halfway down the metal tip. With a
piece of tape about 4-5 inches long that has been *cut in HALF lengthwise* (so it's
narrower, no?) and, starting in the middle, tape the tip to the plastic.
Ideally, you will wrap the tape around in a shape sort of like those "awareness"
ribbons someone was talking about, but go slow and press down a lot to make sure
there are NO bubbles. Bubbles will make the henna leak out, especially if your paste
is a bit stiff. And bubbles will be the downfall of your tool. It's hard to get all of them
out, btu worth it, and you can use a fingernail or the side of the scissor to facilitate
this process.
Wrap another piece of tape at the opposite side of the metal tip, again, pressing all
bubbles out and wrapping the ends up over the "butt" of the tip. You are also trying
to reinforce the place where the end of the metal tip meets the inside of the bag.
You should by now have a pretty watertight Kree Kone. It takes some practice, but
when you get the hang of it these are hands down the BEST tool out there. And with
the twist-tie securing method, you will barely have to press on a full cone to get the
henna to flow out.
ONce you have the henna inside ( I use kenzi's straining method with anything other
than Jamila), holding the bag together between your first two fingers, scrape all the
henna down so it's against the bulk of itself, forming a bit of a dome, or meniscus
(love that word).
Take the middle of the twist tie and put it against one side of the cone, snug against
the top of the "henna line." Gather the plastic so that the tie is holding it, with the tie
in a "u" shape. pull both ends of the tie to tighten the bag. Henna will probably come
out your tip if you're doing this right so hold it over your mixing jar or the sink.
Wrap the twist tie against itself once, then wrap over the gathered plastic and against
itself again. You should be holding it as tight as you can, using your teeth if
necessary (i do) and use the twist tie to secure the whole thing., You can bend the
ends up around the end of the plastic to keep them out of your way. As you run out
of henna, or if you need to fix a clog, just repeat this last part, keeping the twist tie
snug against the top of the henna. It has to be tight, or it will leak, but when it's tight
it is flawless provided your henna is smooth and your tip unclogged with old henna.
Kree uses a small bottle brush to clean these out - I can't seem to impress upon my
current roommates not to throw these away, so I just use a bamboo skewer and lots
of water.
the more you soak the Kree Kone or leave henna in it past its prime, the more water
and essential oils will eat the glue in the tape, so try not to do this (and always use
the expensive tape).
I hope this helps. Email me if you have any questions.

Anne

:
: : If you've got a 2 ml carrot bag, the instructions are at the link
: : below and they work just fine. The 2 mls that I have have just
: enough
: : give that you can wedge that tip right down in there and then heat
: : gently to make it solid.
: :
: : Stiffer bags require taping. The ones I have don't seem to need it.

henna by Anne in New York City

Follow Ups

What is the benefit of using a twist tie to secure the bag opening over using a rubber band? Faery Ring 13:13:34 5/11/2003 (1)
- Re: What is the benefit of using a twist tie to secure the bag opening over using a rubber band? Anne Beltestad 13:18:49 5/11/2003 (0)
Re: ok...long, but here it is. Kree Kones 101. Nick 12:47:52 5/11/2003 (1)
- Nope, only the spendier British ones... Anne Beltestad 12:56:01 5/11/2003 (0)

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: You will need: 3M or other high quality clear strapping tape. Scissors. metal (that : is foil) or as a last resort plastic (the computer kind) twist ties. And, of : course, the plastic cones and metal pastry tips. : Tape the seams of the bag to help reinforce them, making sure there are no : bubbles. : Cut the end of the cone so it fits snugly about halfway down the metal tip. With a : piece of tape about 4-5 inches long that has been cut in HALF lengthwise (so it's : narrower, no?) and, starting in the middle, tape the tip to the plastic. : Ideally, you will wrap the tape around in a shape sort of like those "awareness" : ribbons someone was talking about, but go slow and press down a lot to make sure : there are NO bubbles. Bubbles will make the henna leak out, especially if your paste : is a bit stiff. And bubbles will be the downfall of your tool. It's hard to get all of them : out, btu worth it, and you can use a fingernail or the side of the scissor to facilitate : this process. : Wrap another piece of tape at the opposite side of the metal tip, again, pressing all : bubbles out and wrapping the ends up over the "butt" of the tip. You are also trying : to reinforce the place where the end of the metal tip meets the inside of the bag. : You should by now have a pretty watertight Kree Kone. It takes some practice, but : when you get the hang of it these are hands down the BEST tool out there. And with : the twist-tie securing method, you will barely have to press on a full cone to get the : henna to flow out. : ONce you have the henna inside ( I use kenzi's straining method with anything other : than Jamila), holding the bag together between your first two fingers, scrape all the : henna down so it's against the bulk of itself, forming a bit of a dome, or meniscus : (love that word). : Take the middle of the twist tie and put it against one side of the cone, snug against : the top of the "henna line." Gather the plastic so that the tie is holding it, with the tie : in a "u" shape. pull both ends of the tie to tighten the bag. Henna will probably come : out your tip if you're doing this right so hold it over your mixing jar or the sink. : Wrap the twist tie against itself once, then wrap over the gathered plastic and against : itself again. You should be holding it as tight as you can, using your teeth if : necessary (i do) and use the twist tie to secure the whole thing., You can bend the : ends up around the end of the plastic to keep them out of your way. As you run out : of henna, or if you need to fix a clog, just repeat this last part, keeping the twist tie : snug against the top of the henna. It has to be tight, or it will leak, but when it's tight : it is flawless provided your henna is smooth and your tip unclogged with old henna. : Kree uses a small bottle brush to clean these out - I can't seem to impress upon my : current roommates not to throw these away, so I just use a bamboo skewer and lots : of water. : the more you soak the Kree Kone or leave henna in it past its prime, the more water : and essential oils will eat the glue in the tape, so try not to do this (and always use : the expensive tape). : I hope this helps. Email me if you have any questions. : : Anne : : : : : : If you've got a 2 ml carrot bag, the instructions are at the link : : : below and they work just fine. The 2 mls that I have have just : : enough : : : give that you can wedge that tip right down in there and then heat : : : gently to make it solid. : : : : : : Stiffer bags require taping. The ones I have don't seem to need it.
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