What is Henna?
Henna is made from a plant grown in the Middle East and India. (Lawsonia Enermis)The leaves of the plant are ground and sifted into a fine powder, and then mixed with lemon juice, sugar and essential oils to get the beautiful reddish brown stain.
What is the purpose of Henna Body Art?
Henna has been used in the Middle East, North Africa and India for thousands of years to decorate the body. Mostly this is done for Weddings, Celebrations, or traditional rituals.
How long does it last?
It can last a few days up to a few weeks, depending on the placement of the henna. Hands naturally fade faster as we wash them more. Henna also stains darker on the feet and hands because the skin is thicker there. It will be a lighter color on other parts of the body. It stains darkest on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, but it will also fade the fastest from the palms, due to hand washing.
Henna Aftercare:
1. Leave paste on for a minimum of 4 hours. Overnight makes for the best results.
2. Scrape the paste off. Do not get it wet!
3. For the best color, try to avoid water for 24 hours. If you must shower, protect your design by coating it with a natural oil, shea butter or balm.
4. Design will progress from orange tones to reddish brown or dark brown depending on the person in about 48 hours. Color may continue to deepen even longer on some individuals.
Natural Stain Progression
BLACK HENNA WARNING:
Real Henna is NOT Black
Black "henna" contains a toxin called para-phenylenediamine or PPD (coal tar) and benzene (an ingredient found in gasoline and paint solvents) which will seep into your bloodstream from the "henna". Imagine mixing gasoline, black dye, and coal tar and applying it to your skin to get your black "henna" tattoo.
PPD is a toxin. It is present in instant hair dyes in the concentration of 6%. Every box of hair dye comes with a pair of plastic gloves, because you have to protect direct contact to skin. Hair dye boxes come with precautions and warnings, not to apply directly to the scalp and to wash off the dye after 5-10 minutes. While in hair dyes, PPD is at 6%. However, when used as "henna" it is at a concentration of 50-70% or more, and is being applied directly to the skin.
A reaction to para-phenylenediamine can include itching, a rash, full body hives, severe blistering, permanent scarring, liver damage, and life-threatening breathing problems.
If you have had a black henna tattoo, do NOT dye your hair with a synthetic hair dye without getting checked for an allergy to PPD.
Once sensitized, you can become cross-sensitive to other PPD-like additives that include…
~ Black clothing dye (imagine not being able to wear black for the rest of your life!)
~ Black rubber
~ Pen ink
~ Some food colorings and preservatives
~ Some prescription and over-the counter medications
~ Sunscreen (PABA)
Black Henna Scarring