Henna FAQs

What is Henna?
Henna is an Arabic word for Lawsonia Inermis, also called Mehendi in many parts of India. This desert shrub, thought to be native to Egypt was brought into India and other countries by merchants and immigrants. It thrives in areas with a hot, dry climate. Henna has been used for thousands of years to adorn the hands and feet of women for weddings and other auspicious times.

How does henna work?
The short version is that the henna leaves contain a dye that is released when the powdered leaves are mixed into a paste. The dye molecule (Lawsone) is small enough to be absorbed by the dead cells at the surface of the skin. The stain remains until those cells are exfoliated.

Is Henna Safe?
The henna plant is one of the oldest cosmetics ever used and is extremely safe. Natural henna, when applied to the skin rarely causes any adverse reactions, if you are concerned you should do a small patch test first. Natural henna is safe even for use on children as it contains no dangerous chemical dyes or harsh additives.

What is the color of Henna?
100% pure henna stains skin in some color between orange, red, burgundy, brown or coffee. Darkness varies with each person's body chemistry, the area of body chosen, and the length of time the paste remained in contact with the skin. Henna stains darkest where the skin is thickest.

How long should I leave the paste on my skin?
You can peel off the paste as soon as it dries. This can be anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. However, the earlier you take the paste off the lighter your henna tattoo will be. We recommend that you leave the henna paste for at least 5 hours in order to get a dark and long lasting henna tattoo.

How long does it last?
The design lasts for about 2-3 weeks on thicker skinned regions such as hands and feet and 7-12 days on thinner skinned areas such as arms, chest, and back. As your skin exfoliates and regenerates your henna will completely disappear. To obtain the best possible stain apply the paste to hands and feet, keep the area very warm, and leave the paste on at least 8 hours. Exposure to water, soap or chlorine makes pattern fade much faster.

Does it hurt?
Natural Henna is temporary and pain free as it does not involve piercing or using needles. When the paste is applied to the skin it may feel cool due to the natural cooling properties of the henna plant. You may feel tingling or tickling it is caused by the essential oils such as eucalyptus which are sometimes used in the mix. Application of henna paste can be quite relaxing and enjoyable, especially in the warm summer months as its cooling and soothing to the skin.

Can henna be used for hair?
Yes. Henna has first been used to nourish and dye hair. It is the only 100% natural hair dye. It also works as a very good conditioner. The dyed hair with henna gives a red to brown color tone depending on your original/natural hair color.

What is Black Henna?
There is no such thing as black henna. In order for henna to produce a black color chemicals that are unsafe for your skin have been added. "Black henna should be avoided". A chemical dye known as PPD, which is not authorized for use on the skin by the FDA is often added to the natural henna to produce a black color. Black henna has become very popular in certain tourist areas, particularly Venice Beach and Mexico. It can cause liver and kidney damage, as well as scarring of the skin. For more information please check out this link..