Henna FAQs
WHAT IS HENNA?
Henna is one of the most popular common names for the dried and ground leaves of the plant Lawsonia Inermis. It is the traditional name used throughout North Africa & The Middle East and in recent years it has also become the most popular name used across Europe and throughout the USA. Henna releases a safe & natural brown dye that stains the skin amongst other things!
Click Here for further information about the History of Henna
WHAT IS MENDHI / MEHANDI / MEHNDI?
Henna is more commonly known as Mendhi (various spellings) throughout most of India and Pakistan.
Click Here for more colloquial names for henna
WHAT IS LAWSONIA INERMIS?
Lawsonia Inermis is the Latin name allocated for the henna plant (shrub)
WHERE DOES HENNA COME FROM?
Henna grows in warm and dry climates, it is common throughout North Africa, The Middle East, Pakistan & India.
Click Here for a full geographical bio on henna
IS HENNA SAFE?
Yes. Henna is a safe and natural dye that has been traditionally used by women throughout North Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan and India for thousands of years.
Click Here for further information about the History of Henna
Click Here to view our Safety Statement.
WHAT IS PPD?
PPD is a commonly used abbreviation for the man made chemical dye known as p-Phenyldiamine, p-Phenylenedimine, paraPhenyldiamine & paraPhenylenedimine. This dye does in fact stain the skin black. However it is very dangerous and illegal to use in any country where such safety legislation regarding cosmetic ingredients exists. It is strictly forbidden for use on the skin under European Cosmetic (Safety) Regulations. It is also forbidden for use on the skin by the FDA, in the USA.
Click Here for further information about PPD.
WHAT IS BLACK HENNA?
There is no such thing as Black Henna. Henna is a natural dye that stains the skin various shades of oranges, through browns & burgundies. There are traditional darkening methods used in North Africa and the Middle East to turn henna black. These methods usually include ammonia, which will darken the shade of henna, sometimes a black colour can even be achieved, but the techniques only have an effect on henna stains on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. However it is not recommended as it isn’t a very nice substance to go putting on your skin, it smells awful and its results are limited (i.e. only parts of the hands & feet) and unreliable at best.
Unfortunately, there are still some irresponsible people out there who claim to sell ‘Black Henna’ Products &/or Body Art service. They are in fact selling &/or using products that contain PPD. This is Illegal, Immoral & Dangerous. Do not buy into this myth.
Click Here for further information to help you avoid so called ‘black henna’
IS THERE A SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO BLACK HENNA?
For the first time in the history of Western Temporary Body Art the answer is….. YES!
2006 will long be remembered by Henna Body Art Professionals & Enthusiast alike as The Year of The Jagua Tattoo. Jagua Tattoos are safe and the dye comes from a natural plant source – a fruit from the Amazon Jungle. Jagua Tattoos work in a very similar way to Henna Tattoos, the stain can take anywhere from 12-48 hours to develop, but instead of orange/brown colours you get blue/black colours – just like real tattoos!
Click Here to view our Jagua Tattoo Products.
CAN I HAVE A HENNA TATTOO IF I AM PREGNANT?
Yes, there is no reason why you can’t have a Henna Tattoo while you are pregnant. However you should avoid contact with oils such as Mehlabiya, Teatree, Cajput, Clove, Mustard Seed, etc… These oils are sometimes applied to the skin before henna paste is applied, and sometimes they are mixed into henna paste by the henna artist. The best way to make sure you have no essential oils in your henna paste is to prepare it yourself. Our henna kits do not have any oils in the catalyst (recipe) so they are ideal for pregnant women. Remember not to apply any oils to the skin before you apply henna paste either! However, if you are at all concerned please take the ingredient list along to your GP for advice.
Click Here for ingredients listings and to see how Henna works.
CAN MY CHILDREN HAVE HENNA TATTOOS?
Absolutely, henna is completely safe and natural and has been used to adorn children for thousands of years throughout Eastern Cultures. If your child has sensitive skin, it may be advisable to avoid contact with oils such as Mehlabiya, Teatree, Cajput, Clove, Mustard Seed, etc… These oils are sometimes applied to the skin before henna paste is applied, and sometimes they are mixed into henna paste by the henna artist. The best way to make sure you have no essential oils in your henna paste is to prepare it yourself. Our henna kits do not have any oils in the catalyst (recipe) so they are ideal for children with sensitive skin.
Click Here for further safety information.
CAN I DO IT MYSELF?
Yes, you can use our Henna Tattoo products yourself. If you have never done anything like this before it is probably advisable to get one of the kits at first – because they contain all the little extras you need, like some tattoo designs, tracing paper & a magic pencil.
It is easier than it looks and with a little practice everyone can create beautiful Henna Tattoos! The magic pencil and tracing paper make any design possible, and as easy as to do as a ‘Paint by Numbers’!
as easy as to do as a ‘Paint by Numbers’!</p>
