FAQ: Henna & Jagua

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Henna

Henna is the common name for the dried and ground leaves of the plant Lawsonia Inermis. It typically comes from North Africa & The Middle East. It is also sometimes called Mehndi or Mehandi. Henna is a safe & natural brown/red dye that stains the skin and then gradually wears off as the skin exfoliates.

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.

What is black Henna?

There is no such thing as Black Henna. The PPD man made chemical dye know as p-Phenyldiamine, p-Phenylenedimine, paraPhenyldiamine & paraPhenylenedimine are sometimes falsely called Black Henna. Henna is a natural dye that stains the skin various shades of browns. There are traditional darkening methods used in North Africa and the Middle East to turn henna black but none of these methods are clearly non-toxic and are not recommended to put on the skin. These methods usually include ammonia, which will darken the shade of henna, sometimes looking black in color but the techniques only have an effect on henna staining the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.

Unfortunately, this product can still be found on the market. It’s up to you to be sure of what someone is putting on you is the safe and natural Henna product and not PPD. Please ask your henna artists about their product. They should be able to tell you the stain is brown and no chemicals have been added to darken it. If you have any doubt please go to another place or artist.

What is PPD?

PPD is an abbreviation for the man made chemical dye p-Phenyldiamine, p-Phenylenedimine, paraPhenyldiamine & paraPhenylenedimine. This dye does in fact stain the skin black but was never intended to be used on the skin. It is used most often as a hair dye. It is very dangerous and illegal. It is forbidden for use on the skin by the FDA, in the USA and European Cosmetic (Safety) Regulations.

Why do pictures of Henna often look black?

Most pictures of Henna tattoos are taken with the paste still on. This makes them appear black in the picture. But when the paste comes off the stain will be a light orange then turn to a brown/redish color within 1-2 days.

Is there a safe, natural product that stains black?

YES! Now there is the Jagua Tattoo! Jagua Tattoos are safe and 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 1-2 days to develop, but instead of brown/red colors you get black/blue colors. The Jagua tends to look more like a real tattoo!

For more information about Jagua ... For Jagua 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 ask the artist what is mixed into her henna. 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.
If you have concerns about using henna while pregnant, ask your doctor or midwife.

How does Henna stain the skin?

The active ingredient “Lawson” contained in the leaves of the henna plant begins to work when the henna powder is activated by a catalyst. Most people use hot water, tea or lemon juice and sometimes certain oils. Once the Henna is activated and comes in contact with the skin it starts to dye the dead layers. It does not penetrate any deeper than that. It does not go through the blood stream, liver or kidneys.

How long does a Henna tattoo take to dry?

Henna Tattoo paste usually dries hard within an hour. Drying time depends upon outside or room temperature, body temperature, size and type of design. We recommend that you leave Henna paste on the skin for 4-6 hours to work effectively.

AFTERCARE INFORMATION

What color is a Henna tattoo?

While the specific color achieved varies from person to person according to such things as, skin type, skin condition, body location and lifestyle most people enjoy a brown/red color. Henna can stain anywhere from orange, brown, brownish-reds and almost black.