What is Henna?

Henna is the Persian name for the shrub Lawsonia inermis. It is a native plant to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia and northern Oceania. The shrub has four-petaled flowers; however it is the leaves which produce the red dye. The leaves are harvested and ground to a powder. The dye is released during the process of making henna paste. This paste is applied traditionally to hair, skin, and fingernails. Henna is known as mehndi in Hindi.

What is the History of Henna?

Henna is used to decorate drum skins and cloth. Persians used henna to dye the hoofs of their horses. Persians invaded India in 712 B.C. and brought henna with them.

Henna is the oldest documented cosmetic and has been used for centuries in rituals and customs. It is rumored that henna has been used by: Cleopatra and Nefertiti, Fatima (the Prophet Muhammad's daughter), and Mumtaz Mahal (for whom the Taj Mahal was built).

Henna is used in marriage ceremonies in Indian and Muslim cultures. Brides apply henna on their hands, arms, feet, and legs. Used for beauty, and socializing, henna also represents a girls transition into womanhood at marriage. Henna is related to womanhood, the menstrual cycle and hymeneal blood due to its color and its average duration of one week.

The henna plant has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. It is a cooling agent and is applied to burns and scrapes. Henna is used to treat heat exhaustion, and reduce fevers. Henna has been used to treat skin ailments such as athletes foot and ringworm.

Celebrations of all sorts include henna as it is considered to ward off evil, protect from the evil eye, impart goodluck and generally be auspicious in nature due to its red coloring. It may be incorporated into naming ceremonies, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, Diwali, Ramadan and numerous other religious feasts, ceremonies and cultural traditions.

Henna during pregnancy is an ancient practice and is soothing as well as calming. It is believed to help bring about an easy birth and healthy child.

What is in Henna Paste?

Ingredients are added to henna paste to release the dye and perfect the consistency of the paste. Common ingredients are sugar; lemon juice; limes; black tea; rose petals and essential oils such as: lavender, tea tree, orange blossom, rose geranium, eucalyptus, and citrus.

How is Henna applied?

The henna paste is put into squeeze bottles or mylar cones. Paste is applied directly onto the skin and left for up to 8 hours. The dried paste is then rubbed off and the skin is left dyed.

How long does Henna last?

Henna produces a dye in the orange/red/brown color range, but the exact shade can vary. Henna can last anywhere from 3-40 days depending on each persons body chemistry, the area of body chosen, and the length of time the paste remained in contact with the skin. It will last the longest on thicker, dry skin such as hands and feet, and will fade more quickly on thinner skinned areas such as arms, chest, and back. As your skin exfoliates and regenerates your tattoo 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. Please refer to our Henna Guide to get the darkest possible stain.

Is Henna Safe?

The henna plant is one of the oldest cosmetics ever used and is extremely safe. Natura henna does not cause reactions. If you are concerned you should first test a small area of skin. Natural henna contains no dangerous chemical dyes or harsh additives.

Natural henna will never dye your skin purple, pink, blue, or black. Any henna that dyes your skin a color other than reddish-brown has chemicals added that are not clearly healthy or safe. Please use only safe and natural henna.

Be aware that "black henna" is unsafe for your skin because it includes a chemical dye known as PPD. PPD has not been FDA approved for use on skin, and causes liver and kidney damage, and permanent scarring of the skin.