Henna Harvest

HENNA SAFETY

The easiest comparison for henna is to liken it to food. Henna is a natural plant dye, that much like when you squish a strawberry or blueberry between your fingers, dyes your skin. The big difference is the color and the longevity of the stain. Henna will always stain in a beautiful brown stain with either an orange or red tint.
See “Black Henna” below for more information about different stain colors and harmful additives to be aware of.
When henna is freshly made it creates a beautiful long lasting stain. However henna is a perishable product so must be either made fresh, stored in the fridge for a short period of time, or in the freezer for longer longevity.

The shelf stable products you find produced overseas are not safe for use on skin.

In the time that it takes to mass produce, ship, and stock this product the dye molecule that naturally occurs has long expired. In order for those cones to continue to have a stain like quality harmful additives are mixed into the paste. These can include toxic ingredients such as commercial dyes, turpentine, gasoline, kerosene, and even hair dye - which can cause harmful chemical reactions to the skin, both immediately and over time.

How do you avoid harmful henna?
Always choose to work with reputable henna artists who know and make their paste fresh, in house.

BLACK HENNA

I cannot stress enough that pure natural henna does not ever stain black.

"Black henna" is prepared using a chemical called para-phenylenediamine, or PPD, which is added to the paste to yield a darker stain and increase the lifespan of the design - but it comes with a cost. PPD, which is also the common active ingredient in some black hair dye, is not safe in henna (and has earned itself quite the negative reputation across the beauty industry at large).

The concentration of PPD in "black henna" and its direct application to the skin are a recipe for disaster. Local irritation, scarring, and the sensitization of (and damage to) the internal organs are common side effects of the use of "black henna."

If you would prefer a black stain, be sure to inquire about jagua services.

what is henna?

Henna is a flowering shrub whose leaves are ground into a fine powder, and then made into a fine paste. We prepare our henna fresh for every appointment using only fresh and natural ingredients to ensure a lasting stain and a beautiful quality.

how long does henna last?

Henna dries in a short amount of time, and should be left on the skin for several hours. The stain itself can last from 1-2 weeks, or longer with proper aftercare.

I removed my paste, now what?

You may be surprised to see the color of the stain upon removal be a bright orange. This is because the natural plant dyes needs to react to both oxygen and your skin to become richer in color. Over the next 24-48 hours the stain will become a rich brown to mahogany color.

Where can I have henna done?

While it is typical to see henna done on the hands or feet many customers choose to have henna done elsewhere. This includes, forearms, shins, legs, thighs, backs, or chests. However, it is recommended to avoid the neck as it is fairly easy to smudge while the paste is drying by moving.