About Henna
What is Henna?
The henna plant ("lawsonia inermis") is a hardy little tree that grows in hot arid climates such as northern Africa, the Middle East and southern Asia. The leaves of this plant are harvested, dried and ground into a fine powder. This powder is made into a paste and used to dye skin, hair and even your fingernails.
The henna plant comes from the Loosestrife family, and there are many varieties found in different areas that, in turn, produce different kinds of henna powder. The powder ranges from bright green to grayish-green to a dull brown in colour. The resulting stain can be mostly in reds, purples, oranges or browns. And like wine-making grapes, the weather can definitely affect the strength of the stain.
Henna paste has been traditionally used for over 5,000 years as a cosmetic, natural dye and medicine. Most commonly used in ceremonies, henna is applied to hair, hands and feet, bringing the wearer good luck and warding off evil.
How does henna stain the skin?
Henna paste is applied on top of your skin and over several hours the natural pigments are absorbed into the upper layers of your epidermis.
Learn more: How Henna Stains the Skin (Henna Page)
What colour will henna stain skin?
There are also many types of henna plants but the most common is a bright green colour. Your skin will stain in any shade (light to dark) of orange, red, brown, burgandy and near-black. Even if you have darker skin, Henna will be a contrasting stain.
Learn more: Color Chart (Henna Page)
Note: It is not safe to use any other chemical (such as PPD ) to create other colours (e.g. blue, pink, black).
Learn more: The dangers of "black henna" >
Where is the best place on my body to get Henna applied?
To get the darkest, longest lasting stain, have the Henna paste applied to the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. (This isn't too practical for some people because it means no walking or picking things up for hours!) The skin is thicker there and exfoliates slower than other areas on your body. The tops of your hands and feet also produce darker colours. Your face & neck will have the lightest stains.
Learn more: Mapping Henna Stains on the Body (Henna Page)
What are the practical uses of Henna?
Besides being a natural dye, Henna has been used for centuries in antiseptics, astringents, antibacterials, antifungals, antispasmodics (relaxing), antipyretics (cooling), topical sunscreens, antiperspirants, as a treatment for sunburn & eczema, in the prevention & masking of foot odour, as a skin moisturizer & conditioner, and as a treatment for alopecia (hair loss)!
What is the significance of having Henna applied to your skin?
What started as a practical way to cool the skin in hot temperatures was eventually used to celebrate rites of passage (marriages, pregnancy, childbirth, puberty, etc). It is also a way of self expression and beauty! Generally speaking, henna brings good luck to the wearer.
Traditions & Uses
- General Info on Henna Traditions (Henna Page)
- Comprehensive List of Traditional Patterns (Henna Page)
- Encyclopedia of Henna — Comprehensive information (Henna Page)
Can anyone have Henna applied to them?
YES! It's not just for women! Men, children and pregnant women can get henna applied to them as well.
Note: It's recommended that children under the age of 6 shouldn't have essential oils on their delicate & sensitive skin. Both pregnant women & children should stay away from excessive oil -- Henna paste made with Lavender is gentler and an excellent substitute for the traditional Clove & Eucalyptus oils. Regardless, check with your physician BEFORE applying!
Learn more: Henna and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (Henna Page)
How can I make henna stains last as long as possible?
Keep the paste on your skin for 4 hours minimum. This can be difficult since the paste will dry and start to flake off. You can spray or dab a mixture of lemon juice & sugar to moisten the paste and let the dye continue to seep out of the paste into your skin. Another way to keep paste on is to use a "liquid bandage" (such as "New-skin") or by wrapping the area with a thin breathable bandage (eg. gauze). Flexible micropore tape is ideal, but you can get by with toilet paper!
After removing the henna paste, do not get the area wet or wash within the first 24 hours. The henna 'dye' is just beginning to oxidize (darken) and by contacting the top layers of skin with water, soap, etc you will remove some of it.
Other tips
- Do not apply suntan lotions or moisturizers to the area.
- Do not go swimming in chlorinated pools. To protect the stain, apply oil (eg. olive, vegetable or carrier oils like sweet almond oil) or cocoa/shea butter to the area to protect it.
- Also avoid contact with bleaches, exfoliants and alpha-hydroxy/anti-bacterial (acne) soaps. These will exfoliate your "dyed" skin cells quicker than normal.
How do I remove henna stains quickly & safely?
The quickest way to remove your henna stains is to wash with an exfoliating (scrub) soap a couple of times a day... You can also use Arm & Hammer Extra Whitening Toothpaste to wash the henna stain and help remove it faster.
BUT it will still take 3-7 days to remove the stains completely. Be careful not to scrub too hard that you hurt yourself.
It takes 21-25 days for your body to naturally exfoliate your skin completely.
How do I make Henna paste? How do I apply it?
In my "Henna 101 Workshop," I teach participants how to make henna paste, where to get the best supplies and how to use a variety of applicators.
If you'd like to see my basic recipe, click here. I admit, I rarely measure out ingredients — like an old family recipe, I go by eye and feel. With time, and experimentation, you will too!
You can also learn on your own — simply visit Henna Page. The Henna Page online Forum is the place to get help and network with an international community of natural henna artists. Hennatribe is another online natural henna community.
Where can I purchase Henna? Where do I get supplies?
You can purchase excellent supplies (like the pros use!) from Larissa at Dragonfly Designs. She carries a variety of products and ships to any address in Canada. Henna Page also has a listing of reliable suppliers.
What is "black henna"? Is it safe?
Henna is not black. So-called "black henna" contains dyes that can be harmful.