What is Jagua Gel?
Jagua gel is a natural, plant-based dye used for body art/temporary tattoos. It is made by mixing jagua powder (dried jagua fruit juice), lavender essential oil, xanthan gum, and sugar. Jagua gel yields a dark blue to black stain on the skin.
Jagua juice comes from the Jagua fruit (Genipa americana), a tropical fruit that grows in South America. Native South Americans have been using the jagua ink for thousands of years for various purposes such as creating temporary tattoos on skin and warding off insects. The fruit itself is of benefit as well as because of its nutritional and medicinal value, although it is mostly harvested for its dye.
What is the difference between Jagua Gel and Jagua Henna?
Jagua henna is a mix of henna and jagua juice whereas jagua gel does not contain any henna. Jagua gel yields a dark blue to black stain (left photo) whereas jagua henna yields a dark brown to black stain (right photo). Jagua henna is opaque and has a creamy/stringy consistency like henna, whereas jagua gel is translucent and has a hair gel like consistency.
Stain Progression
Natural jagua stain darkens over time. As shown in the picture below, when the jagua gel is washed away after 4 hours, the stain is very faint or not visible at all. There may be some parts of the stain that are faint while other parts are dark blue. As the fresh stain starts to oxidize, the stain starts getting darker. With the right aftercare, over the next 24 to 48 hours the stain matures into a beautiful deep blue/black.
Although aftercare is super important, the colour of mature jagua stain is determined by other factors as well. These include skin tone, skin condition/texture, body temperature, hormone levels, etc. In addition, the stain varies depending on which area of the body jagua is applied to. Jagua stains darker on thick skin. For example, the stain on palms will be darker than the stain on arms.
Jagua Gel Application & Aftercare
The darkest & long-lasting jagua stain is achieved by following proper application and aftercare instructions. Here's how you can get the best stain:
1) Thaw jagua gel cone for 30 minutes at room temperature before use. Cleanse and dry skin before application. Do NOT apply lotion or cream because this will prevent the jagua from bonding to the skin properly.
2) Apply jagua gel and keep very still to prevent the wet gel from smudging. Dry it completely (for 30 to 40 minutes). The gel will start to flatten as it dries.
Tips: Jagua stains the skin very quickly. If you make a mistake during application and wipe the gel away, it will still leave a stain. Therefore we recommend altering the design instead of removing the gel.
If you want the jagua gel to dry faster, avoid making thick elements such as leaves by squeezing out more gel. Instead, you can make an outline of the element and then fill it in with a thin layer of jagua gel.
3) Keep the dried gel on skin for 4 to 6 hours (the longer you keep it, the darker the stain will be). Since the dried gel flakes off easily, you can apply a medical tape like Mefix to keep the gel adhered to the skin. DO NOT apply a sugar mixture to seal the gel as it will cause smudging.
Cut the Mefix tape in sections according to your jagua design (e.g. cut separate strips for fingers). Peel the paper backing and stick the tape over the design, pressing lightly to ensure good adhesion.
4) Remove Mefix tape and wash the remaining gel away with warm soapy water. You will feel the slimy texture of the gel as you wash it away. Keep washing until all the gel is removed (when the skin stops feeling slimy).
As mentioned above, the fresh stain will be very faint or not visible at all. Don’t worry, this is completely normal. The stain will develop as it oxidizes over the next 24 to 48 hours.
5) Apply coconut oil or an aftercare balm on the fresh stain. This will help the stain darken to its full potential.
6) Avoid contact with water for 24 hours. Exposure to water & soap prevents the stain from deepening to its full potential. Wear gloves if exposure to soap cannot be avoided.
7) Apply coconut oil/balm regularly every day to protect the stain and prevent it from fading quickly.
The aftercare balm moisturizes the stain and also creates a barrier on the skin that helps repel water.
Aftercare definitely requires hard work and patience but the end result is worth it!
How long does the Jagua Stain last?
Jagua stain can last for about 1-2 weeks in good condition and then slowly fade away. Jagua penetrates through the layers of the skin, staining the top layer (epidermis) the most and staining each layer underneath lesser than the layer above. The epidermis renews itself by losing surface cells, bringing new cells from the layer beneath to the surface. This means that when cells on the surface with the darkest stain shed off, we see the cells underneath which are stained less. Therefore as the skin continues to shed, we see the jagua stain fading away.
To make the jagua stain last longer, keep the skin moisturized using lotion, oil, or aftercare balm. This will slow down the process of natural exfoliation. Also, wear gloves when long exposure to soap/cleaning solutions can't be avoided. Avoid swimming, steam rooms, and exposure to excessive heat. Scratching and scrubbing of the stain should also be avoided.
Is Jagua Gel safe to use?
Yes! Organic jagua gel is safe to use on skin. If you have never used jagua gel before or you have allergies to tropical fruits, you can do a patch test just to make sure you're not allergic to it. Click here on information about patch test.
Due to its dark stain, Jagua gel can often be confused with chemical "black henna" that contains harmful chemicals like PPD. So how can you tell if a product is natural or chemical based? Click here to find out.
Luxe Organic Henna is committed to bringing you the best organic henna products for hair and body art. Our products are made with organic ingredients and contain no chemicals. We get our supplies only from reputable suppliers who strictly adhere to regulatory standards and have gone through testing and organic certification for their products.
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