Many people purchase henna cones from grocery stores or online marketplaces like Amazon because they're readily available, inexpensive, and give a dark stain immediately. Unfortunately most of these henna cones are NOT safe!
The term "henna" is misused on labels of products that claim to be 100% natural but actually contain dangerous chemical dyes like PPD to intensify the stain and give immediate results. Due to the lack of cosmetic regulations and labelling requirements in the manufacturing country, companies usually get away with selling harmful products by labelling them as natural.
Use of chemical "henna" and "black henna" cones may cause adverse reactions including redness, itching, swelling, blistering, burning, inflammation, and permanent scarring of the skin. It is also important to mention that even if a person does not get a bad reaction, the chemicals still accumulate in the body and may cause reactions in the future and potentially other health problems as well.
Therefore we should only use organic henna cones. They are 100% safe for use on skin because they are made with only natural ingredients. Learn more about organic henna here.
The Differences Between Organic Henna/Jagua Cones and Chemical Henna Cones
Here are some easy ways to determine if a henna cone is natural or chemical based.
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Chemical Henna Cones |
Organic Henna/Jagua Cones |
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Ingredients |
Made with harmful chemicals dyes like PPD and preservatives to increase shelf life. Ingredients are not clearly listed or are ambiguous ex. “henna extract, henna oil, henna water” (see picture below) |
Made with natural ingredients: henna powder, sugar, essential oil, water/lemon juice, jagua fruit juice, etc. Most credible henna artists have a label or aftercare card with the ingredients clearly listed |
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Storage |
Stored at room temperature or in a fridge/cooler |
Stored in FREEZER. Organic henna/jagua paste does not contain any preservatives and will spoil in a few days if not frozen |
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Packaging |
Usually mass produced in factories. Printed boxes usually containing large quantities of cones for individual sale or individually boxed |
Handmade by henna artists. Cones are made with cellophane/clear gift wrap and are sold as single cones or small sets. Packaging varies, some henna artists have very simple packaging whereas others may have printed pouches/boxes |
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Price |
Inexpensive, usually between $2 to $3 |
Price varies depending on the ingredients used and the weight of the cone. For example 20 g cones cost more than 15 g cones and cones made with lavender essential oil cost more than ones made with eucalyptus essential oil. Price is usually between $4 to $9 for organic henna cones. Jagua henna and jagua gel cones cost more, usually between $12 to $20 |
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Paste |
The paste has a dark colour (usually dark brown or black) and has a gooey texture. It becomes flat as it dries. It has a strong smell like paint/glue. When applied to skin, it has a tingling/stinging sensation |
Henna paste has creamy and stringy texture. It is greenish-brown when wet and becomes darker as it dries. It does not become flat as it dries. It has a pleasant, earthy smell. The smell may vary depending on which essential oil is used ex. Lavender, tea tree, etc. When applied to skin, it has a cooling sensation. Jagua gel is dark blue in colour and has a gooey, hair gel like texture. Although it has a distinct smell, it does not smell like chemicals. Jagua gel flattens as it dries and there is no tingling or burning sensation |
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Directions of Use and Aftercare |
Directions state to remove or wash the paste off in a short amount of time ex. In 30 mins or as soon as the paste dries (see pictures below) |
Most credible henna artists have a label or an aftercare card that provides all essential information. The henna paste needs to be kept on the skin for 6 to 10 hours. Jagua gel needs to be kept for 4 to 6 hours. Contact with water should be avoided for 24 hours to get the best stain. Learn more about aftercare here |
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Stain |
The stain varies depending on the type of cone used. Most chemical cones give a reddish brown stain as soon as the paste is removed without drastic progression to a darker stain. Black “henna” cones give a black stain instantly. The stain is like a film stuck to the skin which “peels off” little by little (see pictures below) |
The stain takes time to develop. For henna, the fresh stain is bright orange when the paste is removed and darkens to a deep reddish brown colour over 24 to 48 hours. Jagua henna and jagua gel stains also take time to develop. Jagua henna yields a dark brown/black stain and jagua gel yields a blue/black stain. The stain penetrates through the skin and never “peels off," it gradually fades away in 1-3 weeks (see pictures below). Learn more about henna stains here |
Below is a photo comparison of the paste and stain of chemical henna cones versus organic henna cones.
Patch Test
Organic henna/jagua cones are made with 100% natural ingredients however if you have never used henna before or you are allergic to tropical fruits, we recommend doing a patch test to ensure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients. Click here to find out how to do a patch test for henna cones.
Labelling Requirements
According to Health Canada, henna/jagua used for body art classifies as a cosmetic and henna/jagua products must be labelled in accordance with cosmetic label guidelines. This includes essential information such as listing the ingredients clearly, directions of use, allergy warning, etc.
Luxe Organic Henna follows all cosmetic label requirements. Ingredients, directions of use, allergy warnings, etc. are all clearly stated on our labels. Our products are made with organic henna 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. We have set high standards for ourselves and confidently stand behind our brand for providing safe and high quality henna products!