what is henna

What is Henna?

Henna (also called mehndi) is a natural, plant-based dye used for staining the skin, hair, and nails. The dye is extracted from finely ground leaves of the henna plant, scientifically named Lawsonia inermis. From early civilizations dating back thousands of years up till today, henna has been used as a cosmetic, medicinal herb, and even paint. In many parts of the world, henna holds religious, cultural, and symbolic significance.

Henna for Body Art / Temporary Tattoos

Henna paste used to stain the skin is made by mixing a handful of natural ingredients: Henna powder, sugar, essential oil, and a liquid (water, lemon juice, or tea). The ingredients are mixed together to make a paste which is set aside at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours for dye release. Dye release is a process by which the dye molecule called lawsone is released from the henna powder. Without dye release, the henna paste will not stain.

Once the paste is ready, it is mixed really well to achieve a stringy and creamy consistency. It is then filled in small, hand-rolled cellophane cones (similar to piping bags) with a fine tip and sealed with tape. Henna cones need to be stored in the freezer if not used right away because henna paste is perishable. Henna cones are used to adorn the skin with beautiful, intricate designs on many occasions such as baby showers, religious celebrations, and weddings!

organic henna cones

After the henna paste is applied to skin, it must dry completely and sealed in place by a sugar sealant mixture or medical tape. To achieve the best stain, henna paste must stay in contact with the skin for 8 to 12 hours. It is important to mention that organic henna stain takes 24 to 48 hours to fully develop. This means that when the paste is first removed, the stain is bright orange. Over the next couple of days the stain oxidizes and darkens to a beautiful reddish-brown colour (see picture below). Proper aftercare is absolutely crucial to getting a deep stain! Click here to learn more about henna stain and aftercare.

henna stain progression

Henna can be mixed with jagua juice to make jagua henna or hengua. Jagua henna yields a deeper, dark brown to black stain. It is a great alternative to "black henna" which is made with harmful chemicals. Learn more about jagua henna here.

Henna for Hair

Henna is used as a natural hair dye on its own or in combination with other botanical dyes like indigo powder. To make henna hair colour, henna powder is mixed with water and left overnight (for 8 to 12 hours) to achieve dye release (as explained above). Once the paste is ready it is mixed well to achieve a beaten-yogurt-like consistency; the paste should not be too thick or too runny. Some people also add other ingredients such as oil for hydration however we do not recommend adding oil as that can hinder the staining potential.

The henna paste is then applied in a thick layer to sections of hair using gloves or a hair colour applicator. When all the hair is covered with henna paste, a shower cap or plastic wrap is used to cover the head. This keeps the paste moist. To get a good stain, the hair must soak in the paste for 4 hours. It is then washed away with water and hair conditioner only. Henna colours the hair in red tones.

Henna also has other benefits such as promoting hair growth and its anti-fungal properties help improve scalp condition.

Is Henna Safe to Use?

Yes! Organic henna is safe to use on hair, skin and nails. If you have never used henna before, you can do a patch test just to make sure you're not allergic to it. Click here to find out how to do a patch test for henna cones. Unfortunately the term "henna" is misused on labels of products that claim to be 100% natural but actually contain chemicals like PPD that are extremely harmful. So how can you tell if a henna cone 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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