The Truth About Henna Tattoos

Also known as “Mendhi” or “Hene”, Henna derives from the henna plant which is crushed and made into a paste for application to the skin. The plant can be found in most South Asian and North African countries of the world. A strong historical tie, the application of henna has many spiritual, cultural and religious meanings. Over the years it has become westernized as it is on pregnant women and celebrations such as engagement and weddings.

A lot of the times henna is applied to the skin, leaving a darkish maroon color that will stay on the skin for about 2 weeks. Henna usually comes in the form of a paste which is applied to the skin or hair. It also comes in the form of powder which can then be mixed with water to form a paste. There are several tools that can be used to apply henna to the skin:

• funnel (pictured)
• brush
• nozzle
• spatula with stencil

Once the henna is applied to the skin, it will leave a paste like material that dries up after a few minutes. The longer this dry paste is left on the darker the ink may be on the skin, making it last longer if desired. After about 15 minutes, a mixture of lemon juice and sugar can be sprayed on the paste to “flatten” it on the skin. At this point the paste can be left on for several hours (approximately 8 hours), or even overnight if it was applied late in the day. The paste can then be picked off revealing the temporary tattoo. If you’re washing the paste off, be sure to let the water do the washing so the ink underneath doesn’t become smeared.

Want your tattoo to last longer? Be sure to keep the are moisturized with oil or body lotion. Naturally the skin will flake off and dry, making the tattoo fade. Stay away from chlorine and keep the area moisturized.

With the rising popularity of temporary tattoos, unsafe methods have developed for the sake of making a quick dollar. Black henna consists of a much darker ink or paste that is used to make tattoos. The normal color of henna on the skin is a dark orange or maroon color. Black henna is much darker often causing the following skin conditions:

• scarring
• blistering
• open sores

Authentic henna vs. hair dye/indigo

This type of henna is usually darker because of the chemicals added to it; this includes black hair die that contains para phenylendiamine – also known as PPD. It’s applied to the skin and hair rich can result in serious health problems in addition to the ones listed above. Indigo is often used to make the tattoo darker. The appearance of the powder and paste is often black, while the hair dye usually comes in a dark brown or black color with a strong chemical smell. Be sure you’re aware of these ingredients before getting a tattoo.

Black henna is not needed for darker tattoos

The normal type of henna paste can be used to make a darker color on the skin. If this is the preference, make sure the tattooed area is exposed to heat, especially while the paste is still on. Keeping the body warm can also make a difference; drink a hot beverage or stay in a warm area to have a darker effect from the henna.

• If you have certain skin allergies or blood deficiencies, it's best you consult with a physician before getting a henna tattoo. The same goes if you want to apply it to your hair.
• Although it's a natural based ingredient, chemicals or preservatives can be added to it and can cause reaction.
• Also be careful with applying henna to young children as health risk may also be involved.

I recently had a very pleasant experience with getting a henna tattoo. Read more about it here.