Henna Tattoo
ST. LOUIS
FAQs & AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS
WHAT IS HENNA?
Henna, also called as mehndi, is a paste prepared from a plant and used to dye skin, hair, nails, and fabrics in different regions such as the Arabian Peninsula, Indian subcontinet, North Africa and more.
Henna is a plant (Lawsonia inermis, also known as hina, the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet) and is an all-natural, organic product.
Henna paste is made from grounding the plant into a fine powder which is then mixed with essential oils (typically eucalyptus and/or clove oil), water, & sugar.
WHAT IS HENNA USED FOR?
Henna has been used as decoration on young women's bodies as part of social events such as weddings and holidays. This is the origin of the Henna Night in the Middle East, Mediterranean, Africa, and India which is an evening prior to a woman's wedding in which her and her family and friends are adorned with the paste.
Given the climate of these specific regions, henna has also been used as a way to relieve heat from these hot, dry locations - wearers of henna can experience their hands getting colder after application.
In modern times, and with the expansion to use in America, henna is now used as form of recreational body art and entertainment.
WHO CAN GET HENNA?
Henna is an art form that can be appreciated by everyone - all colors, genders, and age.
Historically, henna was primarily used by women, however we have seen more and more often that men have taken an interest in the art and are completely welcome to get a design of their choosing.
Children are recommended to have permission from their parents prior to application in case of any skin sensitivities.
HOW DOES HENNA WORK?
Henna paste is applied to the skin using a cone or bottle to create designs.
Once the paste dries, the henna will harden and crack - often flaking off. Once the henna has fallen off the skin or is removed, a stain on the skin in its place will be visible.
The longer you keep the paste on your skin, the darker the stain on your skin will be.
HOW LONG DOES HENNA TAKE TO DRY?
Depending on the thickness, henna can take anywhere between 15-30 minutes to dry. You will notice the paste begin to get hard and start forming cracks or crumbling. Avoid moving and bending so as not to cause the paste to flake off prematurely.
Again, the longer the paste stays on your skin, the darker the stain will be so it is important to keep the paste on your skin even long after it is dry.
HOW LONG SHOULD I LEAVE HENNA ON?
The longer the henna paste is left on the skin, the darker the stain will become. To achieve the darkest stain, you should keep the paste on for at least 4-6 hours. Brides are known to keep the paste on overnight with the help of a lemon sugar water mixture which is applied after the paste has dried to keep the paste stuck to the skin to avoid it from flaking off.
You can also use medical adhesive or Mefix tape to keep the paste stuck to your skin to avoid flaking and crumbling. Do not use latex gloves or saran wrap to keep the henna on. These will cause excessive sweat, causing the henna to rehydrate and shift.
HOW DOES THE STAIN PROGRESS & HOW LONG DOES THE HENNA STAIN LAST?
After paste removal: bright orange
Morning after application: medium brown
48 hours after application: dark brown (this is the peak stain)
On average henna can last at least a week, up to 2 weeks.
Fading typically starts 3-5 days after application; but may start earlier if proper aftercare is not followed!
AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS
• Keep paste on for a minimum of 6 hours after application
• Keep skin warm while paste is on.
• When removing, scrape off; Do not use water or soap when removing!
• Use Vick's Vapor Rub after paste removal to deepen stain
• Avoid excess washing and/or exfoliating of skin, esp. in first day after application
• Use coconut oil, olive oil, or any oil-based product before contact with water to create a barrier seal to prevent water from making contact with the stain.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATURAL HENNA AND BLACK HENNA OR JAGUA
ou can tell natural henna based on the color and texture once applied. Natural henna is green or brown in color, dries and hardens above the skin, and leaves an orange, reddish, or brown stain.
With increase in popularity, there is also an increase in use of "black henna" which is not henna, but is a henna-like gelly mixture, which may contain unlisted dyes and chemicals to produce a black stain. This is more glossy in appearance and will sink into the skin or peel off as a thin film residue.
Jagua is a fruit, which is also an all natural product. Jagua has a similar texture as black henna but can be washed off. At first the stain will not be visible and will develop overnight to a deep dark blue, which almost looks black.
WARNING: If you have any skin sensitivities, avoid using black henna as there is a risk of allergic reaction and/or burns.
WHAT IF MY SKIN IS SENSITIVE?
Despite henna being all natural, if you suffer from skin sensitivities, it is recommended to not get henna just in case you have any reactions to the plant or the essential oils.