What is NOT Henna!
By: Krysteen ~
4/15/2019
Being a professional henna artist, I am taxed with educating many clients with what henna is and I find that sometimes it’s easier to explain what henna is not. Henna is an amazing natural product, that is predominantly brown with hints of red. However, there are products out there that are not henna but claiming to be henna and some may even be harmful. Here is a list what is not henna.
Black Henna: This may be henna that has been infused with the transdermal toxin, p-paraphenylenediamine (PPD for short) mainly used in hair dye. In some cases this so-called henna doesn't even contain any henna at all. PPD is associated with bladder and blood cancers, liver failure, and fetal harm. It is currently illegal for use on skin in the USA and some other countries.
- It can cause blistering of the skin, infection and a progressive allergy, meaning you can react severely, closing the airway, resulting in hospitalization.
White Henna: This is a body adhesive which has been specifically adapted for body art. It is a white paste which can be applied with a cone and sealed with glitter or gilding powder.
- It does not stain the skin like henna at all but cracks off, usually within a day or two and is mainly used for photoshoots. It is relatively harmless for many clients unless you have very sensitive skin.
- These adhesives also come in other colors such as gold, blue, pink. Or you can make it any color by adding glitter.
- Jagua Tattoo: Jagua is a fruit that stains very much like henna and is a black/blue color. It lasts a couple of weeks and fades as the skin exfoliates, just like henna. For this reason, they are often confused or lumped together as the same product but they are not.
- Jagua is also very safe for many people. If you have an allergy to tropical fruits, check with your doctor before using.
