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Many people are learning the difference between real, natural henna, which comes from the henna plant Lawsonia inermis, and the dangerous black dyes that are sometimes added to make it other colors such as black or dark brown.

Having a reputable henna artist apply a henna/mehndi design to your skin is a wonderful experience. Unfortunately some people try to make quick money from doing "Black Henna" tattoos which stain dark quickly, unlike real henna which needs to be left on the skin.

This fake henna can hurt you! Please make an informed choice for your safety and keep the name of natural henna from being exploited. Below are some pointers from experienced, reputable henna artists working to keep you safe.

"Black henna" Isn't really henna! There is no such thing as black henna.
A design that is applied with a black inky looking paste, resulting in a black stain, is most likely a chemical hair dye, like paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a coal tar dye and known transdermal toxin. PPD and similar dyes, found in leather and fur dyes as well as commercial hair dyes, can cause itchy, oozing, blistering skin and long term scarring. In worse cases, organ damage results, along with permanent sensitization to even minute amounts of these dyes. It is a known carcinogen and is especially dangerous to pregnant or nursing women and children.

Photos of scars left by Black "Henna" Courtesy of Rebecca Blake, PureHenna.co.uk

Instant Brown Henna: The newest imposter on the boardwalk! Right color, but ask first! Some unscrupulous people are adding brown hair dye to their henna, or even using straight brown hair dye on skin to avoid the warnings about black dye.

This, like the fake black henna is a chemical dye, with the same nasty side effects. These designs will appear brown immediately, not needing time for the color to darken.

Always ask your artist what is in their paste, and what color to expect when the paste is removed. Red /brown tones are the color of a natural henna stain. Natural henna will always appear orange at first and darken to a red/brown or burgundy color one to three days after application to the skin. Quick staining henna: It can happen, but ask first!

If the artist says you can remove the paste in just one hour be cautious. Ask what color the stain will be after removal. If the answer is orange, it is natural henna. If the answer is brown or black, there is something added to the paste, usually hair dye. Avoid it! Real henna stains always start out orange.

Natural henna

• Always results in an orange stain that darkens to brown/red in one to three days.
  
• Needs to be kept on the skin as long as possible. Three to four hours is good, longer is better! If your artist says 'only an hour', ask what color the stain will be at first. You want to hear 'orange'.
  
• Henna Paste should appear green, brown or dark khaki and has a smell like musky hay. Sometimes you will smell essential oils like eucalyptus, tea tree, or clove oils.
  
• Is cooling and healing to the skin.
  

Dangerous chemical products sold as 'henna'

• Results in a black or brown stain immediately upon paste removal, with no color change over time.
  
• Only need to be left on the skin one hour. If your artist says you can remove the paste in one hour, ask what color the stain will be. If the answer is brown or black, it's not natural henna.
  
• Paste can appear gray, brown or black. There may be no odor, or a chemical odor.
  
• Are damaging to skin and other body systems. Itching, blistering, scarring, organ damage and permanent allergies can result.
  

The information below is an excerpt from this FDA site
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-tatt.html


Since henna typically produces a brown, orange-brown, or reddish-brown tint; other ingredients must be added to produce other colors, such as those marketed as "black henna" and "blue henna." So-called "black henna" may contain the "coal tar" color p-phenylenediamine, also known as PPD. This ingredient may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. The only legal use of PPD in cosmetics is as a hair dye. It is not approved for direct application to the skin. Even brown shades of products marketed as henna may contain other ingredients intended to make them darker or make the stain last longer.

In addition to color additives, these skin-decorating products may contain other ingredients, such as solvents.

How do I know what's in a temporary tattoo or henna/mehndi product?

Cosmetics including temporary skin-staining products that are sold on a retail basis to consumers must have their ingredients listed on the label. Without such an ingredient declaration, they are considered misbranded and are illegal in interstate commerce. FDA requires the ingredient declaration under the authority of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA).

How do I report an adverse reaction to a temporary tattoo or other cosmetic?

FDA encourages consumers to report any adverse reactions to cosmetics either to their nearest FDA district office or to FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors. Here's how:

To contact your nearest FDA district office, you can find their phone numbers on FDA's Web site. These phone numbers also are included in the U.S. Government listings in the Blue Pages of the phone book under United States Government/Health and Human Services.

To contact FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS), call (301) 436-2405 or email CAERS@cfsan.fda.gov.


If you have questions, concerns or want to learn more please post on the Henna Tribe Forum. We are a group of professional henna artists and enthusiasts dedicated to the safe use of natural henna and sharing of information regarding this ancient art.

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