FAQ

Henna comes from the plant Lawsonia Inermis which grows in the hot climates of the Middle eastern countries such as Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Syria and India. The plant grows to about 10 feet tall and the leaves are harvested twice a year as soon as the flowers appear.

The leaves are dried, crushed and ground into a powder. The powder is mixed with lemon juice, strong tea or even just water which releases the dye and forms a brown colored paste.

The henna mix must then sit for 1- 48 hours before use to release the ‘lawsone’ from the leaf matter.

Many artists add sugar to the paste to improve consistency and flexibility. It also keeps it moist and helps it adhere to the skin.

Essential oils such as tea tree and lavender are also used in the mix to improve the staining power to the skin.

This paste can be used on the body, wood, fabric or untreated leather to leave a stain.

Yes, I do – I make my own paste and I use 100 % organic Raj Henna Powder, Sugar, Distilled Water and Essential Oils such as Tea Tree, Lavender & Cajeput. I also teach others how to make their own henna paste in my mixology workshops. 

Yes- if using natural henna which is made by oneself with pregnancy safe oils such as lavender or Cajeput with no chemical additives.

Please let us know prior to your booking if you require a special batch of henna paste with no essential oils. 

Consult doctors/midwives if you have any anemic, chronic blood or immune system problems prior to having henna body art.

 Henna should be avoided for people with G6PD Deficiency. (Glucose-6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase Enzyme Deficiency) because of potential adverse reactions.

This is very very rare and twice as prevalent in males as in females. May also be allergic to mothballs (camphor), broad beans, some legumes and tend to come from a middle Eastern Background.

Please refer to our "Henna Care" section on the menu bar for more information. 

Palms of the hands and soles of the feet stain the best. The skin is tougher and thicker and therefore doesn’t naturally exfoliate as fast as arms and legs. Chests and backs seem to be the place where the stain is less likely to darken.

Of course everyone’s skin holds henna differently. Just as some tan better or some peoples skin is naturally more drier than others.

Pure Henna Does Not use or recommend the use of black henna.

In the 1990s, henna artists in Africa, India, Bali, the Arabian Peninsula and the West began to experiment with PPD (Para-phenylene-diamine) based black hair dye, in an effort to find something that would quickly make jet black temporary body art. PPD can cause severe allergic reactions with blistering, intense itching, permanent scarring and permanent chemical sensitivities. Real Natural Henna does not cause these injuries.

Henna made with PPD can cause lifelong sensitization to coal tar derivatives and black henna made with gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, paint thinner, and benzene has been linked to adult leukemia & Penicillin allergies.

PPD sensitivity is lifelong. A person who has become sensitized through black henna tattoos may have future allergic reactions to perfumes, printer ink, chemical hair dyes, textile dye, photographic developer, sunscreen and some medications. Anyone who has an itching and blistering reaction to a black body stain should go to a doctor, and report that they have had an application of PPD to their skin. 

For more information on Black Henna and ways to spot it, visit our section on "The Dangers Of Black Henna" in the menus bar.