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General Information and FAQ about henna

How henna tattoos work Henna powder, made from the crushed leaves of the henna plant, is mixed with lemon juice and/or natural oils to form henna paste. This paste is then applied to the skin in the form of the design, and left to dry. When it has dried, the henna flakes off leaving a coloured stain on the skin.

Colour Results vary on different skin types, different parts of the body and with different batches of henna, but as a general guide the design is orange when fresh, but darkens to a brown colour within the next 24-48 hours, after which it will begin to slowly fade away until it has disappeared completely. Please ask for advice on how to make the most of your tattoo.

Allergies and reactions Henna is an all-natural product, and as such is perfectly safe. However, it is possible (though unusual) to be allergic, so a 24-hour patch test is recommended. You can choose whether or not to have this test.

‘Black henna’ (the kind that has been known to cause reactions and burns) is NOT pure henna. It is henna mixed with a substance called PPD (paraphenylenediamine). This is illegal in the EU and can be very dangerous.

All my henna is pure (as demonstrated by the natural, brown colour) and has been tested on myself. Reactions are rare, but if you feel any itching or tingling whilst the henna is still on the skin and are worried, you can wash off the henna.

Caring for your henna tattoo After the paste is applied, you should leave it to dry for as long as possible. When the paste is dry, solid and cracking, it can be removed – but the longer it stays on the skin, the darker the design will be - you can even cover the tattoo and keep it on overnight.

When removing the dried paste, brush or scrape it off the skin (a credit card can be useful for this) – DO NOT WET the tattoo. If the henna is difficult to remove, try rubbing olive oil (or baby oil) into the henna. Olive oil is also very good for deepening the colour of the henna and preserving the design when applied regularly – and it is also a very effective natural moisturiser and good for the skin.

If you can keep the tattoo dry for the first 24 hours, this will help to preserve it, but don’t worry if this is not possible. As a general rule, the more you wet the tattoo, the quicker it will fade, and using soap or scrubbing at the area will remove it even more rapidly.

Henna tattoos typically last from anywhere between 5 days and 2 weeks, depending on all the factors listed above.

CONTACT DETAILS

by email: info@jcdizzystar.co.uk

by phone: 07965 502721