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An image of the crusting result of black henna.
Photo borrowed from “Post Graduate Medicine Online” |
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Natural Henna is NEVER black. So what is the “black henna” that you may have seen at a festival or on the street? Well, the truth is, it likely has some henna in it but that isn’t what makes it black. A substance also found in black hair dye is the key ingredient for black henna, known as PPD (para-phenylenediamine ).
So why is PPD so dangerous? Because skin exposed to PPD for a prolonged period of time (as is needed in henna application) can irritate the skin, possibly even scar it. Individual sensitivity varies but severe scars and even kidney and respiratory damage have been attributed to PPD in black henna mixes. Reactions vary between individuals, but is that a chance you want to take? (Please note the photographs lower on this page.)
Henna is a tradition of healing and beauty. Natural henna is the only healthy choice.
So how do you know if the artist you are considering is using black henna? There are some very basic questions you can ask. First, I must say that some artists do not realize they are using PPD/black henna and are convinced they are using a “natural black henna” as that is how it has been sold to them. However, I have been in contact with other artists, some of which have gone to the extent of taking “natural black henna” samples from a variety of sources to a lab for testing and they have all come back positive for PPD. Bottom line is … better safe than sorry.
So, here are some questions you should ask;
How long will I need to keep the paste on my skin?
- Natural henna needs to remain
- Black henna usually only about 1 hour or less
What color will the stain be?
- Natural henna - orangey-brown or reddish-brown
- Black henna - black
The natural color of henna paste is a greenish-brown and the stain that results will be either dark brown, reddish-brown or orangey-brown. The popularity of the traditional ink tattoo and hesitancy some have to make such a lifelong commitment has created a market for the temporary “black tattoo” image. Henna is a tradition all its own and is not a substitute for ink tattoos. A safe, long lasting, black image cannot be achieved by natural henna ingredients alone.
Be informed and Be safe!
Happy Henna!
Below are some sites with researched information on “black henna” and PPD.
Swiss Medical Journal (this file is a pdf) |
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Warning about black henna |
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Embrace Beauty Be natural Be safe |
