FAQ

There are a lot of misconceptions and common questions when it comes to henna, so we're gonna break some of them down.

Henna... Do you mean 'that Indian thing'?

Well yes, and no. The word 'henna' probably conjures images of beautiful Indian weddings where the bride's hands and feet are adorned in beautiful henna designs, but one of the oldest written records of henna actually comes from Egypt. It's found in an ancient Egyptian medical guide (circa 1550 BCE) which offers a wide range of medicinal uses for henna, though it doesn't explicitly mention using henna for cosmetic purposes. So far, nobody has been able to determine exactly where (or when) cosmetic henna application began.

Does it hurt?

Nope! It might feel a little cold, but henna should never hurt.

How long does it take?

The henna process happens in three main stages:

1. Application. This is dependent on a number of factors, including the size of design, the level of detail, where on the body the henna is being placed and the skill of the artist. Smaller designs can take 10-30 minutes, while larger designs like bridal sessions, henna crowns and belly blessings can take hours.

2. Drying. Typically henna takes around 30-45 minutes to dry depending on temperature, humidity and the recipe of the henna paste. During this time, the henna dye is moving from the paste and into your skin cells, working its way down through the layers of skin. Whilst you can take the paste off after it has dried, leaving it on your skin for as long as possible will give you a richer, longer-lasting stain.

3. Stain development. This is where the magic happens! When the paste is first removed the initial henna stain is a bright orange colour. Over the next 24-48 hours, the stain will develop in to a darker brown colour.

How do I take the paste off?

Removing the henna paste is as simple and brushing the dry paste away from the skin. Stubborn bits of paste are best removed with olive oil or lemon juice and gentle rubbing with a soft cloth or kitchen towel.

How long will the stain last?

There's no hard and fast answer here, as the duration of your stain will depend on a wide range of factors from the henna powder and paste mix to your skin and how well you can look after your henna. Typically a strong henna stain will last for around 2-3 weeks, but everyone's stain is different.

How does henna work?

The long answer is definitely a subject for another post where I will be more than happy to delve in to the science behind henna! In the meantime, the short answer is that there is a dye molecule that grows naturally within the henna plant (lawsonia inermis). Mixing the dried plant leaves in to a paste releases this dye molecule so that it can be transferred on to the skin where it leaves a stain.

(Psst: Head over to the 'What is Henna' page for a more detailed answer!)

How do I get rid of my henna?

Time and patience! The henna stain will fade as your skin naturally replaces itself.

Gentle exfoliation and soaking the henna stain (think long baths or doing the dishes- preferably not at the same time!) can help this happen faster.

Does henna work on dark skin?

Yes, it does. Henna is a semi-transparent dye, which means the stain sits on top of the natural pigment of your skin. This means that it will not only work for you, the final colour will always compliment the natural shade and tone of your skin for a truly unique stain.

As with any skin type, the colour of the final henna stain will vary based on a number of factors including aftercare and skin tone.

I'm pregnant. Can I have henna?

Absolutely! Henna is commonly used for Belly Blessings during the third trimester, and is also commonly used to adorn hands and feet. Your body is running slightly warmer than usual right now, which can give you a great henna stain!

If you are (or suspect you might be) expecting, please let me know. Your body is under a lot of stress right now, so I'll need to make a milder henna mix using lavender essential oil and a water base instead of lemon juice.

If in doubt, always speak with your nurse, doctor or healthcare professional for advice. I'll be happy to drop them a line with my full list of ingredients so that they can advise you.

Got questions?

Use the Contact Me form on the website or drop me an e-mail to joyfulhennaiom@gmail.com if you've got a question that hasn't been covered above. My inbox is always open!