Henna- How does it work?

1. Henna paste is applied. Allow 15-30 minutes to dry. 
2. Optional Glitter is applied and a lemon juice/sugar sealant is applied.
3. Leave on 6-12 hours then remove with lemon juice (not water!) or just let it flake off naturally.
4. Do your best to avoid water and lotion for the first 2 days and make sure the stain gets lots of air.
5. Henna starts off staining the skin orange and as it oxidizes, it gets darker. It will get it's darkest in 2-3 days with a beautiful reddish brown color. Lasts 1-4 weeks.

Is a henna body art safe?

The henna plant has been used to adorn bodies since the Bronze Age and is one of the safest substances you can apply to your skin, with an extremely low rate of sensitization. Henna is a natural antiseptic and also acts as a natural sunblock. If you do have a reaction, it is more likely to be a sensitivity to the essential oils in the paste (see list of ingredients below). Henna tattoos are not recommended for children with anemia or G6PD deficiency (Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency which causes anemia). Also, it is advised to be cautious when outdoors with a henna tattoo because the sugar/lemon sealant can attract bees and other insects.

Beware “Black Henna”

Beware of vendors who offer "black henna".  Their paste contains a chemical called PPD, found in black hair dye. This can burn your skin, leave you permanently scarred.  It can also trigger sensitivity to other substances and can make your entire body break out in hives.  Read more about black henna at Henna Page.  And remember:

JUST SAY NO TO BLACK HENNA!

Henna History

The origin and history of henna usage is hard to pin down. The henna plant, or Lawsonia Inermis, thrives in hot arid regions and is believed to have originated in the Middle East. So, basically the art of adorning with henna, also called "mehndi", has been around in some form or another ever since people in that area have been in contact with the plant. There's evidence of henna usage in Turkey as early as 7000 BC, ornamenting fertility shrine walls. In nearby Syria, there is evidence of henna usage as early as 2100 BC. To the west in Greece, evidence is seen around 1700 BC and to the south in Egypt in 1500 BC. For centuries, Muslim brides in these areas have been partaking in the "Night of Henna" a couple of nights before their weddings. It is not until around 400 AD that we see evidence of henna usage in Indian, in the Ajanta Caves.  Some sources claim that it wasn't until 1200 AD that henna usage spread to India. For the last 200 years or so, mehndi has been a mainstay of traditional Indian bridal ceremonies, with brides getting intricate henna designs on both sides of the arms from the elbow down and on the front of the shins and feet. For the last 10 years or so, henna has become increasingly popular here in the United States  For more detailed information, read this article on the history of henna usage: News Finder.  You can also find out more information about henna at Henna Page and Henna Tribe.

New World Henna uses 100% natural ingredients: Henna plant powder, sugar, molasses, lemon juice, tea tree oil or cajeput oil and lavender oil.