FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is your Henna paste made from?

I only use natural Henna, i.e. Henna Powder mixed with Essential Oils, Lemon Juice and Glucose Powder. I usually use Lavender Essential Oil, sometimes I vary the essential oils I use, but I will always be able to let you know before the appointment which ones I'm currently using. If you would rather not have Lavender, then please contact me in advance so that I have time to mix another paste for you.

Do you do Black or White coloured Henna?

No. I only use natural brown henna. Never trust a henna artist who offers you another type of henna as this will usually be made from chemicals which can be very dangerous. There is no such thing as "black henna" or "white henna". I NEVER use “Black Henna” as it is not made from natural ingredients and it has been known to cause severe allergic reactions and even scarring.

Not everything that masquerades as henna, IS henna! Beware ...

'Henna' which stains black is not henna. No such thing.

'Henna' which stains in any colour other than a reddish-brown, is chemical-based.

Instant or emergency 'henna' is chemical-based

Imported pre-mixed cones have to contain chemicals to still be capable of staining.

Any paste which doesn't need to be frozen for storage, contains chemicals.

How long will the henna stain last?

The stain should last from 1-3 weeks. This depends on several things. Firstly, is depends on how long the henna paste was left on the skin. Secondly it will depend on aftercare - for example it may not last quite so long on someone who does lots of hand washing / washing up. Thirdly it depends on your skin, some people have better and longer lasting stains than other people.

Henna is a permanent dye; it will last as long as it takes your skin to regenerate. The epidermis is the outer layer of skin and it is the part of the skin that the Henna stains. The epidermis is in a constant state of renewal, which takes between 1-4 weeks. The palms of the hands and the soles of the feet are where Henna will show darkest and last longest.

The more you get your Henna wet, the more it is rubbed, when using swimming pools, hot tubs or spas; the quicker it will fade.

How long does the paste take to dry?

The paste should be dry in half an hour to an hour. After this time the design is much less likely to smudge.

How long should I keep the paste on my skin?

The paste needs to be left on for at least two hours, the longer the paste is left on the darker the stain will be and the longer it may last. I recommend leaving the paste on for as long as possible.

How do I take the paste off?

You will be able to brush or scrape h the paste off when you are ready, do not wash it.

Can Henna cause an allergic reaction?

Allergic reactions from natural brown henna paste are extremely rare. If you have heard of allergic reactions to henna these are most probably not caused by natural brown henna, but caused by the chemical based "black henna". The only warning over natural brown henna use comes if you have a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency G6PDD (a rare health condition) then it is best to avoid henna. If you have a citrus allergy, please let me know in advance because I often use lemon juice in my henna mix.

Can you Henna all areas of the body?

Yes, you can Henna all parts of the body but certain areas stain better than others. Hands and feet stain best as this is where the skin has the most layers. Lower arms and legs also offer a fairly good stain. The closer you get to the middle of the body, the lighter the stain will be.

What colour will it be?

On the first day it will be a light orangey colour as it takes 48 hours for the stain to fully develop. On the second day the stain should be brown.

Can children get henna?

Although natural brown henna is very safe, I don't offer henna to children under 6. This is because their skin may be especially sensitive and children under 6 are more likely to smudge the paste, which will start staining immediately, therefore ending up with an orange and then brown stain on the skin rather than a design. There may also be a risk of young children trying to eat/lick the chocolate coloured paste.

I'm a teenager, can I get henna?

If you're under 16 you may only get henna with either written parental permission or with a parent present.

I want a Henna design for a particular event/party, when should I have it done?

For the best stain/colour for a particular event/party, ideally you would need it done 24-36 beforehand, as initially it is a dark paste, once removed, between 2-12 hours, it will be an orange colour, which, after a further 12 hours will darken. If you have a specific event/party planned, please contact me with as much notice as possible as I get fully booked.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

‘Keep It On’, ‘Keep It Warm’, ‘Keep It Dry’

* Don’t Smudge the design, it will start to stain straight away. It will be touch dry in about 20-30 mins.

* Keep Paste On for as long as possible, preferably overnight, 4-6 hours is best, but at least 2 hours.

* Keep Warm. The warmer you are and the longer you leave the Henna on, the darker the stain will be.

* Avoid Water for the first 12-48 hours. Washing will lead to a lighter stain.

* The Henna paste will dry and crack off on its own, leaving little bits of dry Henna everywhere!

* After several hours, you can remove the Henna fully and enjoy it!

* Your Henna stain will be bright orange to begin with, but it will get darker over the next 48 hours.

* If you go swimming, or use bleach products, this will lighten the stain considerably.

* Keep it moisturised. But avoid Exfoliation. To protect the stain you can shield it using barrier cream, coconut oil or vegetable oil.

* Rubbing vegetable oils or a waxy balm into the stain before showering will make a huge difference. Mineral oils are not helpful - they exfoliate skin faster.

* The stain will last between one week and three weeks, depending on where it is, how often you wash/rub/use that part of the body and your individual skin chemistry.

Ingredients

Natural Henna Powder, Lemon Juice, Lavender Essential Oil, Glucose Powder.