Henna is a wonderful form of dye that makes a semi-permanent tattoo on your skin. It is more profound in Asia and is an integral part of the culture over there. They usually consist of spiral designs that depict traditional art from those regions. It has been around for a long time, originating from Ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire, certain parts of Africa, and India! However, many people wonder how does henna work to leave a temporary tattoo?
Henna, or mehndi, is made from the leaves of the henna plant that is dried up into a fine powder. Then this powder is mixed with a liquid consisting of lemon juice, water, and sometimes tea or even coffee to produce a wet paste. This paste is then transferred into a tube that looks very similar to a piping bag and then squeezed out onto the skin. This paste is responsible for the henna tattoo that you see on the body, mainly the hands and feet, so let’s learn how this paste actually works!
Key Takeaways
- Henna tattoo works by staining the skin with a dye molecule which takes time to mix with the top layer of the skin.
- There are other types of “henna” that are actually not henna and instead uses other materials and not henna leaves at all!
- While henna tattoos last only a few weeks, with some helpful tips you can make it last a bit longer.
Henna Tattoo and How It Works?
Much like paint, henna leaves behind a staining effect on the skin. This stain is in fact the semi-permanent dye that remains on the skin even after the henna is removed from the skin! The dye molecule responsible for this staining effect is called Lawsone Inermis. When the henna is put on the skin, this dye molecule gets attached to the epidermis of the skin.
The epidermis, or the top layer of the skin, has a protein called keratin which binds with the henna. The keratin and henna binding leaves behind the staining effect but it is relatively a slow process. That is why when you have henna on your skin it needs to be kept there for at least 4 hours and more. Usually, the amount of time will depend on how much staining you want there to be.
Initially, when the henna is removed it will reveal a bright orange stain left on the skin which is the henna and keratin color. This will remain orange until about 2 days later when the stain will become a darker brown to burgundy color. This will remain on your skin from anywhere between 1 week to 3 weeks, gradually becoming lighter and lighter. The time it will stay on your skin will mainly depend on how fast your skin is exfoliated, where constant washing and rubbing of the area will make the henna wear out faster.
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Other Types of Henna That Is Not Henna
While henna is primarily made from leaves of the same plant, other so-called types of henna are not made from henna! They are made with different materials and are called henna because they stain just like henna does.
So let’s see these types of henna and why they are not actual henna:
Jagua
Jagua is a tropical fruit found in Central and South America that is used by native tribes of the land to make temporary tattoos on their body. Instead of the orange, these fruits create a blue stain on the body which darkens to become a dark blue to almost black. The fruit is taken, peeled, and juiced which is then pasteurized into a gel that is put on the body to create the temporary tattoo.
Black henna
The black henna is actually not henna at all! There is no presence of henna in black henna. Instead, it is made with p-Phenylenediamine or PPD. Normally it is a white-to-purple crystal that turns solid when in contact with the air. Black henna made from PPD should be strictly avoided because it is very dangerous on the skin because of rashes, itching, and even a burning sensation on the skin that might leave a scar! Henna made from henna leaves is much safer on the skin which is why it can be put on the skin unless you are allergic to it.
White henna
Another type of henna that is not made from henna at all. Instead, it is made from special adhesive body paint. And unlike henna, it won’t last on the body for anywhere near the time that henna is supposed to last! This paint can become dirty within a few hours of the application where henna lasts up to 1 week at least!
Making Henna Tattoo Last Longer: 6 Tips
While it might not last for longer for more than a few weeks, there are ways to ensure that your henna tattoo lasts as long as possible.
Here are 6 tips that can help you with making your henna tattoo last longer!
- Leave the henna on for as long as possible: the deeper the stain, the longer it will likely last. While the estimated time for the henna to stain your skin is about 4 to 8 hours, you can leave it on for longer to create a deeper tattoo stain that will last longer.
- Sugar-lemon juice rub: rubbing the henna tattoo with a sugar and lemon juice mixture darkens the henna tattoo and makes it last longer! Just make sure to not wet the henna too much. This should be done right after you scrap the henna paste off to help darken the henna tattoo.
- Warming the skin: the binding of henna and keratin can be sped up and made stronger with a bit of heat. So drinking a cup of a hot drink can warm up the skin and leave behind a stronger stain on your body which will last longer!
- Wrapping the henna tattoo: the henna paste will start to flake off when it is left to dry. You can actually have a Saniderm wrap on the henna tattoo to keep it from flaking so the staining process remains safe!
- Limit washing: washing the area will exfoliate your skin more so if you limit the times you wash the henna tattoo, it will last remain on your body for longer!
- Use natural oil and butter: natural oil like olive, lavender, eucalyptus, or coconut oil and shea butter can help moisturize the henna tattoo to make it stay for longer periods.
With these tips, you can extend the longevity of your henna tattoo by at least a few days if not a week more!
FAQs
Can henna tattoos become permanent?
Other than reapplying henna every week or so, henna tattoos cannot become permanent.
How long does a henna tattoo last?
Henna tattoos can last anywhere between 1 to 3 weeks, where you could extend it by a few days with some methods to make it last.
Is henna harmful to the skin?
While henna is relatively safe for the skin, if you are allergic to it you might face allergic reactions such as rashes and itchy skin. You should avoid black henna at all costs because it uses a chemical that is unsafe for the skin and is not henna at all!
Final Thoughts
Henna tattoo is a wonderful body art and due to it being a semi-permanent tattoo, you don’t have to worry about it hurting at all! It is a wonderful way to celebrate a culture that is completely different from the West so you can always try a henna tattoo instead of other types of semi-permanent tattoos. By knowing how henna actually works on your skin, you can also help it last longer with the tips provided above. Just make sure to not confuse henna with other types of “henna” that are also harmful to the skin. There is only one henna that is made from the leaves of the henna plant.
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