summerdance

I am so glad to see this thread! So many people do not realize that black henna is not a naturally occurring 'type' of henna. As already stated by someone, henna plants are green. The color they leave on skin is orange to brown depending on your body chemistry.

Some cultures mix the henna with dark brewed tea or even coffee to make the color darker. In some cultures, the darker the color of a bride's henna , the more love she will receive from her mother in law, lol.

I have been using henna both for my hair and body since I was a child. I can actually get good grade FRESH henna to go black on my hands by repeated(at least twice) application and heat. I usually use a hair dryer in winter if it is cold.

Henna is great, but so many people do dangerous things with it. I cannot believe people think its ok to add hair dye to it

Mosaic

Goodness, I didn't realise that so many people didn't know of the danger of using black henna. Here in Melbourne those who use henna, (at least the people I have come across) are very aware of the dangers.

I don't think black henna is banned here, but it is not allowed to be used (or PPD) in skin preparations. A small amount under strict guidelines and package warnings is allowed in hair dyes. You can find henna in health shops but if you ask about black henna they will tell you they don't stock it due to the problems it can cause.

I would advise anyone having henna tattooing to ask what henna is being used and state you don't want black henna to be used. The natural unadulterated henna, can vary in colour, from a redish tone to a very pale slightly yellow colour. The soils the plant is grown in causes the colour difference. But black is not natural - it definitely has additives.

Some people may not have a reaction especially with the first application, but future applications often bring on a severe reaction, so IMO it is not worth the risk at anytime.
~Mosaic

jenc

It's worth knowing that allergic reactions to anything don't occur on first exposure. The first time the body takes the pattern for all the nasty antibodies that it will throw at you next time. I believe that someone who has an allegic reaction first time has either had an exposure to the allergen without realising it, ie as an ingredient or to something else closely related. Allergic reactions can then worsen with each exposure.

lizaj

That as the first and only time I had had a black henna tatoo. Mine wasn't any other reaction but that it burnt me.

Ankebuzz

Wow, I did NOT know this... and given the choice I would have taken a black one (more like a tattoo ).

Thanks for posting this... guess it's not a known fact in South Africa at all... gotta tell my friends!

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Samira bint Aya

I bought black henna powder in Egypt (actually, the powder has a gray appearance) intending to apply it by myself. The man who sold it to me from the pharmacy said I should just mix it with water.

I have been intending to apply it for an upcoming hafla. Now I really doubt this decision.

Does the description of what I bought sound like the nasty stuff? Would I be risking my health? I’ve had black henna tattoos done before, with no adverse effects.

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Dipali

Dear Forum

In India Henna is a widely used accessory. But most people use the fresh paste by grinding newer leaves from the plant, Some people dry them for later use, and when its dry the colour is always slightly darker green to very lighter green but never black , also its widely used by men to dye their grey hair or just making their hair very shinny.

When you buy a Henna product from unknown sources please test it first on your skin, before using it for decorations by making a little spot or dot on the choosen part of your skin. You can always make henna darker as suggested by Summerdance using tea or coffee. Also use of oil after washing off the henna is a good suggestion. In India they usually use mustard oil for that purpose.

Regards

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Eve

Do you colour your hair?

I learnt about PPD the hard way (& the hennaforhair.com site).

I used to colour my hair all the time, a couple of times it itched but I thought nothing of it, perhaps some dye was left on my scalp had dried and caused me to itch. Then after another colour, my head started to itch, my head began to swell. I got blisters all over my scalp, I was so swollen my eyes shut. I had to sleep propped upright for several days. I had to keep rinsing my hair in cool water to wash away the blister ooze, when I finally could lie down I had to place towels over my pillows because my scalp was weeping.
With lots of antihistamines the swelling went down but my head took ages to heal. PPD is horrible stuff.
I've seen pictures of ladies who have been left with bald patches after less severe burning than I had and I consider myself very lucky.

I imagine the people who are using 'black' henna are buying pre-bought mixes and are ignorant of the potential dangers as are those getting henna work. Perhaps them getting sued because they've burnt someone would make them take notice.

Perhaps we should take a lead and if we hire someone to do henna at a show we ask them what they use.

I now colour my hair with henna and indigo.

Allergies can strike at any time, I'd been colouring my hair for many years before this happened.

Mosaic

OMG! Eve, it sounds so painful what you went through, you poor thing. Thank goodness you haven't had any lasting trauma to your head.

Samira Bint Aya, I think you should do a test on an tiny area of skin as Dipali suggested before using the henna you have got, I would do it twice as the first time you may not have a reaction. But do it 24 to 48 hours apart and in different spots. I haven't heard of, or seen a grey colour, so it is hard to say if it is totally unadulterated. maybe the Egyptian soil makes it go a greyish colour, but do test to be sure.
~Mosaic

Aniseteph

From The Body Art Shop.com > PPD - Be Informed For Your Safety

"Stay Away From Products That...." lists of 8 warning signs including "Claim to be ‘Black Henna'" and "Contain a greyish – purple coloured powder that you need to mix with water."

It sounds suspicious enough to avoid IMO - just not worth the risk. You never know when you've been sensitised and if the next time will be a really bad reaction. (oww, Eve, poor you, what a horrible experience ).

Paler tattoos look better than permanently scarred skin.

Absolutely agree.