Black Henna Beware

[khanjar]

Some friends who use henna products came across this and them knowing my interest passed these articles onto me. Pretty scary reading ;

The Henna Page - PPD Black Henna

The Henna Page - PPD

 

[Mosaic]

I would think that most people who use henna know about the dangers of black henna. It is toxic and believed to be carcinogenic.

Posting the articles was a good idea though, as some people may not be aware of the types of henna and the dangers of the black version.
~Mosaic

 

[khanjar]

I would think that most people who use henna know about the dangers of black henna. It is toxic and believed to be carcinogenic.

Posting the articles was a good idea though, as some people may not be aware of the types of henna and the dangers of the black version.
~Mosaic

Very true, I have been around henna for a good ten years and though I had heard of black henna used in body art and seen it on people on a few occasions, I did not know it was so dangerous.

Henna was always good for working out tattoo designs, it was good for a few days, but faded quickly, black henna was heard of but from what I know now, I am very glad it was elusive.

 

[lizaj]

Very true, I have been around henna for a good ten years and though I had heard of black henna used in body art and seen it on people on a few occasions, I did not know it was so dangerous.

Henna was always good for working out tattoo designs, it was good for a few days, but faded quickly, black henna was heard of but from what I know now, I am very glad it was elusive.

Neither had I known of the danger before I had on done in North Africa and ended up with blisters that needed hospital treatment back in the UK and a scar that lasted 2 and a half years. I had no idea black henna was not as natural as brown..it was advertised as traditional and natural...silly me!
I was at an event last night in Manchester and there were ladies painting customers up in black henna and as this was a Indian lady making money I felt in no position to go around "trouble-making". I would have been thrown out! As it happened the girls sitting near to be were also disapproving .The daughter of had a similar case to mine 5 years ago and the scar is still there on her shoulder.
Why in the name of all that is holy is this stuff not banned in the UK at least!
There is a group on facebook campaigning for legislation but everytime you go anywhere on the Med, there are stalls and folks even children putting themselves at risk. I have appraoched holiday companies with warning but to no avail!

 

[teela]

I've never used it but have known of the dangers. I often go shopping up in Canada at the Indian sari shops and usually see the black henna for sale there in the shops, usually near the front of the shop. I don't know if it can be totally outlawed.

 

[Salome]

Silly question but why do people use the black henna if it's dangerous and there is a safe alternative?

 

[lizaj]

Silly question but why do people use the black henna if it's dangerous and there is a safe alternative?

In post I stated that at the time I had mine done, I had no idea it was dangerous. If I had of course I wouldn't have had it done!

As to those who did it...well either they know and don't care ( it promoted as traditional and natural) or they are too are ignorant of it's effects.
I suppose you can fool a silly tourist into beleiving this is the same as the temporary tattoing used in North Africa and they aren't going to be able to report you to any trading standards office at home in Northern Europe or in the USA nor do they fear you will come back and beat them up!

The rest of you can learn from the gullible and stupid tourists like me who went before you.

 

[Salome]

Oh, I didn't mean the consumers but rather the people who use it ON consumers. I had no idea about black henna being dangerous and frankly if I'm being honest I would simply trust/assume the person doing the design knew what they were using/doing.

 

[Tarik Sultan]

Oh, I didn't mean the consumers but rather the people who use it ON consumers. I had no idea about black henna being dangerous and frankly if I'm being honest I would simply trust/assume the person doing the design knew what they were using/doing.

They are either ignorant of the dangers or don't care. A friend of mine recently got a black henna. When I saw it I told her that there is no such thing as black henna. She insisted that there was because she had it done by a Somali woman. I told her that natural henna is red and to get it black they have to add something to it such as hair dye.

Sure enough it started itching within hours, then her whole hand became red and swollen and even the side of her face and ear. She had ppd poisoning. She knew because she had the same reaction a few years ago from a ppd hair dye.

Understand that even if the person doing it is from "over there", these are uneducated women who have no knowledge of chemistry and do not know the dangers of using modern substances that are not natural. We've seen similar problems with eye make up. Unfortunately there are still far too many people who are not aware of the dangers in these products.

 

[khanjar]

Ah, eye make up, that would be traditional kohl, the stuff traditionally used to reduce sun glare in ME countries. I think I read it was traditionally made from various heavy metals including lead. All these metals we know as toxic substances, but are naturally occurring so a label stating something is made with natural ingredients or traditional ingredients could mean it contains toxic ingredients, a worry to be aware of.

I believe high end Egyptian kohl does not contain heavy metals, nor does kohl produced by western cosmetics companies, I mean, the big Western cosmetics names wouldn't dare would they ?

On the subject of black henna, well as most have said, henna is a browny, orangy colour when applied to skin, this also dependant on the skin type. For a skin staining substance to have the ability to go black, then the skin staining substance must have a dye added. Now for someone to be selling or applying black henna, it might be that they know the substance is listed as made from natural ingredients, or is traditional, but they are not aware that these 'natural' ingredients are toxic.

There is an assumption here in the west, that if something is natural, then it is deemed to be safe.

It could be that it is just pure ignorance that this stuff is sold or applied. A case of buyer beware.

Oh, interestingly the makers of tattoo inks and pigments are not required to reveal what is in the substances, many of these substances being a trade secret.

 

[summerdance]

Black Henna

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:naghty:

 

[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]

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.

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!

 

[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. :think:

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.

 

[Dev]

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

 

[Eve]

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.

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]

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....

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.

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

Absolutely agree. :clap: :clap: :clap: