1. What is Henna?
Henna is the Arabic name of the bush lawsonia inermis. Its leaves are dried and powdered, then made into a paste. The paste releases dye onto the skin as it sits. After the paste is removed, the dye darkens over the course of 12-48 hours. The plant, powder, paste and pattern on the skin are all called henna. Throughout the henna culture, there are several words for the plant and the art due to the diverse languages. Mehndi and mehandi are two common words for henna.

2. How does henna work?
Henna contains hennotannic acid, which dyes collagens (skin cells) and keratins (hair and fingernail cells) very easily. The dye is released from the vegetable matter and made available to dye skin at ph 5.5 or more acidic.

3. Who can use henna?
There are no restrictions on who can use henna, though some cultures have their own taboos. It is not safe to henna a child younger than 6 months old. Baby skin is very thin and the body's acid-balancing mechanism is not well established. Both men and women use henna.

4. Why is henna done?
Henna is done for ornamentation and for special celebrations. Betrothals, weddings, the eighth month of pregnancy, at birth, 40 days after a woman gives birth, naming ceremonies and circumcisions are events celebrated with henna. Eids and other religious holidays are occasions to be decorated. It can be a relief in hot weather and an excuse to just have fun. Henna is often used as a natural hair-dye for those with darker hair who wish to add red hues. It is a safe, effective conditioner and is used as a fabric dye.

5. Is henna safe?
Henna is 100% natural and safe, but you should be aware of what your henna artist uses in their henna paste since each artist tends to have his/her own recipe. Check the recipe or do a spot test to make sure you aren't allergic to any ingredients.

Do not use black henna. Black henna is not natural! It often contains a hair dye (PPD) that can damage and scar the skin. If someone says they use "black henna" please choose another artist.

6. What color is henna?
The design color depends on a wide range of things like your skin color, the henna powder, how long the paste stays on the skin, a person's body chemistry and the aftercare of the design. Henna stains range from bright red to dark burgundy. Palms are the best place to get the deepest color. Henna has a shelf life. If it is not stored properly or has expired, it will become very stale. Pale color comes from stale henna.

7. Can I henna dark skin?
Henna is a translucent stain. If your palms are lighter than the backs of your hands, your palms will take henna. On the rest of your skin, the henna will stain in its normal range in contrast with the natural color of your skin. On darker skin, bold patterns will show up better than the delicate designs that shows up easily on pale skin.

8. How long will my design last?
A henna design will last anywhere from a few days to many weeks, depending on where the design is placed, the type of henna paste used, how long the pate stays on, one's natural exfoliation rate and the aftercare of the design. The feet and hands tend to stain the longest. Oil/lotion your skin frequently to deter exfoliation.

9. Can I go in the sun or swim with my henna?
Henna is a complete sun block, so if you get a tan when you are hennaed, the henna may leave an un-suntanned pale pattern after it has exfoliated. I've had this happen. It was actually a neat effect. You can swim, but if the water has a lot of chlorine, or you swim for a very long time, you henna may bleach out and exfoliate more quickly than usual.

10. Can I use "hair henna" to decorate my skin?
Henna for hair is not as fine a quality as skin henna. You might get a little stain, but it won't work very well. Also, there could be other ingredients or dyes that are not meant to be used on skin and may harm the skin.

11. Can I henna those places where the sun rarely shines?
Henna won't hurt those places. It has been used to comfort heat rash and sweatiness down there. Do not put henna on mucous membrane tissue.

12. Can I henna when I am pregnant?
Yes. Some cultures regardpregnancy henna as lucky and others consider it to be extremely unlucky. Pure henna mixed with natural ingredients will not harm a pregnant woman. Be aware that large bellies may have very thin skin that does not take henna very well.

13. Is the modern use of henna sacrilegious?
Though henna is used in many religious and secular celebrations, henna is not sacred. Henna is a cosmetic women use for good luck and adornment. It is part celebrating life's events. The use of henna has been very fluid overthe past 5,000 years. There is no one correct tradition of henna. The recent interest in western culture is just one more chapter in its history.

14. How do I get rid of my henna quickly?
If you need to get rid of your henna pattern quickly, bleach and exfoliate that area. Acne medications that have alpha-hydroxies and anti-bacterials will help remove henna. Facial scrubs with exfoliates will help. Frequent washing with bleach will fade henna quickly from your hands. Wash and exfoliate several times gently over 2 or 3 days rather than to trying to remove the henna all at once. You don't want to hurt yourself!