What is Black Henna?
First of all, there is no such thing as black henna. Henna imparts a variety of earthy red to brown tones. So the black color and any other color are anything but henna. This black dye can damage the skin, sometimes for good. Therefore it is necessary for everyone to familiarize with the characteristics of Black henna.
The so called Black henna is a harmful chemical known as paraphenylenediamine or PPD. It is a coal tar dye, which are a transdermal toxin, strong sensitizer and potential carcinogen. This chemical can cause itching, open sores, scarring, skin oozing, long term scarring and blistering skin. More serious damages such as organ damage and permanent sensitization can be caused. Pregnant women, nursing women and children should especially keep away from it.
The Black henna paste is a texture similar to thick black ink. Some artist apply Black henna tattoos because of their convience, because they need not be left longer on the skin. This black henna imparts a dark stain immediately. After warnings were issued against the use of Black henna, a new imposter was introduced – Brown henna. A brown hair dye is added to pure henna powder and sometimes, the brown hair dye is applied directly to the skin, which gives brown color to skin immediately. This again is chemical dye with the same harmful side effects as PPD.
It is always better to be safe than sorry. So the next time you get a henna tattoo applied ask about the contents of henna and the color it will impart after the paste is removed, to the henna artist. The paste of pure henna will appear dark green to brown color and the stain it leaves will be orange at first and then darken to burgundy to reddish brown color within one to two days of application. If the stain is black or brown, it is PPD or brown hair dye and over a period of time, there will be no color change. Pure henna should impart an initial stain of orange. Also, it will have a cooling effect on the skin and will smell like musky hay with the combination of essential oils smell. Black and brown henna can sometime start to itch or burn almost immediately and there will be no or a chemical odor.