What is henna?

Henna is an all natural paste that is made from the leaves of the Henna (lawsonia Inermis) plant. The leaves of the plant contain a natural and very effective coloring pigment. When the leaves are dried and crushed into a powder, they can be mixed with other natural ingredients to create the henna paste that is used in temporary body art tattoos.

How long do I leave it on for?

Once you have applied the henna design to the skin, you should leave it on there as long as possible (at least 2 hours). The longer you leave it on the skin, the darker the stain will be. Once the paste is dry, you can wrap the design using saran wrap to help keep it in place. Some people also will spritz gel spray or hairspray on the design to keep it on longer. If left alone, the henna paste will dry and start to crack about 30 minutes after application. It will then start to crack and fall off. You can use a dry paper towel to rub the dry henna off or you can rinse it with warm water.

How long does a henna tattoo last?

Henna tattoos typically last 10 days - 2 weeks. The henna stains the upper layer of the skin and will fade naturally as the skin exfoliates. We recommend using an all natural balm on the tattoo when getting into the water to help the tattoo last longer. Additionally, staying out of the ocean and swimming pools will help the tattoo to last longer.

How long is the paste/powder good for?

The paste lasts up to 4 weeks in the bottle or cone once mixed, if it is kept in the refrigerator, ideally the freezer. The henna powder will stay fresh up to 2 years unmixed if it is stored in a cool, dark, dry place (a refrigerator is ideal).

Can henna be used on children and/or pregnant women?

Henna is all natural and can be used on both children and pregnant women. You may want to do a small patch test first to test for sensitivity before committing to a larger design.

Do certain parts of the body stain better?

Henna stains the darkest on the areas of the skin that are thicker, so elbows down to hands and knees down to feet tend to be the darkest staining areas.

Can I remove a tattoo quicker if I want it gone?

Since it stains the top layers of the skin, you can exfoliate with soap and a washcloth to speed up the process of natural skin exfoliation. It still may take a few days to completely disappear.

Will this work the same on everyone? Will this work on dark skin?

Results can vary for everyone and the color of skin doesn't have much to do with that variance. The darkness of the stain can be affected by many things, such as body temperature, skin type, lifestyle, time of the month, etc. Two people can use the same henna paste, the same way, and end up with different results. This is due to the many factors that come into play when dealing with an all natural substance and is not the fault of the henna. If you didn't achieve the results you had hoped for, try going over the design with a second application.

What should I do before the appointment?

Ensure that you have completed all your errands for the day and block out the rest of the day just for your henna appointment. Before the appointment starts, it is also best to ensure that you have gone to the toilet because you will have to sit in the same spot for the next hour for causal henna, and 2-4 hours for bridal henna, depending on your design. 

 

What should I wear for my appointment?

Since movement will be restricted once you have your henna paste on, wear something loose for maximum comfort - we personally recommend Kaftans and Baju Butterflies uwu. If you have picked a design that goes up to the midlength of your arms, then pick something that is easy for you to raise your sleeves up during the appointment, or even better, wear short sleeves like tshirts! 

 

I have hairy forearms, will my midlength design that I chose be suitable?

HENNABYAINI will have to shave the hair on the forearms if it gets in the way of the henna design. This is mandatory because oftentimes henna paste would just sit on top of the hair, and it would not be in contact with the skin. If you would like to do that before the appointment, feel free to, otherwise, just take note that we will be doing it for you! 

 

Can I schedule my bridal appointment after Isya' as I need t do my prayers before the henna.

 

We understand how this may be a priority for some of our muslim brides and we will recommend starting the appointment after Maghrib, so that our brides can perform their prayers right before Subur.