What is black henna?
Black henna is not a natural henna product. Black henna colors the skin jet black and usually looks very ink-like. Black henna for hair is usually a blend of henna and other herbs including chemicals. Please read all of the ingredients on packages or ask for more information.
It contains PPD (para-phenylenediamine) which is a black chemical dye that is used is used to make KEVLAR®, epoxycoatings, including fungicides, corrosion inhibitors, urethane coatings, rubber chemicals, hair dyes and polyurethane.
Please don't ever get this applied onto your skin or put this into your hair.
PPD is a toxin that can get into the bloodstream through the skin. It can cause damage to kidneys, liver, skin and possibly even cancer.
You can read more about it here:
In English
Is henna painful?
Absolutely not. For body art henna is placed on the skin in a similar way as if someone was applying body paints on you. The henna paste is laid down from a small bottle or cone. There is no piercing of the skin and only the top most layers of your skin is dyed. Henna feels cool to the skin. Professional henna artists usually make their own henna paste by hand. Be sure to ask what the ingredients are before getting henna applied. Natural henna is very safe and allergic reactions are rare.
Here at Henna Sooq we use a henna paste which we make with lavender or Red Raj Bliss Blend essential oil for safest and best results. Our recipe is safe for pregnant, nursing mothers, children and the elderly. Should you have any concerns please contact your doctor or midwife.
For hair care henna feels similar to a mud mask treatment for hair and slightly heavier then chemical dye treatments. It has cooling properties which you will feel on your hair and scalp. Should you have any smell or migraine sensitivities please be sure to add essential oils to your recipe so that the henna or ayurvedic herbs scent doesn't bother you. Take it easy and sit down with a good movie or book. You can also sleep with a henna treatment on your hair overnight.
Could I be allergic to henna?
Yes you can still be allergic to henna and products here at Henna Sooq. Even though our products are 100% natural and made with raw, natural ingredients, this doesn't mean natural ingredients don't cause allergies. Peanuts are an allergen and they're natural correct? It's the same with any ingredient, product, or herb etc... you can be allergic to anything these days. We highly recommend that you test all products before using. We offerSAMPLESso that you can test to be sure you are able to safely use our products. Disclaimer: You are liable to test with samples before using a full sized product to test for allergies before use.
How long does henna last?
This varies depending on a few factors such as your skin and body temperature (henna loves warmth), rate of exfoliation, the quality of the henna paste and how well you cared for your henna body art design. Henna body art designs usually lasts 7-10 days.You should leave your fresh henna design on your skin from 3-4 hours or overnight for best results. Try to avoid water going onto the henna design for at least 24 hours to allow it to oxidize and darken.
For naturally coloring your hair, henna is a permanent hair dye and will last as long as it takes to grow out. The average person will repeat their henna hair coloring treatment every 4-6 weeks for best color results.
Does henna come in different colors?
Henna does not come in a variety of colors. Our pure, 100% natural henna powder and paste only dyes in naturally occurring tones of orange/red/brown shades. Henna is a single plant. Plants don't typically produce more then one color outcome. Any other "henna colors" will have other substances added (some of which are very dangerous like PPD which is usually found in black henna) to it. If you have any reactions to henna please contact your physician immediately.
For hair coloring, some commercial boxes of henna claim henna colors but when you read the ingredients you will find a variety of herbs, blends, additives, chemicals all listed on the box of "henna color". Henna only dyes the hair reddish tones. We recommend for all your henna and ayurvedic needs you purchase directly from Henna Sooq as we stand by our high quality standards.
Is henna safe to use on hair?
Yes henna is very safe for hair and in fact it's the only natural alternative to chemical dyes. Henna conditions your hair, strengthens, thickens, add shine and gives it a great color coverage including grey hairs. The color choices for your hair will get depends on your natural and current hair tone. Generally you will achieve a range from orange to reddish tones. You can get varying tones using other ayurvedic herbs in addition to your henna powder. Please view our color chart for further information and guidance.
Is henna safe for chemically treated hair?
Yes absolutely. Our henna is free from metallic salts, PPD and additives so therefore our line of henna hair color are safe to use along with other chemical treatments and coloring agents. If you still perm your hair or use want to go back to chemical color then with our line of products that is safe to do so. Please note henna and indigo are difficult to lift.
Is henna safe for pregnant women?
Yes both henna body art and henna for hair are safe for pregnant women. We always recommend you confirm this with your midwife/doctor to be certain that they allow it because every pregnancy is unique. Henna and ayurvedic herbs are a perfect healthy alternative for pregnant women to use to dye their hair since chemicals should be avoided during pregnancy and when breastfeeding.
What is dye release?
Dye release is the term used to describe the amount of time needed for henna and ayurvedic herbs to achieve color release. Color release means that your henna and/or ayurvedic herb is ready to use and the color is ready to apply. Each henna and indigo powder has an allotted amount of time it needs to release it's color before it's ready to use.This is applicable to henna body art as well. Do note that dye release is not needed for non-coloring ayurvedic herbs for healthy hair care. Please follow our guidelines for dye release below:
Moroccan Henna: 1-2 hours for hair use and 6-8 hours for body art use
Yemeni Henna: 3-4 hours for hair use and 10-12 hours for body art use
Red Raj and Organic Rajasthani Indian Henna: 3-4 hours for hair use and 10-12 hours for body art use
Jamila Henna: 3-4 hours for hair use and 10-12 hours for body art use
Indigo: 20-30 minutes for hair use
Cassia Obovata: 3-4 hours for hair use
Where can I find henna instructions?
You can find individual instructions of each henna powder and all of our Ayurvedic herbs for hair and body on each of the product's pages in the instruction tab found underneath the description and video tab of the product. There is a PDF instruction file that you can download and print. We offer free henna resources here as well: READ - DIY HennaandWATCH - Henna TV.
Where should I get my henna supplies?
A good place is right here at Henna Sooq. We carry premium quality henna powders that are 100% natural, fresh and finely sifted.
We do not recommend that you buy from your local Indian or Middle Eastern markets as you won't know how long the henna powder has been on the shelf nor of the quality. Cones with pre-made henna paste are also not a good purchase as you again won't know how long it has been on the shelf and it most likely has unnatural ingredients, preservatives and chemicals in the premade cones majority of the time. Being out on the shelf diminishes the quality of henna and therefore when using these henna products your stains won't typically be very dark or long lasting.
How do I store my henna supplies?
Henna powder and ayurvedic herbs should be kept in the freezer, fridge or a cool dark place to ensure freshness and to preserve its dyeing properties. They will last up to 3 years with good storage.
All other hair care products can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to 12 months.
Fresh Henna Paste and Jagua are perishable products and must be kept frozen when not in use. It can last up to 12 months in the freezer.
Essential oils are affected by light (sunlight) and temperature and we recommended that all essential oils be kept in tightly closed in our amber glass bottles in your refrigerator for best results.
All of your other henna supplies can be stored away at your convenience.
Where can I learn more about henna and your certification program?
You can take one of our classes or workshops where we have both a henna for hair coloring certification program and a henna body art certification. We also have FREE small mini classes on our Instagram page every Wednesday.
Classes - BOOK NOW
Ask your library, school, retailer, yoga studio or even your salon to have us teach a class on henna body art or natural hair care. We will come to you!
Where can I get henna services?
With our CEO Khadija right here through -BOOK NOW
We will be more then happy to schedule an appointment for you and your event/party. We do henna and jagua body art tattoos and also offer henna for hair coloring appointments.
Where can I get more information about henna?
Please contact us if you have any more questions or comments and we will be more then happy to assist you in any way we can. To reach us please email us at info@hennasooq.com or call 410-579-4543 during the business hours of Monday through Friday 10am to 6pm EST.