Background: Henna as been used in ritual, ceremony and celebration for many centuries in India, Morocco, and throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The various diasporas have resulted in an increase in these and other uses henna, particularly in the last two centuries.
Used for body art and hair dye since the Bronze Age. The name henna has its origin in the Arabic name for the plant. Henna, as Camphire, is mentioned in the Song of Songs and Song of Solomon.
Description: This plant is so widely distributed throughout the Earth's tropical, subtropical, and also, semi-arid regions that its origin is not clear. Henna is a tall shrub or small tree growing to 20 feet in height. Its glabrous branches are spine tipped. Opposing leaves are entire, glabrous, elliptical, wide and lanceolate. Flowers have 4 sepals, a 2 mm calyx tube with 3 mm spread lobes. Petals are obvate, with white or red stamens inserted in pairs on the rim of the calyx tube. Fruits are small, brownish capsules, 32–49 seeds per fruit, opening irregularly into four splits. The leaf, dried, powdered, is applied as a rehydrated paste to various surfaces.
Henna for hair: A paste or batter-like mixture, made of hot water and henna powder, is applied to dry hair. Beginning with the top of the head, comb into and through the full length of the hair. Wrap with fabric or plastic to contain and extend the effectiveness of the application. 40 minutes to one hour is usually sufficient to impart the effects. Henna provides a thickening, conditioning to hair, and may provide some UV protection. Immediately upon application, cleanse unwanted henna from facial, neck and any other skin. Protection of hands, clothing, etc. is suggested. Rubber gloves are suitable for hands. After treatment, wash and thoroughly rinse to remove all henna from hair.
Henna for other ornamentation: A more fluid paste of henna is prepared and applied to skin for temporary coloring. This may last for up to 3 weeks and can be lightened or removed with hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice.
CAUTION: Use of henna may prove unsafe for those with G6PD deficiency. G6PD deficiency is genetic. Often symptomless, G-6-PD is a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, an enzyme necessary for red blood cell function. Persons of Mediterranean heritage are among those most commonly affected. Exposure to antimalarial drugs and agents, sulfonamides (antibiotic), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, nitrofurantoin, naphthalene or para-dichlorobenzene (in mothballs), quinidin, quinine, and lawsonia, the active constituent in henna, may trigger acute hemolytic anemia or the more serious chronic condition, spherocytic anemia, in those with the deficiency.
Safety: Do not use on broken skin.
One of the most frequently asked questions we get regarding our henna powder is why does it contain other herb ingredients. Pure henna (100% Lawsonia inermis) creates a slightly red color. Small amounts of different herbs are blended with lawsonia to get different henna colors like black, blond, chestnut etc.
