For those who are new to Henna body art, one of the first questions often asked is ‘Is Henna Safe’?, and ‘Does Henna Hurt’? When Henna was first becoming fashionable in the West during the late 1990’s, the art form was often referred to as ‘Henna Tattoos.’ While popular in Western culture, tattoos are associated with health risks and a certain amount of pain. Therefore it was common for the uninitiated to question whether this new form of ‘tattooing’ also carried with it health risks and pain.

The application of henna to the body is neither painful nor poisonous. Henna is simply a method of drawing various designs on the skin using henna paste, and without the use of needles. As the skin absorbs and reacts with the henna powder, the skin is actually stained for a period of up to four weeks. Because henna is a natural stain, it can’t be rubbed off or removed with soap and water.

Henna paste has been used for over 5000 years to help condition, cleanse, and cool skin. It is a natural pigment, and in nearly all people will cause no harm. It is very unusual for anyone to have an adverse reaction to natural henna as it is one of the safest cosmetics ever used, but if one is concerned then it is wise to test a small area first to ensure your skin is not sensitive to this plant.

There is no pain involved with the application of henna. The paste is simply painted on top of your skin, and therefore is a painless treatment. Many describe it as a pleasant and relaxing experience.

The dye, which is permanent on fabric or wood, lingers anywhere from 2-4 weeks on skin, depending upon the quality of the henna, its reaction with an individual’s skin and the care taken to preserve the design.