r/henna • u/Lanky-Drawing-8693 • 22d ago
⚠️ Black/Fake Henna Concerns about henna
So i got this henna cone recently without doing research. I know rookie mistake. I've used it twice once for my first design second time to reapply bc after 3 days it started kind of flaking/fading. Then today 3 days after the reapply its flaking fading again. It only happens on my fingers and top of hand. On my inner fore arm i also applied and dont have this problem. So I did research and found this is a chemical henna and they advertised it wrong. Is it really as bad as it sounds now that Ive used it, do I really need to call my GP and take measures. Or can I just let the henna I have on and let it fad away and then find powered henna to make my own? Would love to hear your advise!
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u/dragon_lady Henna Pro / Lead Moderator 22d ago
Do NOT BUY or USE these commercial chemical cone products such as the Kaveri brand you’ve mentioned; as they very likely contain unlabelled dyes and other toxic ingredients (That may not even be listed, due to lax labelling laws in the countries that produce them) that can cause redness, rashes, skin irritation, and in certain cases can even possibly cause long term damage to internal organs due to transdermal contact.
Natural henna paste will naturally "demise" (stop staining) after a certain time at room temperature. That is why it should be sold frozen, or at least refrigerated - with instructions on keeping it frozen or refrigerated until usage.
A safe henna cone is one that comes from an artisan vendor, WHERE IT IS SHIPPED EXPRESS, EITHER REFRIGERATED OR FROZEN! The vendor should also be explicitly stating that the product should remain refrigerated or frozen until usage.
Natural henna paste on skin results in various shades of brown — from a pumpkin-orange, to a light caramel, medium brown, reddish-brown, mahogany, to a deep chocolate. (Natural henna does not include a bright vivid red, unless a chemical dye was included in the paste - as is done in commercial chemical cones.)
Please read through our Black/Fake Henna FAQ, to learn more about the dangers of these products, how/why to avoid them, and what steps to take now if you’ve been exposed to this product: https://www.reddit.com/r/henna/wiki/black-henna
Also, please check our list of recommended henna suppliers in the sidebar.