Where Can I Get a Henna Tattoo?

Henna tattooing, also called mehndi, is ritualistic body painting. Henna leaves are ground into a powder, mixed with a liquid or oil to make a paste, then painted on the body in elaborate designs. Mehndi is practiced worldwide at festivals and celebrations such as weddings.

Mehndi is not true tattooing. The color is a temporary stain that lasts about 10 days. Henna tattoos have become increasingly popular for people who like tattoos but do not want permanent markings.

Find a Certified Artist

The Henna Page is an organization that serves as a clearinghouse for information on henna and natural, temporary tattooing. Its website also provides a list of artists in about 10 states and several locations in Canada. Every artist profiled on the site has been certified by the International Certification for Natural Henna Artists (ICNHA), which tests and certifies henna artists on "the fundamental principles of henna, skin, hygiene, safety, culture and traditions." The ICNHA website also lists more than 80 certified artists and contact information.

These recommended artists use only natural ingredients in the henna tattooing process.

Salons and spas in your area may also offer the service. It is not advisable to use the services of a person at a fair or beach boardwalk, since you cannot verify credentials or product purity.

Warnings

Product purity is a health issue. Some artists mix a highly toxic chemical called para-phenylenediamine (PPD) into the henna powder to create a black color. Natural henna produces a rich reddish brown color, never blue or any other color, and certainly never black. Henna treated with PPD can cause chemical burns, permanent disfigurement, severe allergic reaction and a lifetime sensitivity to dyes.

Be advised that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved the importation of henna for use as hair dye and has not approved the application of henna to the skin.

Buy a Kit

The FDA states that all skin-dying products (such as a henna tattoo kit) sold in retail stores must list ingredients on the label. If you cannot locate a reputable professional artist, buying a kit that has proper ingredient identification will enable you to self-tattoo with minimal risk.

A well-equipped kit would include henna powder, myrtle or "mehndi" oil for mixing with the powder, applicators (cones), transfer paper, stencils, a design book and instructions. A kit may sell for as little as $9 or more than $50, depending on the amount of henna included. Check the henna amount in particular before purchase; some kits include as little as 4g of henna powder, when it takes about 60g to do a complete set of traditional "bridal hands."

Never buy a kit or product that claims to provide "black henna"; there is no such thing as natural black henna, and you run the risk of using a product with undeclared PPD.

References

• The Henna Page
• International Certification for Natural Henna Artists
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: "Temporary Tattoos & Henna/Mehndi"