View source for Henna

{{short description|Vegetable dye}}
{{About |the plant-based dye|other uses|Henna (disambiguation)}}
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[[File:Elderly Man with Hennaed Beard - Old City - Dhaka - Bangladesh (12850630365).jpg|thumb|An elderly [[Bengalis|Bengali]] man in [[Dhaka]] with a beard dyed in henna]]

'''Henna''' is a [[dye]] made from dried, powdered leaves of [[Lawsonia inermis]], producing reddish stains used in body art.<ref>{{cite book|isbn= 978-0025054707|last1= Bailey|first1= L.H.|last2= Bailey|first2= E.Z.|year= 1976|title= Hortus Third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada|publisher= Macmillan|location= New York|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/hortusthirdconci00bail}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-12 |title=Henna tree {{!}} Description, Uses, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/plant/henna |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> It has been used since at least the [[ancient Egypt]]ian period as a hair and body dye, notably in the temporary body art of [[mehndi]] (or "henna tattoo") resulting from the staining of the [[Human skin|skin]] using dyes from the henna plant. After henna stains reach their peak colour, they hold for a few days and then gradually wear off by way of [[Exfoliation (cosmetology)|exfoliation]], typically within one to three weeks.

Henna has been used in ancient Egypt, [[ancient Near East]] and the [[Indian subcontinent]] to dye skin, hair, and fingernails; as well as fabrics including [[silk]], [[wool]], and [[leather]]. Historically, henna was used in [[West Asia]] including the [[Arabian Peninsula]] and in [[Carthage]], other parts of [[North Africa]], [[West Africa]], [[Central Africa]], the [[Horn of Africa]] and the [[Indian subcontinent]].

The name ''henna'' is used in other skin and hair dyes, such as ''black henna'' and ''neutral henna'', neither of which is derived from the henna plant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hennaforhair.com/faq/cassiaobovata.html|access-date=5 May 2013|website=Henna for Hair|title=Cassia Obovata|year=2004|first=Catherine|last= Cartwright-Jones}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = FDA: Beware of "black henna" tattoos| access-date = 5 May 2013| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2013/03/26/fda-beware-of-black-henna-tattoos/|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Brady |last=Dennis|date=26 March 2013}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The word ''henna'' comes from the [[Arabic]] {{script|Arab|حِنَّاء}} ([[ALA-LC romanization|ALA-LC]]: ''ḥinnāʾ''; pronounced {{IPA|ar|ħɪnˈnæːʔ|}}).<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 May 2023 |title=Definition of HENNA |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/henna |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
The origins of the initial human uses of henna are uncertain; however, there are records that the plant was marketed in [[Babylonia]],<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qulwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA65|page=65|title=The Devils and Evil Spirits of Babylonia|author=R. Campbell Thompson|publisher=Cambridge University Press|date= 27 September 2018|isbn=978-1-108-08461-1 }}</ref> and was used in [[Ancient Egypt]] on some [[mummy|mummies]] to dye their hair, skin, nails, or funeral wrappings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The henna plant: Transcending time, religion and culture |url=https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-henna-plant-transcending-time-religion-and-culture.html |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=www.nhm.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref> It arrived in the [[Maghreb]] region during the [[Punic people|Punic civilization]] through [[Phoenicia|Phoenician]] Diasporas where it was used as a beautification tool.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Henna in North Africa and the Middle East {{!}} CSDT |url=https://csdt.org/culture/henna/middleeast.html |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=csdt.org}}</ref> [[Pliny the Elder]] wrote about its use in the [[Roman Empire]] as a medicine, a perfume, and a dye.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hennabysienna.com/henna-in-the-ancient-world.html|title=Henna In The Ancient World|work=Henna by Sienna}}{{cite web|url=https://www.loebclassics.com/view/pliny_elder-natural_history/1938/pb_LCL370.79.xml?readMode=recto|work=loebclassics.com|title=Natural History }}</ref>

==Preparation and application==
[[File:Henna for hair.jpg|thumb|right|Henna powder]]

===Body art===
Whole, unbroken henna leaves will not stain the skin because the active chemical agent, [[lawsone]], is bound within the plant. However, dried henna leaves will stain the skin if they are mashed into a paste. The lawsone will gradually migrate from the henna paste into the outer layer of the skin and bind to the [[protein]]s in it, creating a stain.

Since it is difficult to form intricate patterns from coarsely crushed leaves, henna is commonly traded as a powder<ref>{{cite web|title=Henna Powder of Prem Dulhan|url=http://www.premhenna.com/natural-henna-powder.html|publisher=[[Lia]]|access-date=23 December 2015|archive-date=23 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223190636/http://www.premhenna.com/natural-henna-powder.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> made by drying, [[Mill (grinding)|milling]] and [[Sieve|sifting]] the leaves. The dry powder is mixed with one of a number of liquids, including water, lemon juice, strong tea, and other ingredients, depending on the tradition. Many artists use sugar or molasses in the paste to improve consistency to keep it stuck to the skin better. The henna mix must rest between one and 48 hours before use in order to release the lawsone from the leaf matter. The timing depends on the crop of henna being used. Essential oils with high levels of [[monoterpene]] alcohols, such as [[Melaleuca|tea tree]], [[cajuput]], or [[lavender]], will improve skin stain characteristics. Other essential oils, such as eucalyptus and clove, are not used because they can irritate the skin.

[[File:Final Mehndi (Henna Tattoo).theora.ogv|thumb|left|Video of henna being applied]]
The paste can be applied with many traditional and innovative tools, starting with a basic stick or twig. In Morocco, a syringe is common. A plastic cone similar to those used to pipe icing onto cakes is used in India. A light stain may be achieved within minutes, but the longer the paste is left on the skin, the darker and longer lasting the stain will be, so it needs to be left on as long as possible.  To prevent it from drying or falling off the skin, the paste is often sealed down by dabbing a sugar/lemon mix over the dried paste or adding some form of sugar to the paste. After some time, the dry paste is simply brushed or scraped away. The paste should be kept on the skin for a minimum of four to six hours, but longer times and even wearing the paste overnight is a common practice. Removal should not be done with water, as water interferes with the oxidation process of stain development. Cooking oil may be used to loosen dry paste.

Henna stains are orange when the paste is first removed but darken over the following three days to a deep reddish brown due to oxidation. Soles and palms have the thickest layer of skin and so take up the most lawsone, and take it to the greatest depth, so that hands and feet will have the darkest and most long-lasting stains. Some also believe that steaming or warming the henna pattern will darken the stain, either during the time the paste is still on the skin or after the paste has been removed. It is debatable whether this adds to the color of the result as well. After the stain reaches its peak color, it holds for a few days, then gradually wears off by way of [[Exfoliation (cosmetology)|exfoliation]], typically within one to three weeks.

Natural henna pastes containing only henna powder, a liquid (water, lemon juice, etc.) and an essential oil (lavender, cajuput, tea tree etc.) are not "shelf stable," meaning they expire quickly, and cannot be left out on a shelf for over one week without losing their ability to stain the skin.

[[File:HNQ.svg|thumb|right|[[Lawsone]], an active compound in henna]]
The leaf of the henna plant contains a finite amount of lawsone. As a result, once the powder has been mixed into a paste, this leaching of dye molecules into the mixture will only occur for an average of two to six days. If a paste will not be used within the first few days after mixing, it can be frozen for up to four months to halt the dye release, for thawing and use at a later time. Commercially packaged pastes that remain able to stain the skin for longer than seven days without refrigeration or freezing contain other chemicals besides henna that may be dangerous to the skin. After the initial seven-day release of lawsone dye, the henna leaf is spent, therefore, any dye created by these commercial cones on the skin after this time period is actually the result of other compounds in the product. These chemicals are often undisclosed on packaging and have a wide range of colors, including what appears to be a natural-looking color stain produced by dyes such as [[Picramic acid|sodium picramate]]. These products often do not contain any henna. There are many adulterated henna pastes such as these, and others, for sale today that are erroneously marketed as "natural", "pure", or "organic", all containing potentially dangerous undisclosed additives. The length of time a pre-manufactured paste takes to arrive in the hands of consumers is typically longer than the seven-day dye release window of henna, therefore one can reasonably expect that any pre-made mass-produced cone that is not shipped frozen is a potentially harmful adulterated chemical variety.{{Unbalanced opinion|date=July 2021}} ·

Henna only stains the skin one color, a variation of reddish brown, at full maturity three days after application.

Powdered fresh henna, unlike pre-mixed paste, can be easily shipped around the world and stored for many years in a well-sealed package.

Body art quality henna is often more finely sifted than henna powders for hair.

===Hair/eyebrow dye===
====History====
[[File:Henna hair colour squares.jpeg|thumb|right|Cosmetic henna for colouring hair]]

In Ancient Egypt, [[Ahmose-Henuttamehu]] (17th Dynasty, 1574 BCE) was probably a daughter of [[Seqenenre Tao]] and [[Ahmose Inhapy]]. Smith reports that the mummy of Henuttamehu's own hair had been dyed a bright red at the sides, probably with henna.<ref>G. Elliott Smith, The Royal Mummies, Duckworth Publishing; (September 2000)</ref>

In Europe, henna was popular among women connected to the [[Aestheticism|aesthetic movement]] and the [[Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood|Pre-Raphaelite]] artists of England in the 1800s. [[Dante Gabriel Rossetti]]'s wife and muse, [[Elizabeth Siddal]], had naturally bright red hair. Contrary to the cultural tradition in Britain that considered red hair unattractive, the Pre-Raphaelites fetishized red hair. Siddal was portrayed by Rossetti in many paintings that emphasized her flowing red hair.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aesthetics|url=http://www.fashion-era.com/aesthetics.htm|access-date=15 August 2011}}</ref> The other Pre-Raphaelites, including [[Evelyn De Morgan]] and [[Frederick Sandys]], academic classicists such as [[Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton|Frederic Leighton]], and French painters such as [[Gaston Bussière]] and the [[Impressionism|Impressionists]], further popularized the association of henna-dyed hair and young bohemian women.

Opera singer [[Adelina Patti]] is sometimes credited with popularizing the use of henna in Europe in the late nineteenth century. Parisian courtesan [[Cora Pearl]] was often referred to as La Lune Rousse (the red-haired moon) for dyeing her hair red. In her memoirs, she relates an incident when she dyed her pet dog's fur to match her own hair.<ref name="Pearl1886">{{cite book|author=Cora Pearl|title=Mémoires de Cora Pearl|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l0ttAAAAMAAJ|year=1886|publisher=J. Lévy}}</ref> By the 1950s, [[Lucille Ball]] popularized "henna rinse" as her character, Lucy Ricardo, called it on the television show ''[[I Love Lucy]]''. It gained popularity among young people in the 1960s through a growing interest in Eastern cultures.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sherrow|first=Victoria|title=Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History|year=2006|publisher=Greenwood|isbn=978-0313331459|pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofha0000sher/page/206 206–207]|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofha0000sher/page/206}}</ref>

====Today====
Commercially packaged henna, intended for use as a cosmetic hair dye, originated in ancient Egypt and the ancient Near East and is now popular in many countries in South Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America. The color that results from dyeing with henna depends on the original color of the hair, as well as the quality of the henna, and can range from orange to auburn to burgundy. Henna can be mixed with other natural hair dyes, including ''[[Cassia obovata]]'' for lighter shades of red or even blond and [[indigo dye|indigo]] to achieve brown and black shades. Some products sold as "henna" include these other [[natural dye]]s. Others may include metal salts that can interact with other chemical treatments, oils and waxes that may inhibit the dye, or dyes which may be allergens.

Apart from its use as a hair dye, henna has recently been used as a temporal substitute to eyebrow pencil or even as eyebrow embroidery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instyle.com/news/henna-eyebrow-tinting|title=You Can Now Tint Your Eyebrows With Henna|website=InStyle.com|language=en|access-date=17 December 2018|archive-date=17 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217110649/https://www.instyle.com/news/henna-eyebrow-tinting|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Traditions of henna as body art==
{{see also|Mehndi|Alta (dye)}}
[[File:Mehndi 02.JPG|thumb|right|[[Mehndi]] (henna) applied to the back of both hands in India]]
[[File:Henna on foot in Morocco.jpg|thumb|right|Henna pattern on a foot in [[Morocco]]]]

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The different words for henna in ancient languages imply that it had more than one point of discovery and origin, as well as different pathways of daily and ceremonial use.{{fact|date=February 2024}}{{or-inline|date=February 2024}}

Henna has been used to adorn young women's bodies as part of social and holiday celebrations since the late [[Bronze Age]] in the [[Eastern Mediterranean]].{{fact|date=February 2024}} The earliest text mentioning henna in the context of marriage and fertility celebrations comes from the [[Ugarit]]ic legend of [[Baal]] and [[Anath]],<ref>{{Cite book|author=Johannes C. de Moor |title=The seasonal pattern in the Ugaritic myth of Balu, according to the version of Ilimilku (Alter Orient und Altes Testament) |publisher=Butzon & Bercker |location=Kevelaer |year=1971 |isbn=978-3-7887-0293-9 |oclc=201316}}{{Page needed|date=August 2010}}</ref> which has references to women marking themselves with henna in preparation to meet their husbands, and Anath adorning herself with henna to celebrate a victory over the enemies of Baal.
Wall paintings excavated at [[Akrotiri (prehistoric city)|Akrotiri]] (dating before the eruption of [[Santorini|Thera]] in 1680&nbsp;BCE) show women with markings consistent with henna on their nails, palms and soles, in a tableau consistent with the henna bridal description from Ugarit.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Christos D̲oumas |title=The wall-paintings of Thera |publisher=Thera Foundation |location=Athens |year=1992 |isbn=978-960-220-274-6 |oclc=30069766}}{{Page needed|date=August 2010}}</ref> Many statuettes of young women dating between 1500 and 500&nbsp;BCE along the Mediterranean coastline have raised hands with markings consistent with henna. This early connection between young, fertile women and henna seems to be the origin of the Night of the Henna, which is now celebrated in all the Middle East.

The Night of the Henna was celebrated by most groups in the areas where henna grew naturally: Jews,<ref name="brauer">{{Cite book|author=Erich Brauer |author2=Raphael Patai |title=The Jews of Kurdistan |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |location=Detroit |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-8143-2392-2 |oclc=27266639}}{{Page needed|date=August 2010}}</ref> Muslims,<ref name="westermarck14">{{Cite book|author=Edward Westermarck |title=Marriage ceremonies in Morocco |publisher=Curzon Press |location=London |year=1972 |orig-year=1914 |isbn=978-0-87471-089-2 |oclc=633323}}{{Page needed|date=August 2010}}</ref> Sikhs, and Hindus among others, all celebrated marriages and weddings by adorning the bride, and often the groom, with henna.

Across the henna-growing region, [[Purim]],<ref name="brauer"/> [[Eid ul-Fitr|Eid]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=The victim and its masks: an essay on sacrifice and masquerade in the Maghreb|last=Abdellah Hammoudi|publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]]|year=1993|isbn=978-0-226-31525-6|location=Chicago|oclc=27265476|author-link=Abdellah Hammoudi}}{{Page needed|date=August 2010}}</ref> [[Diwali]],<ref>{{Cite book|author=Jogendra Saksena |year=1979 |title=Art of Rajasthan: Henna and Floor Decorations |location=Delhi |publisher=Sundeep |oclc=7219114 }}{{Page needed|date=August 2010}}</ref> [[Karva Chauth]], [[Passover]], [[Mawlid]], and most saints' days were celebrated with some henna. Favourite horses, donkeys, and salukis had their hooves, paws, and tails hennaed. Battle victories, births, circumcision, birthdays, [[Zār]], as well as weddings, usually included some henna as part of the celebration. Bridal henna nights remain an important custom in many of these areas, particularly among traditional families.

Henna was regarded as having [[Barakah]] ("blessings"),{{where|date=August 2014}}{{when|date=August 2014}} and was applied for luck as well as joy and beauty.<ref name="westermarck26">Westermarck, E. (1926). Ritual and Belief in Morocco Vols 1 & 2. London, UK: Macmillan and Company, Limited{{Page needed|date=August 2010}}</ref> Brides typically had the most henna and the most complex patterns to support their greatest joy and wishes for luck. Some bridal traditions were very complex, such as those in Yemen, where the Jewish bridal henna process took four or five days to complete, with multiple applications and resist work. Specific henna designs may also vary by region. For example, geometric shapes such as triangles and diamonds characteristic of traditional Moroccan beading are represented in Moroccan henna designs.

The fashion of "[[Mehndi|Bridal Mehndi]]" in North Indian, Bangladesh, Northern Libya and Pakistan is currently growing in complexity and elaboration, with new innovations in glitter, gilding, and fine-line work. Recent technological innovations in grinding, sifting, temperature control, and packaging henna, as well as government encouragement for henna cultivation, have improved the dye content and artistic potential for henna.

Though traditional henna artists were from the [[Nai (caste)|Nai]] caste in India and barbering castes in other countries (lower social classes), talented contemporary henna artists can command high fees for their work.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}} Women in countries where women are discouraged from working outside the home can find socially acceptable, lucrative work doing henna.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3SHY9_OwvQ| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/M3SHY9_OwvQ| archive-date=13 November 2021 | url-status=live|title=Easy Mehndi Design Tutorial |date=4 December 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Morocco]], [[Mauritania]],<ref>{{Cite book|author=Aline Tauzin |year=1998 |title=Le henné, art des femmes de Mauritanie |trans-title=Henna, the art of Mauritanian women |language=fr |location=Paris |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |isbn=978-92-3-203487-8 }}{{Page needed|date=August 2010}}</ref> [[Yemen]], [[Libya]], [[Somalia]], [[Kenya]], [[Sudan]], the [[United Arab Emirates]], [[India]] and many other countries have thriving women's henna businesses. These businesses are often open all night for [[Eid al-Fitr|Eid]], [[Diwali]] and [[Karva Chauth]]. Many women may work together during a large wedding, wherein hundreds of guests have henna applied to their body parts. This particular event at a marriage is known as the Mehndi Celebration or Mehndi Night or Laylat al Henna,{{where|date=August 2014}}{{by whom|date=August 2014}} and is mainly held for the bride and groom.

===Regions===
{{excessive examples|section|date=July 2024}}
====Algeria====
In [[Algeria]], brides receive gifts of jewellery and have henna painted on their hands before their weddings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.algeria.com/wedding-customs/|title=Wedding Customs – Celebrating a Joyous Occasion|work= Algeria.com – Algeria Channel|date= 2 December 2018}}</ref> The bride and the groom seal their vows in front of their guests by getting a circle-shaped henna applied on the palm of their hands. Usually, the grandmothers or mothers of the groom and bride apply this henna, and a small decorative pillow with a satin ribbon is attached to their hands for a few hours.

====Afghanistan====
In [[Afghanistan]], henna is also known as "kheena". [[Culture of Afghanistan|Afghan]] tradition holds that henna brings good luck and happiness.<ref name=":7">Monger, George. 2004. ''Marriage customs of the world: from henna to honeymoons.'' Santa Barbara Calif: ABC-CLIO.</ref> It is used by both men and women on many occasions such as wedding nights, [[Nowruz|Nawroz]], [[Eid al-Fitr|Eidul fitr]], [[Eid al-Adha|Eidul Adha]], [[Shab-e-barat|Shabe-e Barat]], and [[Khitan (circumcision)|circumcision celebrations]].

====Armenia====
Henna traditions were widespread in both [[Eastern Armenia|eastern]] and [[western Armenia]], however, the customs differ based on region.<ref name=Sinanian>{{cite encyclopedia|author-last= Lind-Sinanian|author-first= Susan|title= Encyclopedia of National Dress: Traditional Clothing Around the World|volume=1|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lazWAQAAQBAJ|editor= Jill Condra|date= 2013|publisher= [[ABC-CLIO]]|pages=40–43|chapter=Armenia|isbn= 9780313376375}}</ref> The henna night, called ''hina gisher'' or ''khennagedje'' in [[Armenian language|Armenian]], has always been deemed an essential part of Armenian marriage traditions.<ref>{{cite book|last= Macfarlane|first= Charles|author-link= Charles Macfarlane|title= The Armenians|volume= 2|year= 1830|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=blRcAAAAcAAJ&dq=khennagedje&pg=PA112|page= 112|location= London|publisher= Saunders and Otley|isbn= 9783628480690|oclc= 729857603}}</ref> In [[Kayseri|Kesaria]], henna parties were organized by the bride’s female friends and family on the Friday before her wedding. Traditional Armenian henna was usually applied on the fingertips, however young women also received designs on their hands. In [[Akkışla|Nirzeh]], elderly women applied henna to young girls and boys.<ref name= Sinanian/> Furthermore, in the Armenian communities of [[Kozan, Adana|Sis]], both the groom and the bride had henna nights, where the groom would get his hair cut and his friends bid for the honor of drawing the cross with henna on the hands of the groom and godfather.<ref>{{cite book|author-first= Misak|author-last= Keleshian|title= Sis-Madyan|lang= hy|publisher= Hay Djemaran Publishers|location= Beirut|year= 1949|oclc= 40920945|pages= 497–507}}</ref> The tradition of ''hinadreq'', painting the palms of a bride-to-be, is still practiced in parts of [[Armenia]] today as a sign of fertility and happiness in married life.<ref>{{cite news|last= Ananian|first= Rima|title= Preserving Wedding Traditions: Armenia's Tonir Project Transforms a Village into an Exclusive Bridal Destination with all the Cultural Attributes|url= https://hetq.am/en/article/83647|date= 18 November 2017|location= Armenia|agency= [[Hetq]]|access-date= 1 November 2023}}</ref>

====Bangladesh====
[[File:Hand of Bride with ring.jpg|220x220px|thumb|right|Hand of a [[Bengali Muslim wedding|Bengali Muslim bride]] on her wedding day]]

In Bangladesh, women use mehndi on hands on occasions like [[Bengali Muslim wedding|weddings]] and engagements as well as during [[Eid al-Fitr]], [[Eid al-Adha]] and other events.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.desiblitz.com/content/bangladeshi-wedding-ceremony|title=The Bangladeshi Wedding Ceremony|website=Desiblitz|date=11 June 2018 |language=en-UK|access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> In wedding ceremonies, the Mehndi ceremony has traditionally been separated into two events: one organized by the bride's family and one by the groom's family. These two events are solely dedicated for adorning the bride and groom in Mehndi and is known as a 'Mehndi Shondha' meaning the ''Evening of Mehndi''.

Some brides tend to go for [[Alta (dye)|Alta]]. Sometimes, Hindu women also apply Mehendi instead (or along with) [[Alta (dye)|Alta]] on their feet during the [[Bodhu Boron]] ceremony.

====Bulgaria====
In an attempt to ritually clean a bride before her wedding day, [[Bulgaria]]n [[Romani people|Romani]] decorate the bride with a blot of henna.<ref name=":7" /> This blot symbolizes the drop of blood on the couples' sheets after consummating the marriage and breaking the female's hymen.<ref name=":7" /> The tradition also holds that the longer the henna lasts, the longer the husband will love his new bride.<ref name=":7" />

====Egypt====
In [[Egypt]], the bride gathers with her friends the night before her wedding day to celebrate the henna night.<ref name=":7" />

====India====
In India, Hindu women have motifs and tattoos on their hands and feet on occasions like weddings and engagements. In Kerala, women and girls, especially brides, have their hands decorated with Mailanchi. In North Indian wedding ceremonies, there is one evening solely dedicated for adorning the bride and groom in [[Mehndi]], also known as 'Mehndi ki raat. {{Source?|date=May 2025}}

====Iran====
In [[Iran]], the most common use of henna is among the long wedding rituals practiced in Iran. The henna ritual, which is called ḥanā-bandān, is held for both the bride and the bridegroom during the wedding week<ref name=":8">http://www.iranicaonline.org "Encyclopædia Iranica." RSS. Accessed 24 March 2021. http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/henna .</ref> The ceremony is held before the wedding and is a traditional farewell ritual for newlyweds before they officially start their life together in a new house.<ref name=":8" /> The ceremonies take place in the presence of family members, friends, relatives, neighbors, and guests.<ref name=":8" />

In Iran, Māzār ({{langx|fa| مازار }}) is indicating a job title for a person whose work is associated with the [[milling (grinding)|milling]] or [[Mill (grinding)|grinding]] henna [[leaves]] and sell it in a powder form. This type of business is an old job still alive in some parts of [[Iran]], especially in the world-recognized archeologically ancient "[[Yazd]]" province.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.lush.com/article/east-meets-west-rise-henna |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029232429/https://uk.lush.com/article/east-meets-west-rise-henna |archive-date=29 October 2018 |title=East meets West: the rise of henna |publisher=Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics UK }}</ref> The most famous one is a family-owned business by "Mazar Atabaki" families resided in the land hundreds of years ago. Māzāri ({{langx|fa| مازاری }}) is a place for milling henna mixed with other herbs.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

====Israel & Palestine====
In [[Palestine (region)]], [[Israel]] and territories of the [[Palestinian National Authority]], some Middle Eastern and North African Jewish communities and families, also Druze, Christian and Muslim ones, host henna parties the night or week before a wedding, according to familial customs.<ref name="rosenhouse">{{cite journal |last1=Rosenhouse |first1=Judith |title=A comparative study of women's wedding songs in colloquial Arabic |journal=EDNA, Estudios de Dialectología Norteafricana y Andalusí |date=1 January 2000 |volume=5 |pages=29–47 |url=https://www.uco.es/ucopress/ojs/index.php/edna/article/view/7241 |access-date=31 August 2018}}</ref> The use of henna in this region can be traced as far back to the [[Song of Songs]] in which the author wrote, "My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi."<ref>{{Bibleverse|Song of Solomon|1:14|NASB}}</ref> [[Sephardic Jews]] and [[Mizrahi Jews]], such as [[Moroccan Jews]] and [[Yemenite Jews]] who have immigrated to Israel, continue these familial customs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sharabi |first1=Rachel |title=The Bride's Henna Ritual: Symbols, Meanings and Changes |journal=Nashim: A Journal of Jewish Women's Studies & Gender Issues |date=2006 |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=11–42 |id={{ProQuest|197740785}} |doi=10.1353/nsh.2006.0014 |jstor=40326803 |s2cid=163092214 }}</ref>

====Malaysia====
In [[Malaysia]], henna ({{langx|ms|inai}}) is used to adorn the bride and groom's hands before the wedding at a ''berinai'' ceremony.<ref>''Our Malaysia: Multi-cultural Activity Book for Young Malaysians: Creative! Informative! Fun!'' Kuala Lumpur: Arpitha Associates, 2005.{{page needed|date=July 2020}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=July 2020}}

====Morocco====
{{One source|section|date=July 2024}}
[[File:Mode cérémonie de mariage au Maroc.jpg|thumb|right|Moroccan bride]]

In [[Morocco]], henna is applied symbolically when individuals go through life cycle events.<ref name=Spurles2004>{{cite thesis |last1=Spurles |first1=Kelly |last2=L |first2=Patricia |title=Henna for Brides and Gazelles: Ritual, Women's Work and Tourism in Morocco |date=2004 |id={{ProQuest|305053576}} |hdl=1866/14244 |isbn=978-0-612-97895-9 }}</ref> Moroccans refer to the paste as henna and the designs as naqsh, which means painting or inscription.<ref name=Spurles2004/> In Morocco, there are two types of henna artists: non-specialists, who traditionally partake in wedding rituals, and specialists, who partake in tourism and decorative henna.<ref name=Spurles2004/> Nqaasha, the low-end Henna specialists, are known for attracting tourists, which they refer to as gazelles or international tourists, in artisan slang.<ref name=Spurles2004/>

For [[Moroccans]], a wedding festival can last up to 5 days, with 2 days involving henna art.<ref name=Spurles2004/> One of these days is referred to as azmomeg (meaning unknown), and is the Thursday before the wedding where guests are invited to apply henna to the bride.<ref name=Spurles2004/> The other henna ceremony occurs after the wedding ceremony, called the Day of Henna.<ref name=Spurles2004/> On this day, typically an older woman applies henna to the bride after she dips in the [[mikveh]] to ward off evil spirits who may be jealous of the newlyweds.<ref name=Spurles2004/> The groom is also painted with henna after the wedding.<ref name=Spurles2004/> During the groom's henna painting, he commonly wears black clothing; this tradition emerged from the [[Pact of Umar]] as the Jews were not permitted to dress similar to colorful Muslim dress in Morocco.<ref name=Spurles2004/>

====Pakistan====
In Pakistan, henna is often used in [[wedding]]s, [[Eid al-Fitr|Eid ul fitr]], [[Eid al-Adha|Eidul Adha]], milad and other events.<ref>{{cite web|date=4 August 2014|title=A brief history of henna|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/741476/a-brief-history-of-henna/|access-date=19 December 2018|website=The Express Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref> The henna ceremony is known as the [[Rasm-e-Heena]], which is often one of the most important pre-wedding ceremonies celebrated by both the bride and groom's families. The night of [[mehndi]], the gathering at which the application of the henna is performed, usually falls on the second day of the festivities and one day before the wedding itself. The process commonly involves only the bride and groom but can also include close friends or other family members. The hands of the wedding couple are elegantly painted on this night to act as a sign of their union.

In [[Sindh]], henna is known as "Mehndi" and serves both as a decorative art on the hands, arms, feet, and legs, and as a natural dye for gray hair, used by both women and men in every ceremonial occasions, events and festivals. Mehndi is applied with traditional designs featuring motifs like mor (peacock), badak (duck), tikra (dotted), other floral and geometric designs are also used. Typically, female relatives apply henna to the groom’s hands and feet as part of the wedding ritual.<ref>{{Cite book |last=DADUZEN |first=Dayal N. Harjani aka |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L2xlDwAAQBAJ&q=sindhi+roots+and+rituals+part+2 |title=Sindhi Roots & Rituals - Part 2 |date=2018-07-18 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-64249-480-8 |language=en}}</ref>

Henna is both offered and received as part of religious rituals during the urs and mela (fairs) honoring Sufi saints.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Nettl |first1=Bruno |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOlNv8MAXIEC&q=a+symbol+of+lal |title=The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: South Asia : the Indian subcontinent |last2=Arnold |first2=Alison |last3=Stone |first3=Ruth M. |last4=Porter |first4=James |last5=Rice |first5=Timothy |date=1998 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-8240-4946-1 |pages=761 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Pal |first=Adesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LlQwAQAAIAAJ&q=mehndi |title=Theorizing and Critiquing Indian Diaspora |date=2004 |publisher=Creative Books |isbn=978-81-8043-009-1 |pages=140 |language=en}}</ref>

On the 7th day of Muharram, the tradition of carrying Mehndi to pay respect to [[Al-Qasim ibn Hasan ibn Ali|Hazrat Imam Qasim a.s]] is observed each year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Mohammad Hussain |date=2021-08-16 |title=Hyderabad keeps alive tradition of 7th Muharram mehndi |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1640823 |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>

====Saudi Arabia====
In Saudi Arabia, henna has long been associated with wedding traditions in certain regions. Women adorn their hands and feet with intricate henna designs during these occasions. The night before the wedding is referred to as the "Henna Night" or “''Al-Ghumra.”'' On this evening” female relatives of the bride and groom gather at the bride's family home to decorate the bride's hands and feet with henna patterns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Henna Body Paint Encourages Children to Observe Ramadan Fasting in Northern Saudi Arabia. SaudiPressAgency. |url=https://spa.gov.sa/en/N2064552}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Laylat Al-Ghumra: A traditional bridal shower. Arab News. Published December 6, 2011. |date=7 December 2011 |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/400248}}</ref>

During Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, women also come together to prepare special henna mixtures for designs that vary by age group.

On December 3, 2024, the tradition of "Henna, rituals, aesthetic and social practices" was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. This recognition was a collaborative effort between 16 Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt, the UAE, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Palestine, Tunisia, Algeria, Bahrain, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Yemen, and Qatar. The nomination was led by the United Arab Emirates, with Saudi Arabia represented by the Heritage Commission, in cooperation with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, and Saudi Arabia's permanent delegation to UNESCO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO - Henna: Rituals, Aesthetic and Social Practices. |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/henna-rituals-aesthetic-and-social-practices-02116}}</ref>

====Somalia====
In [[Somalia]], henna has been used for centuries. It is cultivated from the leaves of the Ellan tree, which grows wild in the mountainous regions of Somalia. It is used for practical purposes such as dyeing hair and also more extravagantly by coloring the fingers and toes of married women and creating intricate designs.<ref name=":9">{{cite book |last1=Akou |first1=Heather Marie |title=The Politics of Dress in Somali Culture |date=2011 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-22313-5 |page=108 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0Eg-b6EQt-cC&pg=PA108 }}</ref> It is also applied to the hands and feet of young [[Somalis|Somali]] women in preparation for their weddings and all the Islamic celebrations. Sometimes also done by young school girls for several occasions <ref name=":9" />

====Spain====
Henna was cultivated in the [[Nasrid kingdom of Granada]] and applied to the face and hair by both sexes.
After the Castilian [[conquest of Granada]] (1492), it was forbidden for [[Morisco]]s as it was a sign distinguishing them from [[Old Christians]].
After the [[expulsion of the Moriscos]] (1609–1614), cultivation ceased.<ref name="Caro">{{cite book|surname=Caro Baroja |first=Julio |author-link=Julio Caro Baroja |title=Los moriscos del Reino de Granada. Ensayo de historia social |year=2000 |edition=5ª |orig-year= 1976 |publisher=Istmo|location=Madrid |isbn=84-7090-076-5 |pages=111–112|language=es-ES}}</ref>

====Sudan====
[[File:Sudan Culture Woman with Jabana.jpg|thumb|right|Woman with henna-stained hands in [[Khartoum|Khartoum, Sudan]]]]

In [[Sudan]], Henna dyes are regarded with a special sanctity in Sudan and for that reason they are always present during happy occasions: weddings and children circumcisions, in particular.

Henna has been part of Sudan's social and cultural heritage ever since the days of Sudan's ancient civilizations, where both would-be couples would get their hands and feet pigmented with this natural dye.

Children also have their hands and feet dyed with henna during their circumcision festivity.

====Tunisia====
In [[Tunisia]], the traditional wedding process begins 8 days before the wedding ceremony when a basket is delivered to the bride, which contains henna.<ref name=":11">{{cite book |last1=Schely-Newman |first1=Esther |title=Our Lives are But Stories: Narratives of Tunisian-Israeli Women |date=2002 |publisher=Wayne State University Press |isbn=978-0-8143-2876-7 |page=55 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uMgho4rZap0C&pg=PA55 }}</ref> The mother of the groom supervises the process in order to ensure all is being done correctly.<ref name=":10">{{cite book |last1=Schely-Newman |first1=Esther |title=Our Lives are But Stories: Narratives of Tunisian-Israeli Women |date=2002 |publisher=Wayne State University Press |isbn=978-0-8143-2876-7 |page=53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uMgho4rZap0C&pg=PA53 }}</ref> Today, the groom accompanies the bride in the ritual at the henna party, but the majority of henna painting is done on the bride's body.<ref name=":11" />

====Turkey====
[[File:Henna Istanbul.jpg|thumb|right|Henna being sold at the [[Spice Bazaar|Egyptian Bazaar]] in [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]]]]

During the Victorian era, [[Turkey]] was a major exporter of henna for use in dyeing hair.<ref>Sherrow, Victoria. ''Encyclopedia of Hair: A Cultural History''. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2006. 156.</ref> Henna parties were commonly practiced in Turkey similarly to Arab countries.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dessing |first1=Nathal M. |title=Rituals of Birth, Circumcision, Marriage, and Death Among Muslims in the Netherlands |date=2001 |publisher=Peeters Publishers |isbn=978-90-429-1059-1 |page=117 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oO0T8ThZ2FkC&pg=PA117 }}</ref>

====Yemen====
{{One source|section|date=July 2024}}
For [[Yemenite Jews]], most of them living in Israel, the purpose of a henna party is to ward off evil from the couple before their wedding.<ref name=Buse2015>{{cite journal |last1=Buse |first1=William |title=What becomes a bride the most: the Yemenite Jewish henna |journal=Visual Ethnography |date=31 December 2015 |volume=4 |issue=2 |doi=10.12835/ve2015.2-0049 }}</ref> In some areas, the party has evolved from tradition to an opportunity for the family to show off their wealth in the dressing of the bride.<ref name=Buse2015/> For other communities, it is practiced as a ritual that has been passed on for generations.<ref name=Buse2015/> The dressing of the bride is typically done by a post-menopausal woman in the bride's family.<ref name=Buse2015/> Often, the dresser of the bride sings to the bride as she is dressed in exquisite designs.<ref name=Buse2015/> These songs discuss marriage, what married life is like, and address the feelings a bride may have before her wedding.<ref name=Buse2015/> The costumes worn by Yemenite brides to their henna parties is considered some of the most exquisite attire in the Yemenite community.<ref name=Buse2015/> These outfits include robes, headwear, and often several pounds of silver jewelry.<ref name=Buse2015/> This jewelry often holds fresh green herbs to ward off the [[Jinn]] in keeping with the ritual element of the party.<ref name=Buse2015/>

The zavfa is the procession of the bride from her mother's house to the Henna Party.<ref name=Buse2015/> During the zavfa, the guests of the party sing traditional songs to the bride and bang on tin plates and drums to ward off evil.<ref name=Buse2015/> Today, it is common for the groom to join in on this aspect of the ritual, although traditionally it was only for the bride.<ref name=Buse2015/> During the party, guests eat, sing, and dance.<ref name=Buse2015/> Initially, the singing and dancing were to ward off the Jinn with loud noises, but today these elements are associated with the [[mitzvah]] of entertaining the bride and groom on their wedding day.<ref name=Buse2015/>

In the middle of the party, the bride returns to her home to be painted in henna mixed by her mother.<ref name=Buse2015/> The mixture consists of rose water, eggs, cognac, salt, and shadab, believed to be a magical herb that repels evil.<ref name=Buse2015/> The bride changes into a less elaborate outfit and [[incense]] is burned while she is painted with henna.<ref name=Buse2015/> Then, another zavfa (procession) occurs as the bride returns to her party.<ref name=Buse2015/>

Back at the henna party, the bride sits on stage while family members and friends come up to her to have their palms marked with blots of henna.<ref name=Buse2015/> These marks represent the long-lasting marriage as henna remains for many days.<ref name=Buse2015/> It also represents the blood from breaking the hymen upon consummating the marriage on the wedding night.<ref name=Buse2015/> Others add that the red stain on the hands of the guests is to mislead the evil spirits of the Jinn who are looking for the bride.<ref name=Buse2015/> After the painting, the party ends after lasting about 4 or 5 hours.<ref name=Buse2015/>

==Health effects==
[[File:Māzāri.gif|thumb|right|upright|A system to mill henna and other herbs]]
Henna is known to be dangerous to people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency ([[G6PD deficiency]]), which is more common in males than females. Infants and children of particular ethnic groups, mainly from the Middle East and North Africa, are especially vulnerable.<ref name="Side-effects of henna and semi-perm">{{cite journal |last1=de Groot |first1=Anton C. |title=Side-effects of henna and semi-permanent 'black henna' tattoos: a full review |journal=Contact Dermatitis |date=July 2013 |volume=69 |issue=1 |pages=1–25 |doi=10.1111/cod.12074 |pmid=23782354 |s2cid=140100016 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Though user accounts cite few other negative effects of natural henna paste, save for occasional mild allergic reactions (often associated with lemon juice or essential oils in a paste and not the henna itself), pre-mixed commercial henna body art pastes may have undisclosed ingredients added to darken stain or to alter the stain color. The health risks involved in pre-mixed paste can be significant. The United States [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) does consider these risks to be [[adulterants]] and therefore illegal for use on skin.<ref name="FDA product safety"/> Some commercial pastes have been noted to include: [[p-Phenylenediamine]], sodium picramate, [[amaranth (dye)|amaranth]] (red dye #2 banned in the US in 1976), [[silver nitrate]], [[carmine]], [[pyrogallol]], disperse orange dye, and chromium.<ref name=pmid16842550>{{cite journal |last1=Kang |first1=Ik-Joon |last2=Lee |first2=Mu-Hyoung |title=Quantification of para-phenylenediamine and heavy metals in henna dye |journal=Contact Dermatitis |date=July 2006 |volume=55 |issue=1 |pages=26–29 |doi=10.1111/j.0105-1873.2006.00845.x |pmid=16842550 |s2cid=22176978 }}</ref> These have been found to cause allergic reactions, chronic inflammatory reactions, or late-onset allergic reactions to hairdressing products and textile dyes.<ref name=pmid17713170>{{cite journal |last1=Dron |first1=P |last2=Lafourcade |first2=MP |last3=Leprince |first3=F |last4=Nonotte-Varly |first4=C |last5=Van Der Brempt |first5=X |last6=Banoun |first6=L |last7=Sullerot |first7=I |last8=This-Vaissette |first8=C |last9=Parisot |first9=L |last10=Moneret-Vautrin |first10=DA |title=Allergies associated with body piercing and tattoos: a report of the Allergy Vigilance Network |journal=European Annals of Allergy and Clinical Immunology |date=June 2007 |volume=39 |issue=6 |pages=189–192 |pmid=17713170 |s2cid=7903601 }}</ref><ref name=pmid11668106>{{cite journal |last1=Raupp |first1=P |last2=Hassan |first2=JA |last3=Varughese |first3=M |last4=Kristiansson |first4=B |title=Henna causes life threatening haemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency |journal=Archives of Disease in Childhood |date=1 November 2001 |volume=85 |issue=5 |pages=411–412 |doi=10.1136/adc.85.5.411 |pmid=11668106 |pmc=1718961 }}</ref>

The U.S. FDA has not approved henna for direct application to the skin. It is, however, [[Grandfather clause|grandfathered]] in as a hair dye and can only be imported for that purpose.<ref name="FDA product safety">
  {{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productsingredients/products/ucm108569.htm#henna |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413111520/http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductsIngredients/Products/ucm108569.htm#henna |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 April 2014 |title=Temporary Tattoos & Henna/Mehndi |date=3 March 2022 |publisher=[[Food and Drug Administration (United States)|Food and Drug Administration]] }}
</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=5162785de68f14cfc940b641e1b51594&rgn=div5&view=text&node=21:1.0.1.1.26&idno=21#21:1.0.1.1.26.3.31.12 |title=§ 73.2190 Henna |website=Listing of Color Additives Exempt from Certification |publisher=[[Federal Register]] |date=30 July 2009 |access-date=3 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105115140/http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=434db26d528decad56f31186c53d5f9d&rgn=div5&view=text&node=21:1.0.1.1.26&idno=21#21:1.0.1.1.26.3.31.12 |archive-date=5 November 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Henna imported into the U.S. that appears to be for use as body art is subject to seizure,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_138.html |title=Accessdate.fda.gov |publisher=Accessdata.fda.gov |access-date=30 April 2019}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> but prosecution is rare. Commercial henna products that are [[adulterated]] often claim to be 100% natural on product packaging in order to pass import regulations in other countries.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

==Black henna==

Natural henna produces a rich red-brown stain, which can darken in the days after it is first applied and last for several weeks. It is sometimes referred to as "red henna" to differentiate it from products sold as "black henna" or "neutral henna," which may not actually contain henna, but are instead made from other plants or dyes.<ref name="Side-effects of henna and semi-perm"/><ref name="Dangers of black henna">{{Cite web |date=26 April 2018 |title=Dangers of black henna |url=https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/black-henna-neutral-henna-ppd-dangers/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808235748/https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/black-henna-neutral-henna-ppd-dangers/ |archive-date=8 August 2020 |access-date=8 August 2020 |website=nhs.uk |language=en }}</ref>

Black henna powder may be derived from [[indigo dye|indigo]] (from the plant ''[[Indigofera tinctoria]]''). It may also contain unlisted dyes and chemicals<ref>{{Cite book |author=Singh, M. |author2=Jindal, S. K. |author3=Kavia, Z. D. |author4=Jangid, B. L. |author5=Khem Chand |year=2005 |chapter=Traditional Methods of Cultivation and Processing of Henna. Henna, Cultivation, Improvement and Trade |title=Henna: Cultivation, Improvement, and Trade |pages=21–24 |location=Jodhpur |publisher=[[Central Arid Zone Research Institute]] |oclc=124036118}}{{page needed|date=July 2020}}</ref> such as [[p-Phenylenediamine|''para''-phenylenediamine]] (PPD), which can stain skin black quickly, but can cause severe allergic reactions and permanent scarring if left on for more than 2–3 days. The FDA specifically forbids PPD to be used for this purpose and may prosecute those who produce black henna.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2006/ucm076032.htm |title=FDA.gov |website=[[Food and Drug Administration]] |access-date=1 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102032207/https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2006/ucm076032.htm |archive-date=2 January 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Artists who injure clients with black henna in the U.S. may be sued for damages.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rosemariearnold.com/CM/Articles/2NorthJerseyfamiliessueoverkidstattoos.asp |title=Rosemariearnold.com |access-date=1 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715203204/http://www.rosemariearnold.com/CM/Articles/2NorthJerseyfamiliessueoverkidstattoos.asp |archive-date=15 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The name arose from imports of plant-based hair dyes into the West in the late 19th century. Partly fermented, dried [[Indigofera tinctoria|indigo]] was called black henna because it could be used in combination with henna to dye hair black. This gave rise to the belief that there was such a thing as black henna which could dye skin black. Indigo will not dye skin black. Pictures of indigenous people with black body art (either alkalized henna or from some other source) also fed the belief that there was such a thing as black henna.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} 

A neutral henna does not change the colour of hair. This is not henna powder; it is usually the powder of the plant ''[[Senna italica]]'' (often referred to by the synonym ''Cassia obovata'') or closely related ''Cassia'' and ''Senna'' species.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

==''para''-phenylenediamine==
{{Too detailed|section|date=July 2024}}
[[File:P-phenylenediamine.svg|thumb|right|[[Para-phenylenediamine]] (shown here) is chemically very different from the [[lawsone]] found in henna.]]

In the 1990s, henna artists in Africa, India, Bali, the Arabian Peninsula and the West began to experiment with [[P-Phenylenediamine|PPD]]-based black hair dye, applying it as a thick paste as they would apply henna, in an effort to find something that would quickly make jet-black temporary body art. PPD can cause severe allergic reactions, with blistering, intense itching, permanent scarring, and permanent chemical sensitivities.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Van den Keybus |first1=C. |last2=Morren |first2=M.-A. |last3=Goossens |first3=A. |title=Walking difficulties due to an allergic reaction to a temporary tattoo |journal=Contact Dermatitis |date=September 2005 |volume=53 |issue=3 |pages=180–181 |doi=10.1111/j.0105-1873.2005.0407m.x |pmid=16128770 |s2cid=28624688 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stante |first1=M |last2=Giorgini |first2=S |last3=Lotti |first3=T |title=Allergic contact dermatitis from henna temporary tattoo |journal=Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology |date=April 2006 |volume=20 |issue=4 |pages=484–486 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.01483.x |pmid=16643167 |s2cid=43067542 }}</ref> Estimates of allergic reactions range between 3% and 15%. Henna does not cause these injuries.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jung |first1=Peter |last2=Sesztak-Greinecker |first2=Gabriele |last3=Wantke |first3=Felix |last4=Gotz |first4=Manfred |last5=Jarisch |first5=Reinhart |last6=Hemmer |first6=Wolfgang |title=A painful experience: black henna tattoo causing severe, bullous contact dermatitis |journal=Contact Dermatitis |date=April 2006 |volume=54 |issue=4 |pages=219–220 |doi=10.1111/j.0105-1873.2006.0775g.x |pmid=16650103 |s2cid=43613761 }}</ref> Black henna made with PPD can cause lifelong sensitization to coal tar derivatives while black henna made with gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, paint thinner, and benzene has been linked to adult acute leukemia.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hassan |first1=Inaam Bashir |last2=Islam |first2=Sherief I. A. M. |last3=Alizadeh |first3=Hussain |last4=Kristensen |first4=Jorgen |last5=Kambal |first5=Amr |last6=Sonday |first6=Shanaaz |last7=Bernseen |first7=Roos M. D. |s2cid=205701235 |title=Acute leukemia among the adult population of United Arab Emirates: an epidemiological study |journal=Leukemia & Lymphoma |date=21 July 2009 |volume=50 |issue=7 |pages=1138–1147 |doi=10.1080/10428190902919184 |pmid=19557635 }}</ref>

The most frequent serious health consequence of having a black henna temporary tattoo is sensitization to hair dye and related chemicals.  If a person has had a black henna tattoo and later dyes their hair with chemical hair dye, the allergic reaction may be life-threatening and require hospitalization.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sosted |first1=Heidi |last2=Johansen |first2=Jeanne Duus |last3=Andersen |first3=Klaus Ejner |last4=Menne |first4=Torkil |title=Severe allergic hair dye reactions in 8 children |journal=Contact Dermatitis |date=February 2006 |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=87–91 |doi=10.1111/j.0105-1873.2006.00746.x |pmid=16487280 |s2cid=39281376 }}</ref> Because of the epidemic of PPD allergic reactions, chemical hair dye products now post warnings on the labels: "Temporary black henna tattoos may increase your risk of allergy.  Do not colour your hair if: ... – you have experienced a reaction to a temporary black henna tattoo in the past."<ref>Commission Directive 2009/134/EC of 28 October 2009 amending Council Directive 76/768/EEC concerning cosmetic products for the purposes of adapting Annex III thereto to technical progress</ref>

PPD is illegal for use on skin in Western countries, though enforcement is difficult.  Physicians have urged governments to legislate against black henna because of the frequency and severity of injuries, especially to children.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jacob |first1=Sharon E. |last2=Zapolanski |first2=Tamar |last3=Chayavichitsilp |first3=Pamela |last4=Connelly |first4=Elizabeth Alvarez |last5=Eichenfield |first5=Lawrence F. |title=p-Phenylenediamine in Black Henna Tattoos |journal=Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine |date=1 August 2008 |volume=162 |issue=8 |pages=790–2 |doi=10.1001/archpedi.162.8.790 |pmid=18678815 }}</ref> To assist the prosecution of vendors, government agencies encourage citizens to report injuries and illegal use of PPD black henna.<ref>{{cite web |title=Black Henna |url=http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/tattooing/black-henna1.html |website=Florida Department of Health |date=20 December 2018 |access-date=25 July 2020 |archive-date=29 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329232649/http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/tattooing/black-henna1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Health Canada alerts Canadians not to use 'black henna' temporary tattoo ink and paste containing PPD |publisher=Health Canada |date=11 August 2003 |url=http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2003/2003_66-eng.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610063356/http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2003/2003_66-eng.php |archive-date=10 June 2008 }}</ref> When used in hair dye, the PPD amount must be below 6%, and application instructions warn that the dye must not touch the scalp and must be quickly rinsed away. Black henna pastes have PPD percentages from 10% to 80%, and are left on the skin for half an hour.<ref name=pmid16842550 /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Avnstorp |first1=Christian |last2=Rastogi |first2=Suresh C. |last3=Menne |first3=Torkil |title=Acute fingertip dermatitis from a temporary tattoo and quantitative chemical analysis of the product |journal=Contact Dermatitis |date=August 2002 |volume=47 |issue=2 |pages=109–125 |doi=10.1034/j.1600-0536.2002.470210_11.x |pmid=12455547 |s2cid=34550567 }}</ref>

PPD black henna use is widespread, particularly in tourist areas.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Marcoux |first1=Danielle |last2=Couture-Trudel |first2=Pierre-Marc |last3=Riboulet-Delmas |first3=Gisèle |last4=Sasseville |first4=Denis |title=Sensitization to Para-Phenylenediamine from a Streetside Temporary Tattoo |journal=Pediatric Dermatology |date=23 November 2002 |volume=19 |issue=6 |pages=498–502 |doi=10.1046/j.1525-1470.2002.00218.x |pmid=12437549 |s2cid=23543707 }}</ref> Because the blistering reaction appears 3 to 12 days after the application, most tourists have left and do not return to show how much damage the artist has done. This permits the artists to continue injuring others, unaware they are causing severe injuries. The high-profit margins of black henna and the demand for body art that emulates "tribal tattoos" further encourage artists to deny the dangers.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Onder |first1=M |title=Temporary holiday 'tattoos' may cause lifelong allergic contact dermatitis when henna is mixed with PPD |journal=Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology |date=July 2003 |volume=2 |issue=3–4 |pages=126–130 |doi=10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00083.x |pmid=17163917 |s2cid=38957088 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Onder |first1=Meltem |last2=Atahan |first2=Cigdem Asena |last3=Oztas |first3=Pinar |last4=Oztas |first4=Murat Orhan |title=Temporary henna tattoo reactions in children |journal=International Journal of Dermatology |date=September 2001 |volume=40 |issue=9 |pages=577–579 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-4362.2001.01248.x |pmid=11737452 |s2cid=221816034 }}</ref>

It is not difficult to recognize and avoid PPD black henna:<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Health Canada |date=16 December 2008 |url=http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/black_henna-henne_noir-eng.php |title=PPD In 'Black Henna' Temporary Tattoos Is Not Safe |access-date=1 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424192712/http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/black_henna-henne_noir-eng.php |archive-date=24 April 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* if a paste stains skin on the torso black in less than ½ hour, it has PPD in it.
* if the paste is mixed with peroxide, or if peroxide is wiped over the design to bring out the color, it has PPD in it.

PPD sensitivity is lifelong. A person who has become sensitized through black henna tattoos may have future allergic reactions to perfumes, printer ink, chemical hair dyes, textile dye, photographic developer, sunscreen and some medications. A person who has had a black henna tattoo should consult their physician about the health consequences of PPD sensitization.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Moro |first1=Paola |last2=Morina |first2=Marco |last3=Milani |first3=Fabrizia |last4=Pandolfi |first4=Marco |last5=Guerriero |first5=Francesca |last6=Bernardo |first6=Luca |date=11 July 2016 |title=Sensitization and Clinically Relevant Allergy to Hair Dyes and Clothes from Black Henna Tattoos: Do People Know the Risk? An Uncommon Serious Case and a Review of the Literature |journal=Cosmetics |language=en |publication-date=11 July 2016 |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=23 |doi=10.3390/cosmetics3030023 |issn=2079-9284 |doi-access=free|hdl=2434/932641 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Dangers of black henna"/>

==See also==
* [[Bixa orellana|Achiote]] (urucum, annatto), another plant that stains skin orange red
* [[Genipa americana|''Genipa americana'']], a plant that stains the skin blue black, the active ingredient in [[Jagua tattoo|Jagua tattoos]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last1=Badoni Semwal |first1=Ruchi |last2=Semwal |first2=Deepak Kumar |last3=Combrinck |first3=Sandra |last4=Cartwright-Jones |first4=Catherine |last5=Viljoen |first5=Alvaro |title=Lawsonia inermis L. (henna): Ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological aspects |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |date=August 2014 |volume=155 |issue=1 |pages=80–103 |doi=10.1016/j.jep.2014.05.042 |pmid=24886774 }}
{{Commons category|Henna}}
{{Wiktionary|henna}}

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