Henna is NOT black.
If someone offers you something called "Black Henna",
it is NOT henna.
If someone has something that stains skin black, it is NOT henna.
The black dye is probably para-phenylenediamine, also known as PPD, and that can
hurt you.
PPD, or para-phenylenediamine is a snythetic coal tar dye, and causes severe
reactions in some people. Want to see pictures of how miserable this is?
See: http://www.hennapage.com/henna/ppd/ppdburngallery.html
Sensitization to PPD is life-long and has ruined some people's health.
See: http://www.hennapage.com/henna/ppd/wilson.html
The International Chemical Safety Card for PPD gives a clear indication of how
dangerous it can be and how utterly inappropriate it is for skin application.
If your "Black Henna" tattoo is starting to itch and blister GO TO A DOCTOR! NOW!
See: http://www.hennapage.com/henna/ppd/gotodoctor.html
How do you know if what you see is "PPD Black Henna"?
PPD paste is jet black.
Ask how long it takes to stain and how long it lasts.
If the answers are "just an hour or two" and "a week or more", it's PPD.
Ask what colour it will give. If the answer is "pure black", it's PPD.
Ask to see an ingredients list. If the artist can't supply one, or you don't like
what you see, walk away.
PPD is not the only ingredient used to make black henna. There are also other
chemical dyes in use, but none of them stains as fast or as black, or lasts as
long as PPD.
Some of these dyes may be safe, some may not.
Ask to see an ingredient list. If you're not comfortable with what you see, don't use it.
Don't do a skin test with PPD "black henna".
Your skin might not react to PPD the first time you use it.
Since the reaction can take three weeks or more to show, or in some cases appears only after a second exposure, it is not safe to assume that a 24 hour skin test is going to tell you if you are sensitive.
It will only make you more likely to develop a sensitivity. Just don't use it at
all!
The International Chemical Safety Card recommends the wearing of protective
gloves and protective clothing when handling PPD and warns "Exposure may result
in death".
Do you really want to put this stuff on your skin?
However, I was very pleased to see one success story. If you follow this link, do
read through all the follow-ups. It will give you some idea of the depth of
feeling there is about this subject.
Pure Henna is SAFE. Pure henna has been in use for thousands of years. It's one
of the safest things you can put on your skin, and reactions are very unusual.
Henna ONLY stains a color in the range of orange, red, brown, cinnamon, brick,
chocolate or coffee.
If you've never used henna before, you may want to do a skin test to be sure
you're not allergic. The allergy is called a "napthoquinone sensitivity".
If you put henna on your skin, and in 1 hour have itching, a tight chest, or
wheezing, you have a napthoquinone sensitivity and you should not ever use henna.
"Colored Henna":
Henna is NEVER blue, yellow, green, purple or black. If a product stains skin
those colors, it is NOT henna.
Those stains come from other dyes.
Ask what dyes those are. If the supplier can't or won't tell you what dyes those are, and
prove it, or you don't like the sound of what they tell you, don't put the stuff
on your skin.
Smell the product. If it smells scary, don't put it on your skin.
Essential Oils:
Artists often add essential oils such as Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Cajeput and
others to henna paste to "terp" them, and make the stain quicker and darker.
If these are from aromatherapy grade essential oils containing monoterpene alcohols,
this is a safe and effective way to make henna very dark. Many of these give
wonderful results, are fragrant and harmless.
Some may cause minor skin irritation.
See: http://www.hennapage.com/journal/issue_III/article_3/page1.html
and http://www.mehandi.com/how/howmix/howmixi7.html
for complete details on safe
and effective use of essential oils that have high levels of monoterpene alcohols.
Gasoline, Kerosene, Lighter Fluid:
Some henna artists in India, Africa and Arabia use acetone, lighter fluid,
turpentine, gasoline and dry cleaning fluid in their henna mixes to get near
black stains. This is DANGEROUS! If you smell these solvents in henna paste, do
not put it on your skin. If it's already on your skin, wash it off as quickly as
you can.
Camphor:
Some Indian henna artists use camphor, or white flower oil (which includes
camphor) in their henna to make very dark stains. Camphor may make both the
artist and client nauseous, dizzy, intoxicated or very ill. Do not put camphor
or products that include camphor in henna paste.
Citrus Oils:
Citrus oils can darken henna, but they can also leave itchy welts on the skin, or
increase sun sensitivity. If henna paste smells like lemon peel or citronella, it
may make you itchy.
Walnut powder:
Some people include walnut powder in their henna mix to help darken the stain.
Many people are allergic to walnut and this may cause a rash on their skin. If
they are very sensitive, there is a risk of inducing anaphalactic shock!. Always
ask clients if they have a nut allergy before applying walnut powder paste to
their skin. Or play safe and leave it out of the mix.
Black Kattam:
This is not henna. However, it is dark brown dye which contains ingredients that
may cause skin irritation.
Black Rocks from the Nile and "Henna Stone":
Someone, somewhere, in the supply chain in the Middle East is selling a solid
form of industrial grade PPD and is lying about what it is.
There is no such thing as a black rock that will make henna black.
There is no such thing as a "henna stone". These are lies told to gullible people by someone who wants to make a huge profit on PPD. If it's black, stains quickly and stays black for more than 4-5 days, its PPD, and it can hurt you!
Source : http://www.hennapage.com/henna/warnings.html
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What does a PPD "Black Henna" injury look like?
Thousands of people are injured every year by street artists making temporary tattoos with PPD-based black hair dye and calling it "Black Henna".
These are just a few of the pictures I've received from people who have been injured. The scars last a long time, and there may be permanent hypo pigmentation (an area which will always be white and never suntan).
Typically, the blistering and itching starts between 3 and 13 days after the para-phenylenediamine black hair dye "Black Henna" is applied.
The blistering is precisely in the area of the original design. Sometime there will be full body sloughing off of skin, blistering, itching.
Infections can enter the raw blistering area and cause further problems and scarring.
These pictures show typical progession of itching, blistering, open sores, scabbing and weals.
This first series shows the day by day progression of blistering, itching, and wheals.
These dolphins also show the progression of blistering and weals.
Blisters rising in the area where PPD "Black Henna" was applied, leaving large open wounds.
Itchy blisters often get infected and scab over, making scarring more likely.
Intensely itchy weals follow the initial blistering phase.
The weals last for months before subsiding to a red scar.
The scars last a long time.
Some people have a full body reaction which may include sloughing off of skin, blistering, and loss of body hair.
Read Medical articles to understand why these injuries occur only with para-phenylenediamine and NOT HENNA.
http://www.hennapage.com/henna/ppd/ppdmed.html
Source : http://www.hennapage.com/henna/ppd/ppdburngallery.html
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