Inked Talk

Not quite ready for permanent ink? Henna tattoos seem like attractive alternatives: they are much less expensive, they can look very beautiful, and they wash out in a matter of weeks. So what’s not to like?

The henna plant, Lawsonia inermis, itself is a pretty benign substance. It produces a brownish red dye and for years it has been used for body art as well as leather and fabric dying. Few people experience allergic reactions to the plant material.

Unfortunately, in an effort to produce darker colors of dye, it is not entirely unusual to see “black henna” tattoos. This “black henna” is often not henna at all. It is made with black hair dye, a substance containing para-phenylenediamine (PPD). The result is a jet-black henna-style tattoo. However, PPD is not approved for use on the skin (although for some reason it is approved for use in hair dye), and in a good percentage of the population, PPD produces a severe allergic reaction, including blistering, scarring, itching, and a permanent sensitivity to PPD and other related chemicals. Depending on the placement of the “black henna” tattoo, this kind of damage can be extremely severe and permanent. Once a sensitivity is obtained, something as simple as dying one’s hair can become life-threatening.

Permanent damage from a “black henna” tattoo:

These so-called “black henna” tattoos are found most commonly in tourist areas, and because the allergic reaction often does not show up for a few days, the “tattoo artists” using this black henna rarely see the damage that they have done to their customers.

If you are still interested in getting a henna tattoo, educate yourself first. How do you know that your artist is using pure, unadulterated henna?

* Ask. Good henna artists will be very aware of the dangers of PPD and will discuss them with you. If you don’t feel the artist is being fully honest with you, go with your gut feeling and proceed accordingly.

* Black henna will be jet black, and it will stain the skin quickly. Regular henna is more brownish and must be left on the skin for hours, or even overnight. Ask the artist how long the “henna” should be left on the skin.

* Ask how long the henna tattoo will last and what color it will be. Regular henna will last for a few weeks, but it will be brown. A PPD-adulterated substance will be jet black for longer than a week. There are some safe black “body paints,” but they only last a few days. If your artist tells you that the tattoo will be jet black and last longer than a week, you are probably dealing with a substance containing PPD.

The bottom line is: be careful. Henna tattoos can be a beautiful, temporary alternative to traditional ink, but a lifetime of medical problems and suffering aren’t worth it. Do your homework before you get a henna tattoo.

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Globally Green Living