Henna Tattoos

Henna tattoos are very popular at the moment. These tattoos use a paste derived from the henna plant to create a temporary tattoo - this kind of tattooing has traditionally been used by many Indian, Middle Eastern and African religions and communities for centuries. You can have henna tattoos wherever you like on your body but they are traditionally put on the hands and feet.

You can have a henna tattoo applied by a specific tattooist and/or henna specialist or you can do it yourself using a ready made henna paste. The actual colour you get and the longevity of the tattoo itself will depend on how long you leave the henna paste on your body and what kind of design you choose.

Generally experts recommend that you leave the henna paste on for as long as possible before picking off the flakes that dry on the design. You can also have the henna tattoo sealed if you like to get longer lasting results.

Whether you use a ready made paste or get a tattooist to do your henna tattoo it is vital to check the ingredients that will be used in the mix. Experts recommend that you only use pure henna for these kinds of tattoos to avoid problems with allergic reactions. Some, less reputable, tattooists, individuals and companies will lace their henna mix with the chemical PPD (para phenylene diamine) to darken the colour of the henna itself but this chemical can cause severe allergic reactions and even scarring.