Main Use of Henna

• As a natural dye in shades from light orange through to very dark brown.

Active Ingredient

• Lawsone, the dye molecule present in the plant ‘Lawsonia Inermis’.

How does it work?

• Lawsone binds to keratin present in human hair, nails and the top layer of skin, the stratum corneum.

What is it used for?

• Henna has been used to decorate the body and dye the hair of men and women in many countries for thousands of years.  It is used for beauty as well as celebration.

Warnings

1. People with G6PD deficiency or napthoquinone sensitivity should not use henna.
2. Henna powder / paste is for external use only.
3. Do not ingest henna powder / paste.
4. Do not apply henna powder / paste on children under six years of age.
5. Do not apply henna powder / paste on broken skin,
6. Do not apply henna powder / paste on or near genitals.
7. Do not apply henna powder / paste near eyes and/or mouth.
8. If you are pregnant please seek the advice of your midwife before applying henna powder / paste.

Use Henna with Caution:

1. Young children.
2. Pregnant women.
3. People who have not applied henna before.

Do not use henna if:

1. You have G6PD deficiency or napthoquinone sensitivity.

Skin test

1. 100% pure natural henna has been used for thousands of years as a very safe form of hair dye and semi-permanent skin decoration. However, very rarely, some people have something called ‘napthoquinone sensitivity’ which is an allergic reaction to a naturally occurring substance. If you’ve never used henna before, you may want to do a skin test just to check that you don’t have an adverse reaction to henna powder or paste, and in particular ‘napthoquinone sensitivity’.
2. To carry out a skin test you put a small amount of henna on your skin, a blob about the size of a 5p coin. If you have itching where you put the henna, feel wheezy or feel a tightness in your chest you may have a ‘napthoquinone sensitivity’ and should seek medical advice.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

1. During normal pregnancy and breastfeeding, women who have previously used henna without incident usually find that henna does not cause problems.  However you should seek the advice of your midwife or doctor before applying henna.

Do not use henna during if you are pregnant and if you suffer or have suffered from any of the following conditions.

1. G6DP Deficiency (Glucose-6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency).
2. Hyperbilirubinemia.
3. Anaemia.
4. Any Chronic or acute condition which affects the your blood system.
5. Any Chronic or acute condition which affects your immune system.

Do not use henna if you are pregnant and already have children who suffer or who have suffered from any of the following conditions:

1. G6DP Deficiency (Glucose-6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency).
2. Hyperbilirubinemia.
3. Anaemia.
4. Any Chronic or acute condition which affects the your blood system.
5. Any Chronic or acute condition which affects your immune system.

 

This information is © copyright Catharine Hinton 2006 onwards

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