The Artful Cricket
234 . 738 . 2758  
(Text Only Please)
  • Home
  • Info
    • About TAC
    • Services & Pricing >
      • Specials
      • Reviews
    • Henna FAQ >
      • What Is Henna?
      • How Does Henna Work?
      • I Just Got A Henna Tattoo. What Happens Next?
      • How Long Does Henna Last?
      • Will Anything Make My Henna Fade Faster?
      • What Is In Your Henna Paste?
      • What Is "Black Henna" / PPD?
  • Scheduling
  • Portfolio
    • Hands & Arms
    • Feet & Legs
    • Other Bits
  • Henna Habit Registration
  • TAC Henna Shoppe
  • TAC on Threadless

Henna Paste, Henna Stain
The henna plant produces a dye called lawsone that is found in the leaves of the plant.  The leaves are harvested, dried, and ground into a fine powder.  The powder is mixed with a slightly-acidic liquid (lemon juice, tea, coffee ... there are as many recipes as there are henna artists!) to break down the plant cells and release the dye molecules.  Many artists then add essential oils to their mix.  Several types of essential oils contain something called monoterpene alcohol that, when mixed with the henna paste before application, actually improves the quality of the final stain. 

The paste is then applied to the skin using various methods - anything from a small Mylar cone, to a "jack bottle" (something that looks like a Puffy-Paint bottle), to a stick.  The paste should be left on the skin for at least several hours.  During this time, the dye molecules in the paste bind to the proteins in the top layer of skin - the layer that exfoliates.  After several hours, the paste can be brushed off.  The resulting stain usually starts out as a light orange, and darkens to its final color over the course of a day or so. 

The natural properties of each person's skin affects the result differently, but on the majority of people the final color of the stain will range between a warm, reddish chocolate brown and a deep, rich burgundy.  The thicker the skin, the darker the stain is likely to be.  On a rare few people, the stain will actually turn out a bright cherry red, but in over 10 years of working with henna, I have not yet seen this phenomenon in person.

What is Henna?

How does Henna work?

I just got a Henna tattoo.  What happens next?

How long does Henna last?

Will anything make my Henna fade faster?

What is in your Henna paste?

What is "Black Henna"
/ PPD?
Picture

Portfolio & Services

Hands & Arms
Feet & Legs
Other Bits
Services
Scheduling

The Artful Cricket

About TAC
Schedule Now
Upcoming Events
Beautiful Bravery Project

Support

Henna FAQ
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
All Content Copyright © 2018 The Artful Cricket.  All rights reserved.  |  Akron, Ohio 44302  |  234.738.2758  |  Info@TheArtfulCricket.com
PROFESSIONAL HENNA TATTOO ARTIST, SERVING:  Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Youngstown, Columbus, Cincinnati, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Sharron, Butler, Pennsylvania - and beyond.   
The Artful Cricket commits to always using fresh, natural henna.  I will NEVER use "black henna"!