hamburger icon
A
अ
Read in Hindi
  • Home
  • Beauty
  • Beauty tip: Do NOT buy henna or mehendi before reading this!

Beauty tip: Do NOT buy henna or mehendi before reading this!

Is your henna safe? Find out with these simple steps.

WrittenBy

Written By: Paulami Pan | Updated : June 6, 2016 9:13 AM IST

thehealthsite.com top news

The holy month of Ramzan is almost here and henna is something that each of us will be excited to use. An essential ingredient to colour the hair and create beautiful mehndi tattoo, henna has been used for more than 6000 years as a natural dyeing agent. In India, henna holds a special place in all auspicious ceremonies, especially during weddings and is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to newly married couples. Known for its amazing beauty benefits, henna is also packed with awesome healing properties and also used in traditional medicines and hair care remedies. It is used extensively in our country by people of all communities. Beauty expert Shirshajit Deb, Be Bonnie,Kolkata tells us how to test henna and know which one is of a good quality.

In recent times, there have been a number of reports concerning henna and safety issues, which have proven the presence of harmful chemicals such as PPD (para-phenylenediamine), mainly present in black henna and known to cause serious skin reactions and sores. Remember, NEVER buy black henna, it is entirely chemically composed and can cause severe allergic reactions and side effects. Henna is also adulterated with substances like iron oxide to get darker red colour. Most commercially produced hennas also contain high levels of lead, bacteria, fecal matter, unsafe colourants, pesticides, solvents and skin irritation filters.

Here are five tests you should do before buying henna

Also Read

  1. Check the date of packaging: Get the freshest powder possible. Check the date on the pack, as henna is best used within a few months if it hasn't been kept cold. Most store henna sits on shelves for extended periods. If it's been stored in a cold area, like a freezer, and kept away from light, henna can stay potent for years.
  2. Take the clogging test: See if the powder is glops, jams or clogs applicators. High quality henna has been sifted several times and is much finer. Cheaper hennas are coarse and need more sifting which you can usually tell from comparing to other better sifted hennas, as they will clog easily.
  3. Green dye test: Many companies say that the greener the colour, the better the henna. This is nothing but a marketing ploy to make the powder look more attractive. To find out whether your henna powder is adulterated with green dye, mix henna with lemon juice and put it between two sheets of glass and leave it there for 15 minutes or so. If the shopkeeper has added green dye, you'll be able to see bright green dots appear in the henna. You can see these dots without a magnifying glass.
  4. Check label: Do not buy products that are labeled as fast acting or guaranteed dark colour as they are more prone to be adulterated. Pure and fresh henna can give good colour results anywhere.
  5. Go for a patch test: Save yourself from allergic reactions by doing a simple patch test before buying henna. Apply some of the product on your skin and wait for some time. If you see even a hint of irritation, know well that this henna is either denatured or adulterated.

Now you know what to look out for while buying the perfect henna. Always remember to do these simple tests to ensure that you are buying henna that is safe for you. Don t forget to spread this message on!

Image source: bipashabasu/Instagram (image used for representational purpose only)

Add The Health Site as a Preferred Source Add The Health Site as a Preferred Source
Paulami Pan

Paulami Pan

... Read More