^

Henna tattoos

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
Fact-checked
х

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

At present, there is a fashionable tendency to decorate your body with an original design. In other words, many people are tempted to get a tattoo. But, since the fashion changes and the tastes of each person are impermanent, then not everyone decides on the long-term "decoration" of the tattoo. Therefore, practicing beauty salons offer an alternative solution to the issue - a temporary henna tattoo. But first let's look at some nuances associated with tattoos.

It should be noted that temporary henna tattoos have nothing to do with real tattoos. It is important to understand some aspects. If the master claims that this tattoo will adorn the body for a long time ( months and even years ), you need to stay away from such a salon. All is explained quite simply - such temporary tattoos do not exist.

Also, the salons suggest tattooing the tattoo, arguing that this tattoo is considered temporary, but it will again be a long time (3-5 years ). The peculiarity of this tattoo is as follows: it is pierced to a small depth of the skin layer ( no more than 4mm ), and is limited in color and size (no more than 5cm). The rate is carried out with the help of paints used for permanent make-up. The main components of these paints are: isopropyl alcohol, iron oxide, titanium dioxide, distilled water, glycerin or ethylene glycol.

It is these colors that are the "underwater stone" of this tattoo. Since the components of paints are unstable compounds, according to the laws of chemistry after a certain time they must completely disappear. But in fact something else is happening. The picture becomes faded, eventually turning into a blurry spot, which forever remains "flaunting" on the skin.

As a result, there are two options to fix the situation - either to make a real tattoo, or to turn to an expensive laser excision procedure. To avoid this, it is better to decorate your body with a temporary henna tattoo. Such a tattoo can be done both with the help of a master, and independently. Tattooing henna, basically, keep from 5 days to 2 weeks.

trusted-source[1], [2]

Preparation

  • Choose the location of the tattoo. Here there is an important point - do not make a tattoo in place of the previous one, because the skin does not like constant external stimuli.
  • Before the procedure ( for 1 day ), it is recommended to avoid direct sunlight to the place of applying the tattoo, and also to refrain from visiting the solarium.
  • Skin preparation. It must be degreased, treated with alcohol or thoroughly washed with soap. If the skin has a rough structure, it is necessary to smooth it with a stiff washcloth or peeling. The smoother the skin, the more confidence that the pattern will last longer.
  • Remove all hairs from the intended place of application. This is due to the fact that on the hairline henna has the property to stay longer. As a result, the pattern on the skin will come off, and the color of the hairs will remain for a while, recalling the former decoration.

trusted-source[3], [4], [5]

Technique of the henna tattoos

A variety of henna paintings on the body (mendi, mehendi) refer to temporary tattoos. They differ in that they last much longer than other temporary types of tattoos (for example, with paint). Widespread in North Africa, India, Malaysia, Arab countries, Indonesia.

Mehendi looks very beautiful and refined in his hands. For lovers of nature and the animal world, images of animals, birds, insects, etc. Are suitable. Often in the hands depict mythical animals (dragons). Such drawings are distinguished by a magical overflow during the movement of the hands. Tattooes depicting vegetation (creepers, flowers, leaves) will emphasize almost every image. For solemn rituals, images in the form of elegant patterns and lacy laces will ideally suit.

Another original type of henna tattoos on the hands is tribal tattoo. It is applied in several ways - uniform drawing, drawing with 3D effect and drawing with displacement. Also distinguished by originality are written phrases in Latin or Chinese characters. This tattoo looks mysterious and mysterious. But when choosing a phrase it is important to know its exact translation in order to avoid ridiculous situations.

Tattoos of henna on the body, depending on the chosen pattern, emphasize both female grace, refinement and sexuality, and male power. Especially popular for applying the tattoo are such body parts as the forearm, the outer side of the shin, back, umbilical region.

Applying henna tattoos in a home environment

Ingredients required for the procedure:

  • henna powder;
  • lemon juice (2 lemon squeeze and strain);
  • aromatic oil;
  • ordinary sugar;
  • a small bowl made of plastic or glass;
  • a small spoon;
  • package (preferably plastic);
  • plastic bottle with a small hole, a polyethylene bag in the form of a cone with a small slot, a medical syringe with a needle removed (optional, as an applicator);
  • wide flat stick, toothpick or brush (used depending on the breadth of the picture);

trusted-source[6], [7]

Preparation of pasta

It should be noted that the paste is prepared a day before application. To get 100gr of pasta you need 20gr of henna. This amount is enough for coloring from the hands to the elbows. The next moment - if there are fine lines in the selected drawing (they are applied using a medical syringe), before preparation it is necessary to sift the henna powder through a fine strainer.

So, let's start the cooking process:

  • To 1 tbsp. Spoon with the top of the henna powder (20gr) add ¼ cup of lemon juice. Stir thoroughly until the lumps dissolve completely. In this case, the mixture should have a thick consistency (like mashed potatoes). Dishes with the resulting composition should be packed in a plastic bag, which is tightly closed (to avoid contact of the mixture with air). Put the package in a warm place (the temperature should be 24-25 degrees) and leave for half a day.
  • After 12 hours, unfold the package and add to the mixture 1h. A spoonful of sugar and 1h. Spoon of aromatic oil. Sugar is added to more closely contact the pattern with the skin. Aromatic oil gives a darker and more consistent color to the pattern. Stir the ingredients carefully. Next, the finished mixture should be brought to optimum density. To do this, the composition is gradually added to 1h. Spoon of lemon juice stirring constantly, until the prepared mixture reaches the consistency of thick sour cream or toothpaste. After that, the dishes with the finished mixture are again hermetically packed in a bag and kept warm for half a day. After the exposure time is pasta in the finished state. You can proceed to the Mendy procedure.

How to make a tattoo with henna. Technique of application

On the eve of the procedure it is desirable to make a test for skin tolerance to eucalyptus oil. To do this at night on the elbow you need to apply a drop of paste, eucalyptus oil and vegetable oil. In the morning check the reaction. If there are no signs of allergy (redness, itching), then you can safely proceed with the painting. Another important point - the procedure should be carried out in warm conditions.

  1. If you are doing a tattoo for the first time, it would be better to first apply the drawing with a cosmetic pencil, or a water-colored pencil. At the end of the painting, they are easily washed with a tampon dipped in vegetable oil.
  2. Fill the paste with the applicator.
  3. Lubricate the place of the future tattoo with eucalyptus oil (use no more than 3 drops). It is important. The essence of the matter lies in the fact that eucalyptus oil has the property of increasing the drying time of the paste, thereby improving its efficiency. Also, the oil expands the pores of the skin, which helps to accelerate the penetration of the paint. Important is the fact that eucalyptus oil makes the color of the paint more saturated.
  4. Apply the paint on the contours of the pattern, squeezing it out of the applicator with a thin line. Ensure that the tip of the applicator does not touch the skin. Usually the paste is applied in a layer of 3mm. An important nuance is to start painting better with fine lines, then go to straight lines and finish the work with rounded details of the drawing. It is also important to remember that henna absorbs very quickly into the skin, so with any mistake, you need to wipe the paint very quickly with a cotton swab. During operation, the drawing must be constantly moistened with lemon juice.
  5. When painting very thin lines, you can use a toothpick or a thin stick, dipping them in the paint. And on the contrary - wide lines are painted with the help of a wide rod (like a stick for ice cream).
  6. To get a lighter tone of the pattern, you need to smear the paste with a thin layer with a wide stick. To get a darker tone, the layer of paste thickens. Also in such cases, you can use basma. To do this, Basma stir with a small amount of paste using ordinary hot water. As a result, the color will be more brown than orange.
  7. Basically, the pattern is drawn by hand, but if you doubt your artistic abilities, it is better to use a special stencil (template technique). Or make a stencil with your own hands, which is very easy. The simplest option is the use of an adhesive film. First, on the film, the desired ornament is cut out, then the film is tightly adhered to the place of the tattoo and paint is applied from above. As you can see, it's quite possible to make a tattoo with henna yourself.

Several recipes for henna tattoos

  • Recipe # 1

In half an hour of strong tea brewing, lemon juice is added (half a lemon is used) and 2 tablespoons. Spoons of sugar. The resulting solution is thoroughly mixed with henna powder (to the consistency of thick sour cream). Insist 20 minutes. Ready paste put into the applicator. If necessary, this composition is stored in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.

  • Recipe # 2

It will take: a powder of red henna, bags of black tea, coffee, eucalyptus oil, date oil, clove oil.

In 400 ml of water, add 2 tea bags, 2 teaspoons of coffee and 2 teaspoons of date oil. The mixture is boiled for 1 hour on low heat. Cool to a temperature of 20-22 degrees (room temperature). Strain through a fine strainer. In the resulting solution add, constantly mixing, the powder of henna. Blend the mixture to a consistency of thick paste and leave in a cool place for 3 hours. In the resulting paste add 5 drops of clove oil and eucalyptus. Mix thoroughly.

  • Recipe # 3

In one cup of strong tea or coffee, add 3 teaspoons of lemon juice and 3 drops of olive oil. In the resulting solution is added about 4-5 tablespoons of henna powder. The result should be a consistency of thick cream. If necessary, the resulting paste can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 20 days.

  • Recipe # 4

It will take: red henna powder, orange water, rose water, lemon juice (insisted on the sun for about 12 hours) and black tea (night tea).

In 1 cup of tea, add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and stir. Then add the powder of red henna into the solution and mix thoroughly.

Before the procedure, the tattoo is treated with orange and rose water.

Contraindications to the procedure

  • acne;
  • dermatitis;
  • dermatosis;
  • neurodermatitis;
  • other skin diseases.

trusted-source[8], [9], [10], [11]

Complications after the procedure

Complications after the procedure (allergic reaction, chemical burn, contact dermatitis) most often arise from the fact that some masters in the natural henna add harmful ingredients: various dyes or black henna. Natural red henna has a rusty-red tinge. To avoid complications after tattooing, you should not be too lazy to study the composition of the paint that you are going to use for mendi, as well as carry out the tolerance test, which was mentioned above.

Very often there are complications due to unreasonable attitude to the henna tattoo - a constant application on the site of the previous tattoo. As a result - eczema, irritation of the mucous membrane, deprive.

So, let's summarize. Temporary henna tattoos are safe and painless, in some ways even a pleasant procedure. Mendy is quite possible to do at home even a beginner. But all the same, certain rules for painting on the body exist, and they need to be adhered to. It is compliance with all the recommendations that will result in your body being not only beautiful, but also healthy.

trusted-source[12], [13], [14], [15]

Care after the procedure

Dry the tattoo in a warm place ( preferably in the sun or under an infrared lamp ). The longer henna dries, the brighter the pattern. During drying, the tattoo should be periodically moistened with lemon juice and sugar ( proportion - 2: 1 ). After the paint dries out its excess can be scraped off with a stick, but do not rinse! After removing the paste, the pattern is treated with almond oil ( to give the color brightness and gloss ). You can also use sesame oil. Subsequently, it is desirable to repeat this process.

Care must be taken with all water procedures. It is better to replace a hot bath with a warm shower. Before bathing, the tattoo should be greased with vegetable oil. For this purpose, any oil, except Vaseline and baby oil, will do.

The more the drawing will be wetted with water, the faster it will come down. It is undesirable to wash the place of the tattoo with soap, only slightly rinse with water.

It will be necessary to refrain from intensive sports and sauna visits a little - temporary henna tattoos do not like increased sweating. It is also not recommended to shave or do hair removal at the place of application of the tattoo.

If you fully adhere to these tips for care after the procedure of painting henna, then the picture will be preserved for up to 14 days, or even more.

trusted-source[16]

You are reporting a typo in the following text:
Simply click the "Send typo report" button to complete the report. You can also include a comment.