Body art is a powerful way of expressing your personality. If you’re considering it but are a bit cautious, how about trying henna tattoos first? They are stunning yet semi- permanent, giving you time to gauge if you want to delve into permanent tatts. Before you get inked, here are some things you need to know.
Depending on the type of henna used, the finished artwork can be red, orange, brown or burgundy. Tattoos can last from 2 weeks to a few months. The tattoo process doesn’t involve skin penetration- a win for those who hate pain. However, there’s still a risk of spreading infection thus operators are encouraged to follow standard precautions.
When choosing a henna artist, visit their studio first. Make sure they have hygienic hand washing stations. They should wash hands with soap and running water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser before and after the process. Make sure a new stencil is used on you. The henna should be dispensed into a small container from the main stock. Insist on seeing this done since recycled henna can cause skin problems.
Be very cautious about the type of henna. Black henna is not a natural substance – it is mixed with paraphenylenediamine (PPD) which changes the colour and reacts more quickly on the skin. PPD is a toxin with serious side effects such as: bronchial asthma, permanent scarring, throat irritation, sensitisation dermatitis, nausea and many others. For extra precaution, have a patch test done. This means applying henna to a small area of the skin then waiting to see if any negative reaction occurs. If you have sensitive skin, it may be best to avoid henna tattoos altogether.
When going for the process your skin should be clean and without bruising to avoid henna penetrating into the skin. Before applying the henna, the artist should wipe the area to be tattooed with a sterile disposable swab and disinfectant. The skin should be left to dry for 30 to 60 seconds.
