What is henna made of?

Henna is a dye prepared from the plant Lawsonia inermis, also known as the henna%20tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet. The leaves of the henna%20plant are ground into a fine powder. This powder is then mixed with liquids like water, lemon juice, strong tea, or other ingredients to form a paste.

The active dying ingredient in henna is lawsone, a red-orange dye that binds to proteins, resulting in a stain on the skin, hair, or other materials. The quality of the henna paste depends on the henna%20powder itself (freshness and growing conditions), the liquids used, and other added ingredients (such as essential oils) that enhance the staining process.