What is henna made of?

Henna is made from the dried, powdered leaves of the henna plant, Lawsonia inermis. The key ingredient responsible for henna's staining properties is lawsone, a reddish-orange dye molecule.

Here's a breakdown of what goes into making henna for various uses:

• The leaves: The leaves are harvested, dried, and then ground into a fine powder. The quality of the henna paste depends heavily on the quality and freshness of these leaves. Older leaves tend to yield less potent dye.

• The paste (for body art): To create the paste used for temporary tattoos, the henna powder is mixed with a liquid, often water, lemon juice, or a combination of both. Other ingredients may be added to adjust the consistency, enhance the color, or improve application. These can include essential oils (like eucalyptus or tea tree oil), sugar, and sometimes other natural ingredients like coffee or strong black tea (though these are more commonly used for color enhancement rather than being a key part of the paste). The paste is allowed to ferment or rest for a period before application to help the lawsone release and allow for better staining.

• Commercial henna: Commercially produced henna products often contain additional ingredients beyond the powdered leaves. These may include preservatives, stabilizers, and even synthetic dyes. It is crucial to be aware that many commercially-available henna products are not pure henna and may contain harmful chemicals, particularly those that lead to a very dark, black or deep brown stain quickly. True henna stains a reddish-brown color.

• Hair dyes: Henna is also used as a natural hair dye. The preparation process for hair is similar to body art, but often involves more complex recipes and sometimes the inclusion of ingredients to condition hair or adjust the shade achieved.

In summary, while the base ingredient of all henna is the Lawsonia inermis leaf, the final product can vary greatly depending on the intended use and the additional ingredients included in its preparation. Always be aware of the ingredients listed if purchasing commercially made henna.