What is Henna?
Henna is a Persian term for Lawsonia interims, a small flowering shrub that grows in very hot and dry climates, such as North Africa, Middle Eastern countries, and India. The plant is harvested and processed to create a powder. Henna is used to decorate various parts of the body, traditionally the hands and the feet. Henna powder is mixed with essential oils and lemon juice to create a paste. The paste is then applied to the skin and left to dry, undisturbed, for 1-3 hours. After the paste scrapes off, the Henna stain will proceed to darken over the next 24 to 48 hours. Henna stains the top couple layers of the skin, and it fades as these layers naturally exfoliate.