Henna Trouble Shooting Guide

Henna tattoos made easy! Find your henna problem and a list of possible reasons/solutions to help you fix it.

This is a copy of our trouble shooting guide from our Henna FAQ Page.   You can find more henna tattoo information there.

Pre-mixed henna paste is not staining well.

• The number one reason henna does not stain well is that the area of the body that the henna is on was not clean.  Lotions, sweat, hair products, and anything else on the skin will give you a poor henna stain.  Make sure the skin is completely clean before applying henna.  Washing with dish soap or wiping the area with rubbing alcohol or witch hazel can help.
• The henna paste needs to be mixed.  Henna can sometimes separate a bit from shipping or sitting for awhile.  Be sure to knead your henna cone or tube thoroughly before using.
• The moist henna was not left on the skin long enough to develop a good stain.  Try sealing the henna design after the henna is set but before it is completely dry.  You can also mix in some sugar into the henna to help it stay moist longer and adhere to the skin better.  Also, make sure the henna is directly on the skin and not "floating" above the skin on hair.

Powder henna is not staining well.

• The number one reason henna does not stain well is that the area of the body that the henna is on was not clean.  Lotions, sweat, hair products, and anything else on the skin will give you a poor henna stain.  Make sure the skin is completely clean before applying henna.  Washing with dish soap or wiping the area with rubbing alcohol or whitch hazel can help.
• The henna did not sit long enough for the dye to develop before being used.  After mixing the henna it must sit in a warm area away from sunlight for anywhere between 2-12 hours.  The warmer it is the sooner the dye develops.
• The moist henna was not left on the skin long enough to develop a good stain.  Try sealing the henna design after the henna design has set but before the henna is completely dry to help it stay moist longer.  Also, make sure the henna is directly on the skin and not "floating" above the skin on hair.

Color henna is not taking well.

• The number one reason henna does not stain well is that the area of the body that the henna is on was not clean.  Lotions, sweat, hair products, and anything else on the skin will give you a poor henna stain.  Make sure the skin is completely clean before applying henna.  Washing with dish soap or wiping the area with rubbing alcohol or witch hazel can help.
• The henna paste needs to be mixed.  Henna can sometimes separate a bit from shipping or sitting for awhile.  Be sure to knead your henna cone or tube thoroughly before using.
• Make sure the henna is directly on the skin and not "floating" above the skin on hair.
  *Remember color henna is a surface stain.  It will start fading immediately upon contact with water or upon sweating.

Henna is drying too quickly or cracking too much while drying.

• Your henna mixture needs to be stickier.  Add sugar or honey to your henna.  This will keep the henna moist longer and will help the henna adhere to your skin.
• Try steaming your henna design as it starts to dry to keep it moist longer.
• Add a sealer over your henna design after the henna has set but before it is completely dry.

Henna tattoo design is fading quickly.

• The moist henna was not left on the skin long enough to develop a good deep stain.  Try sealing the henna design after the henna design has set but before the henna is completely dry to help it stay moist longer.  Also, make sure the henna is directly on the skin and not "floating" above the skin on hair.
• The henna design is coming in contact with water or chemicals too often.  Chlorinated water (pools, spas) will fade henna very quickly (this includes tap water which often has high levels of chlorine).  Wear rubber gloves when cleaning the house (especially dishes) and when washing your hair.  Apply a light layer of Mehndi oil over your henna design before coming into contact with water.
• You may be using an exfoliating soap and/or lotion.  Most facial soaps are highly exfoliating.
• The skin is dry.  Where as dry skin helps henna to take and get a nice deep dark stain, it also fades the henna quicker as dry skin sheds it's cells faster than moist skin.  Apply henna oil or non-exfoliating lotion over your henna design daily.

I've read the trouble shooting tips but I'm still having trouble.

• Try a different part of your body.  Henna takes the best on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
• Try a different kind of henna.  The same henna works differently on different people.  If you've been using pre-mixed henna, try mixing fresh henna from henna powder.
• Your henna may have lost it's color due to age or improper storage.  Keep your henna in a cool dry place or in the refrigerator.  When mixing henna, only mix as much as you need at a time.  If you mix extra wrap it very tightly and freeze it.  If doing henna outside in the heat, keep your henna in a cooler when not in use.
• In some very rare cases, henna just doesn't take well to certain people.  Never use henna with chemicals to compensate.  If henna doesn't take well to you, then you will need to work extra hard.  Mix your own henna from henna powder using the Beachcombers! Favorite Henna Recipe. Seal your henna design completely and use additional heat to help activate the henna. Wrap your henna design overnight.

Please vote this guide helpful if you found it useful or well written.  If you have any suggestions for how I can improve this henna guide, please contact me.

Jody Rogers
Beachcombers! Bazaar
Beachcombers! ME Page

All information in this guide is copyright Beachcombers! 2006. All rights reserved.