Henna is a dye that is derived from the leaves of the henna plant or the Lawsonia inermis. This dye is often used in Egypt and India during important events such as wedding ceremonies and other religious festivals. It is considered as a “mehndi” or a form of body art that originate in the Indian continent and is very popular even up to this day.

Many people opt to have hanna tattoos for many different reasons. Sometimes they are used a souvenirs when traveling to Hindu countries and sometimes they are used as a temporary body art for those who don’t want to have a real tattoo on their skin. For some however, having the henna tattoo means falling in love the amazing and intricate designs available.

The amount of time that the henna tattoo can stay on the skin depends on a lot of factor. On areas exposed to air and water like the hands, arms and feet, will fade quicker. Henna ink can cause skin reactions leading to allergies as well and on this case, it needs to be removed immediately.

The infamous black henna is the most difficult to remove. The color and pigment is so amazing yet experts warn about one harmful ingredient it said to contain — p-phenylenediamine (PDD). Black henna tattoos will last about 10 to 21 days on an average.

Henna tattoos are not permanent but they can last for a long period of time. Some will even leave a permanent mark in the skin. Removing the henna can be quite difficult because it is highly pigmented. Once the color faded, you may want to get rid of all the remaining pigment in your skin because it certainly does not look good anymore. The process can be a long and tedious one but it is possible. You can even remove the dye with the natural ingredients available in your home. Below are some ways to do it.

Exfoliating scrub.

This is by far the easiest and safest way to remove the henna from the skin without damaging it. Exfoliating is part of every ladies’ routine but some men are into it as well. The scrub works in removing dead skin cells and promote the growth of a new and healthy skin, helping  the henna ink to face quickly.

Exfoliating scrubs are widely available in the market but you can make your own by mixing brown sugar, honey, oil, and lemon drops together.

Salt and olive oil.

Mixing the salt with olive oil is another form of exfoliation that will aid you to fade the ink of your henna easily. Salt has an amazing chemical property that can dissolve the ink.

Lemon. 

This wonder fruit is often used as a bleach and a cleaning agent and it works perfectly well in removing stains and yes, henna ink. To remove the henna tattoo using lemon, simple cut the lemon and massage it on the area of the tattoo. The property of lemon will give an immediate effect but you need to continue with the process to remove the ink completely.

Antibacterial hand soap.

If your henna is located on your hands and arms, you can simply use a regular antibacterial soap for the henna. While it will take a lot of washing also, it is certainly effective. Just wash the area ofthen and the ink would be removed however, make sure to use something that has a moisturizer so it won’t dry the skin.

Hair conditioner.

A product that is meant to soften and condition the hair can work to remove henna masks all. Just aply the conidtioner directly on the tattio and the skin and rinse off with water.

Micellar water.

This is often used in beauty and cosmetics as it keeps the skin smooth and hydrated but Micellar water is great product to try as well if you want to lift the henna ink away from your skin. The properties in micellar water can remove stains without drying the skin out. Soak the skin and let it absorb the product and rub it.

The products above can help remove the ink immediately but still, henna dye is not permanent and it will naturally fade from your skin on its own.