I have always watched Indian movies and seen a lot of Muslim girlies do it.
Gosh, it is beautiful.
I might not like tattoos but I like this one.
Dear Henna, you need to adorn my body.
I bullied someone into finding someone who would etch these intricate patterns into my skin.
I didn’t even research what Henna is, where it comes from, what are its side effects.
The only thing that mattered to me was the pattern, the beauty.
It was like a dream that I wanted badly but didn’t know the road to achieving it or how rough that road could be.
I got my henna.
I was elated.
But now
Do I have to wait for 3-4 hours?
Does it have crusts that need to be removed?
Removing the crust was painful: but it was a sweet pain because I loved how the henna was looking.
Then the one that blew my mind was the side effects.
I swear I thought it was just Henna for Henna's sake.
It happened that someone saw a picture of my henna when it was a day old and remarked that ‘’this is unhealthy for the skin”(who asked you😏)
I called his bluff but I was curious at the same time.
I went online and my pupils dilated, my jaw slacked and my heart ran miles…
What?
Henna in itself is harmless.
The things that make it harmful or makes it toxic are the additives like paraphenylenediamine (PPD).
PPD is used as a darkening agent to create “black henna”.
Natural henna when applied gives a red color or dark brown color.
I got to know there’s nothing like black henna, it’s artificial.
Why is my henna pattern black?!?!
😂
When you apply black henna, the side effects can range from itching to blistering to burning to redness to the likelihood of scaring you permanently.
I still have my henna and I have a love-hate relationship with it.
I wish I researched and followed the right protocols to get my Henna.
I’m constantly hoping that my skin doesn’t break out or the undying worry of blisters forming.
Hopefully when this current one fades away, I will go to a legit Henna artist.
In conclusion, it’s not always as surface as you think it is.
Ask questions
Research!
