Black Henna Tattoos & Your Hair

Black Henna Tattoos - A Word of Caution from Mirror Mirror Salon Bexleyheath

Temporary tattoos can be a fun addition to your holiday or festival look – but not all body art is as harmless as it seems. At Mirror Mirror Hair Salon in Bexleyheath, we want our clients to be fully informed when it comes to black henna tattoos, especially because they can affect your ability to safely colour your hair in the future.

If you’ve ever had a black henna tattoo – or are thinking of getting one – here’s what you really need to know.

What Are Black Henna Tattoos?

Black henna tattoos are often offered at beaches, markets or festivals as temporary body art. They may be advertised as “natural” or “safe,” but black henna is not the same as traditional henna.

Traditional henna is a reddish-brown dye made from plant leaves. Black henna is often made by mixing traditional henna with a chemical dye called para-phenylenediamine (PPD) to make it darker and longer-lasting.

Here’s the issue - PPD can cause severe allergic reactions, especially when applied to the skin in high concentrations – which is often the case with black henna.

Henna Tattoos & Hair Colour – What You Need To Know

If you’ve had a black henna tattoo (even years ago), it’s essential to tell your hairdresser before having your hair coloured – especially if you’re booking a permanent colour, highlights, or root tint.

Why? Because Black henna may sensitise your skin to PPD, the same ingredient found in many permanent hair dyes.  This means you could have a serious allergic reaction to hair colour, even if you've used it safely before.

At Mirror Mirror, we always carry out a quick and easy allergy alert test at least 48 hours before your colour appointment – especially if:

* You’ve had a black henna tattoo in the past
* You haven’t coloured your hair in the last six months
* You’re trying a new colour or brand

Safety always comes first. Please let us know if you’ve ever had a black henna tattoo so we can take the right precautions.

What the NHS Says About Black Henna Tattoos

The NHS strongly advises against black henna tattoos due to the risk of chemical burns, blisters, and long-term skin sensitivity.

According to NHS guidelines:

“Black henna often contains a substance called PPD, which can cause severe allergic reactions and should not be used on the skin.”
People who react to black henna may go on to react to PPD in hair dyes, which can result in swelling, redness, burning, and even scarring.

Talk to Us First

At Mirror Mirror Hair Salon in Bexleyheath, your safety is our top priority. If you’ve had a black henna tattoo – even a long time ago – please let us know when booking your appointment. We’ll ensure all necessary testing is done before we apply colour, so you can relax and enjoy your hair transformation with total peace of mind.