Frequently Asked Questions

Henna is a plant. It's Latin name is Lawsonia inermis. Henna made into a paste stains the skin, depending on placement, for up to 3 weeks. More callous, less oily skin stains the darkest and lasts the longest.

The longer the paste is on, the darker the stain, the longer it lasts. 3-4 hours is okay, 6+ hours is better. A stain on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet can last for 3 weeks if proper aftercare is followed. Other areas with thinner skin don't last as long. Exposure to water (exfoliation) is the fastest way to fade a henna stain.

Let's break this question down...

Henna is not permanent. Henna paste is applied ON the skin staining the dead skin layers which fades as the skin exfoliates.

The word tattoo, by definition, is to mark the skin by puncturing it and is permanent. This doesn't happen when using henna. Since henna isn't permanent like a tattoo, it's more accurately called body art.

Great question! We recommend at least 8 years old for two reasons:

1) Anyone with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a hereditary blood deficiency, needs to avoid henna, fava beans, aspirin and other things. G6PD is usually discovered by the age of 6 or 7.

2) Younger children have difficulty sitting still or not smudging henna while it's drying.

The first documented use of henna comes from ancient Egypt, 3,400 BCE. The use of henna as body art is at least 1,300 years old and spread with Islam, Judaism, Christianity + Hinduism. The use of henna first spread throughout the Mediterranean Basin then on to other regions.

No way! "Black henna" is a toxic chemical soup that doesn't even contain henna AND it's illegal to use on the skin in the United States. These chemical pastes/ gels can cause burning, allergic reactions, scars, hypersensitivity to other things like hair dye. Pastes or gels that are shelf-stable, smell bad or come in different colors are not safe and must be avoided.

Henna is available by appointment + at festivals we attend throughout the year. I also travel to do henna on location (hourly rates apply). 

COVID-19 GUIDELINES: You may be asked to wear properly fitting mask to get henna. Island Girl follows current CDC and NY State protocols and mandates.

I started doing henna in 2009. Originally self taught, I then honed my skills through professional and technical training with some of the industry's most talented tutors and historians including Jenpa Konchok Cartier, Bhavna Naik, Nimisha Parekh, Neeta Sharma + Noam Sienna, among others.

My henna paste is blended in-house using the finest organic ingredients. They are: Henna¹ (Lawsonia inermis), Distilled Water, Pure Fructose², Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils of Lavender¹, Frankincense¹ and Cardamom¹.

¹Certified organic, ²Non-GMO.

A minimalist blend of just henna and distilled water is available at appointments with advance notice.

Yes. We travel to do henna at parties, retreats, weddings, employee appreciation days, student activities for universities and more. I also do henna at festivals in the Catskill Mountains of NY and beyond.

The Island Girl's new location is looking to open sometime in May 2022. Hours will be by chance and appointment. Masks are required to receive henna. 

Have another question? I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. 

Ahh, excellent question!

Vardo Carrettino is our traveling wagon. It's what we stay in at festivals when we travel to distant locations.