The use of henna for body decoration is more than 5,000 years old among the peoples of Southeast Asia and North Africa, although its origins are often associated with India. Henna, whose name in Spanish is henna, is a natural pigment that is extracted from a plant of the same name and gives a reddish color. At present, various chemicals are added to tint the red and obtain other shades.
Due to its ease of application, the cosmetic industry took advantage of the benefits of henna as a semi-permanent eyebrow makeup. This pigment, unlike other methods, offers the advantages of having softer colors, it is not necessary to “inject” the dye as in a tattoo and its effect is much more natural. For this reason, at OneHOWTO we show you everything you need to know about henna for eyebrows, how to use it and how long it lasts. Go ahead and try it!
How to prepare henna for eyebrows
Properly preparing the henna dye for the eyebrows is essential to achieve a better finish and guarantee the exact durability of the product. Likewise, preparing your own skin beforehand is also a vital process if you want to obtain the best results.
Henna allergy test
Although henna is natural, it can have chemicals to tint or alter its original color. Therefore, it is important to verify that there are no adverse reactions when exposed to the product. To do this, you just have to mix a small potion of eyebrow henna with a minimum amount of water until you get a paste. This should be placed on the arm for 15 minutes, removed with a wet wipe, and wait 48 hours to see if there are allergic reactions.
Preparation of the eyebrows
Once it is confirmed that the pigment is safe to use, the eyebrows should be plucked and trimmed according to the desired shape. For this, waxes or tweezers can be used. The important thing is that a clean work is left and the eyebrows well delineated. If you have questions about this step, we invite you to visit our article How to pluck your eyebrows.
Henna for eyebrows – colors
Like hair, eyebrows have their own color and henna brow dyes come in different shades. You need to make sure you choose the right shade according to your hair and skin color. If in doubt, it is preferable to select a lighter color and repeat the process than to choose one that is too dark.
Henna eyebrow kit
Now, it is time to prepare the dye. For this, the following instruments should be on hand:
- A glass container
- A glass or plastic teaspoon or mixer
- Alcohol
- Cotton
- Water or lemon juice previously strained
- Vaseline, moisturizer, or shea butter
- Clean angle brush, swab, or mascara brush
- Rubber gloves
Henna Preparation
The first thing to do is place the henna content in the glass container. Some brands come in containers with the amount of pigment to use, while others sell large packages of dye from which the desired amount is extracted. If this is the case, about 2 tablespoons of henna required. As for the liquid for the mixture, some brands ask to use water and others, lemon juice. For this reason, it is very important to read the instructions on the package or seek advice from specialists.
Regarding the consistency of the pigment after mixing it with water, it should not be liquid or very thick. It is a smooth but consistent paste that should be free of lumps or air bubbles. This is why it must be mixed carefully. Glass is the best friend of henna, since the metal alters its properties and color, giving it a hateful final green color. Since plastic is porous, it can stain, so it is not recommended to use it either.
Learn more about How to make henna paste at home for other uses by clicking on the link.
How to use henna for eyebrows
Once you have the henna for eyebrows prepared, it only remains to apply it. It must be done with care, dedication and time to achieve the best possible quality result. Keep the following aspects in mind so that you know how to dye your eyebrows with henna.
- Clean and protect the area: the area to be pigmented must be rubbed with a cotton pad soaked in alcohol in order to clean it and free it of impurities and fats. To avoid unnecessary staining in the area around the eyebrows, a thin layer of petroleum jelly, cream or shea butter is placed around it.
- Apply the henna: the best instrument to apply it is the angular brush, because it allows to be more precise in the application of the dye. A mascara swab or brush can also help, although you need to be a lot more careful. For better quality work, brow irregularities should be removed with a cotton swab dipped in water or henna remover.
- Fixation and pigment removal time: the time also depends on the brand of henna. For more industrial pigments, 20 minutes may be sufficient. Organic henna can take up to an hour. Removing it is a delicate process because doing it improperly can damage the work and leave stains on the eyes.
For a professional finish, the dye must have a gradient effect, lighter at the base, that is, in the area near the nose, and darker at the end or tail. This effect is achieved by removing the henna properly. With a slightly damp cotton pad, the foundation tint is removed first. Wait about 10 to 15 minutes and it is gradually removed along the eyebrow in the next 15 to 20 minutes.
If you want to explore other ways to change the color of your eyebrows or highlight the eyebrows, we invite you to visit our article How to dye the eyebrows.
How long does henna for eyebrows last?
The duration of the henna tint for eyebrows depends on three fundamental factors: the type of skin, the care after applying the pigment and the brand. Some products state that it can last 5 to 8 days. Other brands offer a little more, even up to 6 weeks.
In skin that is oily, acidic or prone to sweating more, henna will last less time. Also, if the weather is humid and hot, it may also affect the pigmentation time of the skin.
So that the henna lasts as long as possible, it is important to avoid these errors:
- Wash your face and wet your eyebrows within 24 hours.
- Use cleaners in that area.
- Brush the eyebrows vigorously and repeatedly in the first few days.
- Rubbing or scratching the area with henna.
- Let hair products run down face when bathing.
- Take baths in swimming pools or beaches and go to saunas.
- Exposing yourself to the sun for a long time.
It must be clear that henna is not permanent, it is semi-permanent and it is quite useful to reduce makeup time, since it will take very little to have the eyebrows ready without much effort.
Where to buy henna for eyebrows
Buying this pigment is easier than you think. First of all, this is quite a popular method, so most hair salons should have a eyebrow henna kit.
Another place where you can buy henna for eyebrows are stores specialized in organic products, supermarkets with beauty areas and perfumeries.
However, it is not the only way to acquire it. Buy via on-line It is an increasingly popular trend and offers us many more options, in addition to the advantage of comparing prices and customer reviews to know the advantages and disadvantages of the product.
On the Internet there are two basic options: large stores such as Amazon, Alibaba or Ebay, or the websites of henna brands. Normally, the latter offer the advantage of having a blog with tips and tricks about their products, which helps a lot to know it, although shipping prices are usually higher. Of course, prices and quality vary for all budgets and all demands and expectations.
If you want to read more articles similar to Henna for eyebrows: how to use it and how long it lasts, we recommend that you enter our Beauty and Personal Care category.
Bibliography
- Nailz. (2018). Brow Henna Aftercare. Posted by Nailz. Retrieved January 2, 2020.Available at: https://www.nailznc.com/brow-henna-aftercare
- Mrs. Highbrow Professional (2019). Henna Brow Guide. Retrieved January 3, 2020.Available at: https://pro.mrshighbrow.com/en/blog/henna-brow-guide
- McLaughlin, C. (2018). Henna brows are everywhere. Here’s what you need to know about the semi-permanent option. Retrieved on January 2, 2020.Available at: https://www.mamamia.com.au/henna-brows/