safety & patch test
A patch test, every time
Last updated June 2026
Henna is natural and gentle, but skin is personal — so a two-minute patch test is the rule, every single time. Here's how to use your kit safely.
Do a patch test first
Dab a little paste on the inside of your forearm, about the size of a coin. Leave it on for 30–60 minutes, then flake it off and wait a full 24–48 hours, keeping an eye on the spot.
A cool, slightly tingly feeling is normal. Redness, itching, swelling, or burning is not — if any of that shows up, don't use the kit, wash the area with soap and water, and see a doctor if it's strong or spreading.
What's in our cones
Just henna — the ground leaf of the henna plant, blended with the simple things that have always gone into it: a little sugar, lemon, and essential oil. No PPD, no chemical dyes, nothing that makes “black henna.” Our stain comes up orange and settles into a warm brown over a day or two. It is never black.
Please skip it if…
- You have a G6PD deficiency. This one matters — henna can be genuinely dangerous for people with G6PD deficiency, so it's a hard no.
- You've reacted to henna or plant dyes before, or you know your skin runs sensitive.
- The skin you'd draw on is broken, sunburned, or irritated.
- It's for a baby or young child — keep henna off little kids.
- You're pregnant or nursing — check with your doctor before you use it.
Using it safely
Henna is for the outside of your skin only. Keep it away from your eyes, lips, and mouth, and don't eat it. Draw in a room with a little fresh air, wash your hands when you're done, and keep the cones away from children and pets.
About “black henna”
If henna is jet-black, or promises a stain in an hour, walk away. That color comes from a chemical called PPD that can burn skin and leave you allergic to all sorts of things for life. Real henna — including ours — is orange-to-brown, always. It is never black.
If your skin reacts
Stop, gently scrape off any paste, and wash with soap and cool water. For anything beyond mild — spreading redness, blistering, swelling — see a doctor or pharmacist. A reaction to true henna is uncommon, but skin is skin, which is exactly why we patch test.
About the stain
Color varies with your skin, where on your body you draw, and how long you leave the paste on — anywhere from pumpkin-orange to deep coffee brown. That whole range is normal, not a flaw.
The small print
This henna is for temporary body decoration. It hasn't been reviewed or approved by the FDA for use on skin, and the guidance here is general — not medical advice. Use your judgment, follow the steps above, and when in doubt, ask your doctor. Questions? Email hello@inkd.cloud.