Why we don't embrace colored henna

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Posted by Nick on August 12, 2001 at 14:27:09:

In reply to: One more thing posted by StarryNight on August 12, 2001 at 11:06:17:

As an artist on this forum, let me tell you why we don't ebrace the
safe colored stuff. There are a few reasons.
The first one is a practical reason: they separate, and they stain
*everything* beyond repair. The pastes are very hard to use, because
the actual henna and the colored dyes separate from eachother, so you
have to be constantly kneading the paste to make it usable. The
stains on fabric, tile, etc. never come out! And as Catherine says,
you almost never henna in an "idiot-proof" zone, so somebody is going
to smear their design on something, and end up having a big colored
blotch on whatever it was they smushed against.
The second one is an ethical reason: they give the word "henna" a
whole new meaning. When people associate colors and other substances
with henna, it waters down the original heritage of it. I know we are
making a new chapter in the heritage of henna right now, but do we
want to lead it of course for the next generation? I personally think
with the "anything in moderation" attitude-- so if we do use some
colored henna, lets never let it replace real henna altogether.
Another point to add to this is that using colored dyes associates
henna with tattoos, and permanence, which it is neither. We just
don't want to give the message that henna is something it's not. That
only confuses people.

And read my comments re: the statement below:
: The only reason things like this keep happening is that true henna
: artists, and those devoted to the safety of their customers, won't
: touch the safe black stuff, and so leave people often with no
option
: but to go for PPD henna when they don't know how dangerous it is!!
: People will keep ending up with PPD henna if they want a black
stain
: but the bad stuff is all that's availible to them.

I do not agree with this at all. The natural artists like myself who
will not touch the safe black stuff *do* warn our customers of the
dangers of PPD! We would never be so petty as to ignore it
altogether. By spreading knowledge of the dangers of PPD, we make
people more cautious when dealing with black henna. Only someone who
was stupid or just didn't care would get a PPD black henna after
they've seen the pictures of what it does to skin.
That was my 2 cents.
~Nick

Follow Ups

Agree and disagree StarryNight 16:30:25 8/12/2001 (3)
- Re: Agree and disagree Nick 17:43:10 8/12/2001 (2)
  - Re: Agree and disagree khoa 17:30:33 8/13/2001 (0)
  - Re: Agree and disagree samantha 11:22:16 8/13/2001 (0)
Re: Why we don't embrace colored henna StarryNight 16:21:33 8/12/2001 (1)
- Re: Why we don't embrace colored henna Nick 17:48:15 8/12/2001 (0)

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: As an artist on this forum, let me tell you why we don't ebrace the : safe colored stuff. There are a few reasons. : The first one is a practical reason: they separate, and they stain : everything beyond repair. The pastes are very hard to use, because : the actual henna and the colored dyes separate from eachother, so you : have to be constantly kneading the paste to make it usable. The : stains on fabric, tile, etc. never come out! And as Catherine says, : you almost never henna in an "idiot-proof" zone, so somebody is going : to smear their design on something, and end up having a big colored : blotch on whatever it was they smushed against. : The second one is an ethical reason: they give the word "henna" a : whole new meaning. When people associate colors and other substances : with henna, it waters down the original heritage of it. I know we are : making a new chapter in the heritage of henna right now, but do we : want to lead it of course for the next generation? I personally think : with the "anything in moderation" attitude-- so if we do use some : colored henna, lets never let it replace real henna altogether. : Another point to add to this is that using colored dyes associates : henna with tattoos, and permanence, which it is neither. We just : don't want to give the message that henna is something it's not. That : only confuses people. : : And read my comments re: the statement below: : : The only reason things like this keep happening is that true henna : : artists, and those devoted to the safety of their customers, won't : : touch the safe black stuff, and so leave people often with no : option : : but to go for PPD henna when they don't know how dangerous it is!! : : People will keep ending up with PPD henna if they want a black : stain : : but the bad stuff is all that's availible to them. : : I do not agree with this at all. The natural artists like myself who : will not touch the safe black stuff do warn our customers of the : dangers of PPD! We would never be so petty as to ignore it : altogether. By spreading knowledge of the dangers of PPD, we make : people more cautious when dealing with black henna. Only someone who : was stupid or just didn't care would get a PPD black henna after : they've seen the pictures of what it does to skin. : That was my 2 cents. : ~Nick
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