Henna

Henna is an Arabic word for the process of applying a paste made from the ground leaves of a woody shrub that thrives in hot, dry climates. Its Latin name is Lawsonia Inermis, and it is also referred to as Mehndi in many parts of India. It is thought to have originated in Egypt and was brought to India and other countries by merchants and nomads. Henna produces a red-orange dye molecule, Lawsone. This molecule has an affinity for bonding with protein and keratin, and thus has been used to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather, wood, silk and wool. Henna has been used for thousands of years to adorn women’s hands and feet for weddings and other auspicious times. Henna is not associated with any one religion but is often used during times of great celebration. Similarly, the use of henna is not specific to just one culture, but it is an integral and dynamic part of many cultures each with their own traditions, symbols and myths -excerpt from Remarkable Blackbird. A typical henna tattoo lasts 1-3 weeks and stains a deep brown-red color.

The Jagua fruit comes from the Genipa Americana tree and is a yellow or cream color. The fruit is about the shape of a kiwi, but the size of an orange. The Jagua tree is native to the rainforests in Central and South America, and has been used by the indigenous tribes as part of their many traditions for several centuries. The Jagua fruit is high in nutritional value, and the tribes use the fruits juices for medicine, drinks, preservatives, and of course, for its dyeing properties. When Jagua gel is applied to the skin, it stains a deep blue-black color and can last 1-3 weeks. It is more likely to have an allergic reaction to Jagua due to the product coming from a fruit. If you are uncertain, please contact JoHenna Design to have a spot test prior to committing to a large design.

Henna and Jagua both stain the skin and last 1-3 weeks assuming the hennaed person takes proper care of their tattoo. It really just depends on what the client wants out of their tattoo. Some people want a temporary tattoo that mimics a permanent ink tattoo, so Jagua is the way to go. If you are looking for a traditional henna tattoo, natural brown henna is definitely the way to go. This is a matter of preference and is entirely up to the client. For more information on this topic, visit Henna City here.

Everyone is welcome to get a Henna or Jagua tattoo. The only restriction is if the client is allergic to fruit or has a sensitivity to Jagua. Those who are G6PD deficient should not get henna. For more information on this, please visit The Henna Page's article on G6PD deficiency here. 

Although Jagua is a natural product, it is possible to have an allergic reaction to any foreign substance applied to the skin. People with sensitive skin are encouraged to test a small patch of skin before applying a full-sized Jagua Temporary Tattoo. An allergic reaction to Jagua will appear as a dense rash of hard red bumps and may look similar to the allergic reactions caused by PPD or Black Henna.  Unlike PPD or Black Henna, an allergic reaction to Jagua will not create a lasting scar.  This rash can be treated like any other allergic rash with the application of anti-itch cream and/or Cortizone.  Before treating any allergic reaction, it is essential to consult your healthcare professional. Fresh Jagua Tattoo Gel and ink is made from Organic Genipa Americana Fruit.

Exposing your henna tattoo to water too early can affect the color of your henna tattoo. If you are the dishwasher in your home, invest in some rubber gloves. This will help you protect your tattoo and keep your hands dry while doing the chores. Remember to cover your tattoo stain with a natural lotion or oil (such as Shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, etc.) to help protect it from exfoliation in the shower and with washing dishes if you do not want to use rubber gloves.

In addition to hot tubs, the ocean, pools, soaking in a bath, cleaning chemicals, doing dishes and exposing your tattoo to water too soon, your stain and longevity of the design can be affected by different types of medicine. If you are taking a new medication such as a topical ointment, steroid, antibiotics or other medicine, your henna tattoo may not turn out as well as usual or at all. While I do not know all the medications that effect the way your skin takes the henna or Jagua ink, I do know that medicine definitely affects it. These types of medicines may cause the skin to shed faster, decreasing the amount of time the tattoo is on your skin. Please keep this in mind when caring for your new temporary tattoo.

Being cold before, during and after the tattoo process can also affect the stain. When you are warm, your pores are open, making it much easier for you to get a great, deep stain. When you are cold, the skin contracts making it more difficult for you to get a good henna stain. It is very important to be warm when you are getting a henna tattoo. Jagua also likes to stay warm, but it is much easier to get a good stain even if you are a little chilly.

Lotions, oils, perfumes and any other products that would cause a barrier on the skin can keep the tattoo from fully soaking into your skin. While you may still get a pretty good stain, you will likely not get the full effect if you are wearing lotion/oil or perfume on the area that you get your tattoo. To prevent this from happening, please be sure that your skin is clean of these things prior to beginning your tattoo application. 

Henna and Jagua in the sun can cause a reverse tan. It is not very likely that you will be able to tell unless you tan very quickly. Hopefully this doesn’t bother you if it does happen to you. Think of it as an extension of the design, even after it fades.

Did you have an accident happen where you fell asleep on the Design and now it’s in an undesired place? Take a trip to the store and get a sugar scrub for sensitive areas, soak in the tub, pool, hot tub or ocean. If the stain is on your hands, volunteer to do the dishes in your house. That usually makes it go away quickly. If your tattoo smeared and left funny marks, they will not usually last much longer than a few days. However, use one of the methods mentioned above to help speed up the removal process. Please contact Joey with any questions.

I strongly suggest booking your henna/jagua session 2-3 days prior to any big event like birthdays, weddings, travel plans, and more. Why? Because your​ henna or jagua tattoo will take time to develop. In order for you to show it off at the event/party/etc., you'll want to be sure to schedule your henna ahead of time. JHD strongly suggests booking your appointment 2 weeks in advance in order to avoid scheduling disappointments. I would like to encourage you to book your appointment or party/event as soon as possible to avoid disappointments if there is no availability when you'd like to have your service.

APPOINTMENTS  ---  My appointment pricing is based off of the tattoo design that you choose.  Appointments can take anywhere from 5 minutes to hours depending on the design and if taping is necessary. JoHenna Design has a $25 minimum for all henna/jagua tattoo appointments. JoHenna Design uses a hypoallergenic medical tape called Hypafix. This medical tape can be applied to your DRY tattoo for an additional fee – please make sure you ‘add-on’ this service when booking. We recommend having the tape applied during the cold winter months as well as over tattoos usually covered up by clothing. If you'd like to have the medical tape (Hypafix) applied to your tattoo prior to leaving, you will need to be sure to book the tattoo taping service at the end of your appointment. These temporary tattoos take about a half hour to completely dry, so please plan your appointment accordingly. Please e-mail, text or contact via social media with any appointment questions. To schedule an appointment, please visit the book online tab under 'Henna, Jagua & Pricing.' Henna and Jagua appointment pricing is based on the design you choose. Please visit the book online VAGARO tab for more information, or request to see our digital design book for more accurate pricing. Please see the cancellation, no show, late policies below for information on those things.

PARTIES ---  My party pricing is based off of my hourly rate (shown below) There will be an additional travel fee based off of your party location. Please contact Joey for a travel fee quote. Please let Joey know if you would like to offer henna, jagua or both options at your party. 

REGULAR SCHEDULE EVENTS 

(Events between 8am - 10:59pm)

Henna/Jagua Tattoo Party (2 hours or more) - $100/hr 

Henna/Jagua Tattoo Party (1 hour) - $125

AFTER HOURS EVENTS

Please contact JoHenna Design for After Hour Event Pricing 

(Events between 11pm - 7:59am)

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MISC.  ---  JoHenna Design also takes part in fundraisers/non-profit events. If you have an event like this you wish to use JoHenna Design for, please e-mail and we can chat about it! 

HOLIDAY PRICING --- Holiday pricing is approx. 60% higher than the general rate. Holiday pricing applies to all the major US holidays including but not limited to; Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve/Day and New Years Eve/Day. For example, the rate for my 2 hour henna party (normally $150) on Thanksgiving would be $250.

JoHenna Design sells her homemade 100% natural Henna & Jagua cones locally in Indianapolis. Please contact JoHenna Design to purchase via the contact tab or on Instagram.