Henna Brows: How Long Does It Last, Benefits, Before and After
Henna brows are taking the beauty world by storm, and with good reason too - the results are amazing!! The treatment basically involves tinting your eyebrows with henna, rather than with regular eyebrow dye. In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about henna brows!
1. What are henna brows?
Henna is actually a very old method of transferring colour onto the skin and hair that has been used for thousands of years. The henna used for eyebrows is a different formulation to the henna used for dyeing hair, and it has been carefully innovated so that it leaves a natural stain on the hairs and the skin to help brow artists create beautifully shaped and defined brows.
The brow henna comes in a range of shades which can also be mixed, which helps us to create natural results that suit your hair colour and skin tone. A lot of people associate henna with the colour red, but over the years the formulations have been developed so that no unwanted red tint is left on the skin or the hair!
Tip: If you are allergic to regular tint you should try henna brows as an alternative. The ingredients are different so there is a chance it would be more suitable, but always ensure you patch test first.
2. How long do henna brows last?
The results from your henna brow treatment usually last up to 2 weeks on the skin and up to 6 weeks on the hairs. However this does depend on a few different factors such as how often you swim or sweat, how much oil your skin produces and the natural exfoliation of your skin, or if you spend a lot of time in the sun or on sun beds.
The great thing about henna brows is that they fade gradually, so you don't have to worry about them suddenly disappearing after a few days!
3. What are the benefits of henna brows?
There are a number of benefits to having henna brows done, such as:
They look natural and subtly tinted, which is great if you want to avoid the 'Instagram brow' look.
The henna helps to define and shape your brows, which can be great if you have over-plucked them or if they are naturally quite thin.
The henna also nourishes the skin and hair follicles, helping to keep them healthy.
They last for up to two weeks on the skin and up to six weeks on the hairs, which gives longer lasting results than regular brow tints
Henna brows gives a similar effect to Ombre Brow style, so it’s a great way to try out a new brow shape before committing to something more permanent, or if you have old microblading but aren't quite ready for an annual touch up then henna can refresh your brows until your next microblading appointment
Image source: Instagram @sknplus
4. What does the process involve?
If you've ever had your brows tinted then you'll have a good idea of what the process involves. First we cleanse the brow area to remove any dirt and oils, doing this helps us achieve a better stain to both the skin and the hairs.
Once your eyebrows have been thoroughly cleaned, your brows will be mapped to perfection. Extra care is taken during this step to ensure we are creating a brow shape that enhances your features and compliments your face shape. We try to utilise as much of the existing brow hairs as possible to create a natural look - this is why we advise not plucking any hairs before your treatment as this could make mapping the brows more tricky!
Once your brows have been mapped to perfection, the henna is delicately applied and left to work its magic! We always begin applying the henna at the tails of the brow and slowly work our way inwards to the middle. Doing this helps us create that beautiful ombre effect that starts soft and gradually gets darker towards the tails. Once the henna has been applied it will be left to sit on the skin for around 15 minutes. The front section of the brow will be removed first as this is the area that we want to be the softest, and after a few more minutes the rest of the brow henna will be removed.
Lastly any unwanted hairs will be removed by waxing and plucking, this helps us to create a neat and defined brow. A post wax oil will be applied to the skin around the brow to help soothe and calm the skin post waxing, and some concealer is applied underneath the brow to make your new henna brows really pop!
Achieving the ombre effect with henna.
We want to avoid harsh, blocky brows - instead we aim for a softer front leading gradually to a darker tail. To achieve this we can apply a thinner layer of henna at the start of the brow, or we can remove this portion of the henna first so it has less time to stain the skin.
5. What's the difference between henna brows and regular brow tint?
The henna brow treatment is a great alternative to regular eyebrow tinting as it lasts for longer. Henna brows are also a great option if you have over-plucked your eyebrows or if they have some sparse areas, as the henna can help to define and fill in any gaps.
Regular brow tints are great if you already have naturally full, well-shaped brows and are perfect to use in conjunction with Brow Lamination. Due to the ingredients in the henna, the two treatments can’t be done at the same time. What I’d recommend is having your Brow Lamination treatment first with regular brow tint, then 4 weeks later when the brows are ready for a colour refresh and a shape up, you can get your Henna Brows done. This way you get the best of both worlds!
Note: Typically henna will achieve a more bold end result, if you’re looking for something more subtle you may prefer regular tint.
6. Do I need a patch test?
Absolutely! We won't be able to perform the treatment without doing a patch test at least 48hrs before your appointment. Your health and safety is paramount and we would never want to risk you having an allergic reaction to any of the products we use.
Image source: Instagram @sknplus
7. Am I a suitable candidate for henna brows?
You cannot have henna if:
You had a reaction to the patch test (redness, itching, swelling etc in the patch test area)
You have any signs of compromised skin, cuts, burns, eczema etc in the brow area at the time of your appointment
You have ever had a reaction to any form of henna in the past
Henna is a great treatment for most people, however if you have extremely thin, sparse brows with little to know brow hair you may find Permanent Makeup to be a more suitable treatment!
8. The takeaways
Henna is a great way to achieve better shaped, more defined brows. It's a longer lasting alternative to regular brow tints, and it stains the skin as well as the hairs so is ideal for filling in gaps in your brows. Brow henna is also a great way to try out a new brow shape before committing to Permanent Makeup.
If you love the sound of this treatment and want to try it for yourself, click here to book your appointment!
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