How To Remove Henna From The Skin: 11 Quick And Safe Ways!

How to remove henna from the skin quickly and safely? There are safer methods for removing henna from the skin that we’ll explore in this article.

For women, attending an Indian wedding is like stepping into a full-fledged makeover extravaganza. From Haldi and Mehndi to Sagai and Shaadi—each ritual demands different attire, jewelry, footwear, and hairstyles. Yet, amidst all these changes, one constant remains: henna. And let’s be honest, can we really resist adorning our skin with it? Even though we know it’ll linger long after the wedding festivities have ended, we women can’t help but love getting henna.

But what happens when the festivities are over, and the henna no longer complements our everyday look? How do we bid farewell to it?

The quickest way to remove henna from your skin is by applying a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda, leaving it on for 10–15 minutes, then washing it off with warm water. However, it’s worth noting that baking soda can strip away your skin’s natural oils, leaving it dry and irritated.

But before we delve into these methods, let’s take a moment to understand the significance of henna.

How To Remove Henna From The Skin? What Is Henna?

Henna, also known as Mehendi, is a plant-based paste derived from the leaves of the henna plant (Lawsonia innermost) that stains your skin and creates temporary tattoos, there are lots of mehendi/henna designs everyone can try.

Henna, being derived from plants, is safe for the skin and seldom triggers allergic reactions. The henna dye can last on the skin for up to two weeks before gradually fading away as part of the skin’s natural renewal process.

Even though henna fades on its own with time, you might wanna get rid of it quickly. Henna does stain overnight but it’s a real challenge when it comes to removing henna overnight. However, If you wish to speed things up, below are the ways you can remove henna from your skin quickly.

How To Remove Henna From The Skin Quickly? Here Are the Top 11 Methods

In pursuit of removing henna from your skin quickly, It is advisable not to harm your skin using harsh chemicals including bleach. It might irritate your skin. 

If you’re looking for an answer to “how to remove henna from the skin without baking soda”, then this is the blog for you. There are several skin-safe ways of removing henna from the skin at home quickly, so why mess with the skin? Instead, let’s dive into the top 11 ways of removing Henna at home quickly and safely:

1. Antibacterial Soap With Warm Water

This might look like a “no-effort” solution but it might work just right. The antibacterial soap has high alcohol levels that can help break the henna more efficiently. 

How to remove henna from the skin after drying? Use your preferred antibacterial soap a couple of times a day, but be mindful not to dry out your hands. Therefore, remember to moisturize your hands after each wash with antibacterial soap.

2. Salt And Water

How to remove henna from the skin with salt water? Soaking your body in a mixture of table salt (Sodium chloride) and water can be an effective method of removing henna. Especially, salt like Sea salt and Epsom salt act like exfoliating agents, helping you get rid of the henna dye. 

Salt water removes dead cells from your skin and nourishes active cells. By removing dead cells, you also remove henna dye stuck in it. 

3. How To Remove Henna From The Skin By Exfoliating

Using facial or body scrubs can assist in swiftly removing henna from your skin. However, you may need to scrub your skin multiple times to eliminate henna, which could potentially cause irritation. In such instances, opt for gentle exfoliators containing natural ingredients like brown sugar or apricot.

Make sure you moisturize your skin thoroughly after scrubbing. Coconut oil would work the best here. 

4. Olive Oil And Salt 

Wonder how to remove henna from the skin without any damage?

When applied to your skin, olive oil assists in loosening the top layer of dead cells while simultaneously softening and moisturizing your skin. Conversely, salt serves as a natural exfoliator, removing the top layer of dead cells and unveiling the fresh skin underneath.

A mixture of olive oil and salt in a 1:4 ratio can help you exfoliate the fading tattoo, speeding up the process of removing henna. Soak your hands in the mixture and then gently wipe off the salt and henna dye with a wet washcloth.

5. How To Remove Henna From The Skin Using Makeup Remover 

Typically, makeup removers break the pigment of makeup and dissolve away from the skin. A silicone-based makeup remover is made with a blend of oils and water-repelling silicone ingredients that can help break the stubborn henna pigment and dissolve it away from the skin. 

Apply a small amount of makeup remover to the henna tattoo and gently massage it into your skin. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then wipe it off with a dry cloth. Repeat this process a few times until the henna tattoo begins to appear faded.

6. Toothpaste 

There are lots of concerns about the question “How to remove henna from the skin using toothpaste, is it skin friendly and more let’s find out.

Not just any toothpaste, but whitening toothpaste. While this choice may not be very gentle on the skin, it can be effective in removing henna dye. The abrasive components in whitening toothpaste can assist in eliminating the henna tattoo.

How to remove Mehndi in 10 minutes? Take a small amount of whitening toothpaste and rub it into your skin. Let the paste dry. Once dried, using a brush gently remove the toothpaste from your skin. The henna dye should rip off with that.

Make sure to moisturize the skin after using toothpaste on your skin since the abrasive elements in the toothpaste might irritate your skin. 

7. Coconut Oil And White Sugar 

How to remove henna from the skin using coconut oil and white sugar? This natural way of exfoliating the skin using coconut oil and raw sugar might just be your best bet for removing the henna color. 

Start by rubbing coconut oil on your skin and then apply a layer of white sugar on top. Now, using a loofah gently rub your skin and remove oil and sugar with the henna dye. 

8. Micellar Water 

I know what you’re thinking- “But Micellar water is a gentle cleanser, how does it help remove the henna color?” and how to remove henna from the skin using micellar water? Well, It does. Micellar water contains a special element called micelles that helps to break down oil, make-up, and other pigments from the skin. 

To use this method, apply some micelle water to a washcloth and gently rub your skin with it. This method is particularly advised for people with sensitive skin. Micellar water is a gentle cleanser that can help remove henna without irritating the skin. 

9. Hair Conditioner 

Another answer to the question of how to remove henna from the skin is hair conditioner. Yes, you heard that right!

Hair conditioner is another gentle way of removing henna from your skin. The hair conditioner can soften your skin and help break the henna pigment.

Apply a small amount of conditioner on your skin and let it sit for a few minutes. Then using an exfoliator or loofah, gently rub your skin and exfoliate the dead cells with the exfoliator. 

10. Hydrogen Peroxide 

Hydrogen peroxide is a colorless liquid at room temperature with a bitter taste, so how to remove henna from the skin using this formula? is it safe?

Hydrogen Peroxide breaks the connection between skin cells, helping release the stuck henna dye more quickly. This chemical acts as a mild exfoliating agent that can work quite efficiently in removing the henna dye when repeated a couple of times. 

Make sure to use diluted hydrogen peroxide which is meant for cosmetic use. Apply a generous amount of the solution on your skin and repeat the process until the henna looks visibly light in color. 

11. Shave It

How to remove henna from the skin? umm.. shave it. What?!! Yes!!

Yes, shave it. Have you ever wondered why your skin appears so fresh and radiant after shaving? That’s because shaving removes the top layer of dead cells from your skin, unveiling new and luminous skin underneath. Therefore, this method can assist in eliminating your henna dye along with the dead cells.

However, when using a razor to remove henna, be gentle on your skin. Shave your skin in the usual gentle manner, and the henna should either come off or at least fade after each pass of the razor.

How To Remove Henna From The Skin: FAQ

Takeaway On How To Remove Henna From The Skin

As beautiful as henna appears on the skin, it can be quite stubborn to remove. There’s no single, foolproof method for quickly removing henna. However, the aforementioned methods can help expedite the process of fading henna color. Additionally, you won’t have to wait too long for the henna dye to naturally fade away, typically within three weeks (although daily showers can hasten the process).

If you experience an allergic reaction to henna, it’s advisable to seek assistance from a dermatologist rather than attempting to remove it on your own.

Nevertheless, while henna may not complement every outfit, it undeniably looks stylish. So, instead of immediately attempting to remove it, you might consider letting it stay for a couple of days. However, if you do need to remove henna, the aforementioned methods can certainly be of assistance.