Lab Tests & Sourcing
Every batch of our henna, indigo, and Ayurvedic powders is tested and sourced with the kind of transparency we'd want as customers ourselves. This page explains exactly how we do it — and what we will (and won't) put in our products.
What's NOT in Our Products
Henna Cosmetics products contain zero of the following:
- PPD (para-phenylenediamine) — the synthetic chemical responsible for "black henna" allergic reactions, including scalp burns and permanent skin sensitization.
- Metallic salts — used in "compound henna" to alter color, but unsafe when combined with chemical dye or peroxide.
- Picric acid, pyrogallol, or other dye boosters sometimes found in cheap mass-market henna.
- Ammonia, peroxide, resorcinol — the harsh chemicals in conventional box dyes.
- Synthetic fragrance, parabens, sulfates, or fillers of any kind.
What IS in Our Products
Our hair dyes are 100% plant powders — pure henna (Lawsonia inermis), pure indigo (Indigofera tinctoria), and Ayurvedic herbs (amla, brahmi, bhringraj, neem, cassia) depending on the blend. Every ingredient is listed in plain English on the product page. No hidden anything.
How We Source
- Henna: Sourced from select farms in Rajasthan, India, the region known for the highest natural lawsone content (the dye molecule in henna).
- Indigo: Sourced from South India, harvested at peak potency for true blue-black yield.
- Ayurvedic herbs: Sourced from regions of India where each plant grows traditionally — amla from Uttar Pradesh, brahmi from Kerala, bhringraj from the Western Ghats.
- All powders are triple-sifted for smooth application and freshness-dated upon import.
How We Test
Every shipment of raw powder we receive is subjected to multiple checks before it ever reaches our packaging line:
- Visual and aromatic inspection — confirming color, texture, and the distinctive plant scent that signals freshness.
- Solvent / contaminant screening — independent third-party laboratory testing for synthetic dye residues including PPD, picric acid, and metallic salts (lead, copper, iron).
- Microbial testing — ensuring the product is safe for topical/scalp application.
- Strand-test color verification — every batch is dye-tested on hair samples before approval, so the color you receive matches the color we promise.
Certificates of Analysis (COAs)
If you'd like to request a specific product's COA, please email contact@purahenna.com with the product you purchased or are interested on and we'll send it to you directly.
For Stylists & Salons
If your stylist is hesitant to color over henna, that hesitation is almost always rooted in past experience with compound henna — cheap products bulked up with metallic salts. When a stylist tries to bleach or process over compound henna, the metallic salts can react violently with peroxide and damage the hair.
Our henna contains no metallic salts. Show your stylist this page (or print the COA we send you) and ask them to do a small strand test before any chemical service. This is the standard safe practice for any post-henna coloring.
Why We Started This Company
Henna Cosmetics began as Pura Henna in the mid-2010s. We started because every "natural" hair dye we tried as customers either contained hidden chemicals, ran in the shower, or wouldn't cover gray. We built the brand we wished existed — one that we'd put on our own family's hair without thinking twice. Every batch we sell, we use ourselves.
Questions, Concerns, or Curiosity?
We answer every email. If you want to know more about how a specific product is made, where it was sourced, or how to interpret a lab report, write to us at contact@purahenna.com.