What's the difference between jagua and henna?
In this blog post we will show you the difference between our inkster gel, which is made from the jagua fruit, and the henna paste, which is made from the crushed leaves and stalks of the henna bush.
The important things first! Here's a little summary so you know all the facts:
Jagua Fruit:
Native to South America and the Amazon region
The color result is black-dark bluish and looks like a real tattoo
Should be left on the skin for at least 90 minutes
The ink is absorbed into the first layer of the skin (epidermis). As skin breathes, the ink oxidizes, turning your skin black.
After washing off, Jagua tattoo is barely visible but will develop over the next 24-36 hours.
The Jagua tattoo is visible on the skin for up to 2 weeks.
The peculiarity of Inkster is the composition of the natural tattoo gel. The exact ratio of each ingredient, down to the milligram, gives Inkster the unique bright black color that develops on your skin.
It's not as simple as, "why don't you mix up some jagua fruit and vegan xanthan gum and get your natural 2 week tattoo".
We spent a lot of time and energy figuring out this one composition and the proportions of the different substances to give you your unique experience with our natural 2 week tattoos.
Other special features of Inkster are that it is easy to apply, is waterproof immediately after application and you can easily take a shower or even go to the sauna.
A little tip: A visit to the sauna causes your natural 2-week tattoo to develop even faster and become blacker, as your skin opens up additional pores in the sauna.
Henna Bush:
Native to India, Africa and the Middle East
The color result is reddish-brown
Should be left on the skin for at least 5 hours and ideally 8 hours
The henna color penetrates the first layer of the skin (epidermis).
Henna tattoos should be protected from water for at least 24 hours for best results.
The henna tattoo develops within 24-48 hours and is visible on the skin for up to 2 weeks.
If you want a reddish-brown color result, henna is the right choice for you. However, you should be aware that you will need to allow plenty of time for optimal color results as henna develops over a much longer period than Inkster's natural 2 week tattoo.
IMPORTANT: There is no black henna!
Avoid applying black henna to your skin at all costs!
Black henna contains para-phenylenediamine (PPD). This substance is commonly used in hair dye and in most cases causes severe skin irritation and in extreme cases can cause severe scarring.
Unlike natural henna and the jagua fruit, black henna is not recommended to be applied to the skin.