Henna powder (Lawsonia inermis) is a natural plant dye, not a chemical colourant. It is bought by cosmetic formulators, hair-care brands and body-art suppliers who care about three things: fineness, dye strength and freedom from additives. This guide explains the terms you will see on a henna purchase order and how to specify a clean lot.
What is body-art quality (BAQ) henna?
Body-art quality is a market term for henna that is finely sieved and free of additives, so it produces a smooth paste and a clean dye release without grit. It is not a legal grade, so two suppliers can mean slightly different things by it. The way to remove ambiguity is to specify the sieve mesh and require an additive-free declaration on the COA.
Lawsone: the dye molecule
Lawsone is the naturally occurring compound in henna leaves responsible for the reddish-orange stain. A higher and well-preserved lawsone content generally correlates with stronger dye release. Because lawsone depends on crop conditions, harvest and how carefully the powder is milled and stored, it varies from lot to lot. Treat the COA as the source of truth for the batch you buy.
PPD-free and natural henna
Pure henna is naturally free of PPD (paraphenylenediamine). PPD is a synthetic additive associated with some “black henna” blends, and it is not present in natural Lawsonia inermis. If your market requires a PPD-free or additive-free declaration, we supply natural henna and state that status on the documentation. Natural henna dyes in the red-to-brown family; a true black requires a second step with natural indigo powder.
Forms, packaging and MOQ
| Attribute | What to specify |
|---|---|
| Sieve mesh | State the mesh number your process needs |
| Additive status | Additive-free / PPD-free declaration on COA |
| Packaging | Food or cosmetic-grade liners, lot-coded cartons |
| Shelf handling | Cool, dry, sealed to protect lawsone |
See current specifications for henna powder. Tell our export desk your target mesh, volume and destination for a quote.
Where is henna demand strongest?
The UAE and the wider Gulf, Morocco, the United States and EU cosmetics buyers are the main destinations for Indian henna. A.R.T International ships worldwide with a COA on every lot.
Frequently asked questions
What does body-art quality (BAQ) henna mean?
Body-art quality describes henna powder that is finely sieved and free of additives, so it releases a clean dye without grit. It is a market term rather than a legal grade, so confirm the sieve mesh and the additive-free status on the specification and COA.
Is your henna powder PPD-free?
Pure henna is naturally PPD-free. PPD is an additive found in some black henna blends, not in natural henna. We supply natural henna and state the additive-free status on the documentation.
What is lawsone and why does it matter?
Lawsone is the naturally occurring molecule in henna leaves responsible for the reddish dye. A higher, well-preserved lawsone content generally means stronger dye release. Levels vary by crop and processing, so confirm on the COA.
What sieve mesh and MOQ do you offer for henna?
We sieve to the buyer’s specified mesh and confirm MOQ by form and destination. Send your target mesh, volume and country and our export desk will quote.
Specifications vary by crop, season and grade. For current lot specifications, sennosides or lawsone levels, MOQ and pricing to your destination, ask our export desk for a live COA.