First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape up loose paste with a rounded spoon.
- Blot the liquid with a dry white cloth, working from the edges in.
- Pretest any remover on a hidden spot first.
- Don't put the item in the dryer while any stain shows.
Henna leaves a brown, orange-brown or reddish-brown tint, and it works like a hair dye, so it deserves that same respect. Plain henna is a plant coloring, but so-called black henna often contains PPD, a hair dye that can cause dangerous skin reactions. Whether the mark is on your skin or on something washable decides what comes next.
Wash the area with soap and water right away, since fresh tint lifts far more easily than dried stain. Henna on nails often lingers longer than on skin, so resist scrubbing hard. If the tint is on fabric instead, a prewash stain remover spray does most of the work.
6 items
What you'll need
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- Rounded spoonScrapes up paste without spreading it.
- Dry white clothBlots the liquid without adding color. (opens Amazon)
- Heavy-duty liquid detergentPretreats the stain before any bleach. (opens Amazon)
- All-fabric powdered bleachUsed for the dilute soak on washable fabric. (opens Amazon)
- Non-chlorine bleachAdded to the rewash of dye-transfer items. (opens Amazon)
- Non-gel toothpasteThe gentle option for stains on skin.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Pretreat with heavy-duty liquid detergent
Work heavy-duty liquid detergent into the stain on both sides of the fabric, moving from the edges toward the center. Then rinse the area thoroughly with water before you go on.
Tip. If you're unsure the fabric can take it, test the detergent on a hidden spot first.
Step 2 of 6
Soak in all-fabric powdered bleach
Soak the whole item in a dilute solution of all-fabric powdered bleach, mixed to the package directions. Bleach the whole garment, not just the spot, because bleach can change the fabric's color as well as the stain's.
Step 3 of 6
Rinse out every trace of bleach
Rinse the item thoroughly so no bleach stays in the fibers. Each product should be fully rinsed out before you use the next one.
Step 4 of 6
Wash hot with detergent
Wash the item in the hottest water the fabric can tolerate, with detergent. Dye stains respond best to hot water, so don't settle for a cool wash.
Step 5 of 6
Rewash any dye-transfer items fast
If the color bled onto other clothes in the wash, rewash those items as quickly as possible. Add 1 cup non-chlorine bleach to that wash.
Careful. Don't dry dye-transfer items before treating them.
Step 6 of 6
Check before you dry
Look at the spot in good light before the item goes near the dryer or an iron, because heat makes the stain more permanent.
Tip. If color remains, move on to the set-in options rather than repeating the same soak.
Careful. Don't machine-dry or iron while any stain shows.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for henna
Choose an all-fabric powdered bleach for the soak and a heavy-duty liquid detergent for pretreating. Check the label for color safety before you buy.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on these surfaces, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Henna on every material
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
The stain is gone when the spot looks the same as the rest of the fabric in good light, with no tint left after the wash. If there's any color left, don't dry the item yet, and go to the set-in options.
What changes for yours
Adjust for where the stain is
Hands
The skin on your hands responds to the same gentle option as any hair-dye stain on skin. Rub a little non-gel toothpaste into the stain, let it sit 5-10 minutes, then wipe it off with a cloth.
Work gently and skip the scrubbing, since skin can get irritated. If color remains, repeat the toothpaste step rather than reaching for bleach, which has no place on skin.
Nails
There's no reliable method specific to nails, so stick to the gentle option you'd use on skin. Rub a little non-gel toothpaste onto the nail, let it sit 5-10 minutes, then wipe it off.
Test the toothpaste on a small area of skin first. Don't use bleach or the fabric soaks on your nails, since those are made for clothes.
Face
Start with a patch test on a small area away from the eyes before you use anything. If it's clear, rub a little non-gel toothpaste into the stain, let it sit 5-10 minutes, and wipe it off gently.
Don't use bleach, ammonia or the fabric soaks on your face. If the stain doesn't lift after a few rounds, stop and leave it rather than trying harsher products.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old henna stain on washable fabric needs a longer soak, not a harder rub. Put the item in 1 quart warm water with 1/2 teaspoon liquid hand dishwashing detergent and 1 tablespoon ammonia diluted with an equal amount of water, and let it soak for 30 minutes. Blot the spot every 5 minutes so the loosened color lifts onto the cloth.
If the stain has set, expect to soak it repeatedly rather than just once. Rinse thoroughly between each product.
Once the stain has been through the dryer, it's much harder to lift. If it's still visible after the soaks, a chlorine bleach finish is the last option for white or colorfast fabric, used after everything is rinsed out and for no more than 15 minutes. Some stains won't come out completely, and stopping there protects the fabric, so a faint mark can be the realistic result.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on henna?
Plenty of home remedies circulate for henna, but most don't hold up on this stain. Here's where each one lands and why.
Helps2Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use chlorine bleach on wool, silk or spandex.
Chlorine bleach damages these fibers. It can also ruin colored garments that aren't colorfast, and that damage can't be reversed, so check the fabric before you start.
Don't mix your removers.
Chlorine bleach mixed with ammonia, vinegar or alcohol can give off hazardous fumes. If you need more than one product, rinse the item thoroughly between them.
Don't use ammonia at full strength on silk or wool.
Ammonia damages silk and wool. Dilute it with an equal amount of water and use it sparingly, or leave it out for delicate fabric.
Don't put black henna on your skin.
So-called black henna often contains PPD, a coal-tar hair dye that can cause dangerous skin reactions. If the skin blisters, itches or swells after contact, get medical help.
When to call a professional
If the item is silk, wool or another delicate fabric, or you're not sure what it's made of, a professional cleaner is the safer choice. Tell them it's a henna stain so they can choose a method that suits the fabric.
Questions
How does henna stain skin, and why might it not?
Henna is a plant-based coloring, and the paste leaves a brown, orange-brown or reddish-brown tint wherever it sits. If a paste doesn't color your skin at all, there's nothing to remove, and it's worth checking what's in the product since black henna can contain PPD.
How do I remove henna from washable fabric?
Pretreat with heavy-duty liquid detergent, then soak the whole item in a dilute all-fabric powdered bleach for up to 15 minutes and rinse it out. Wash in the hottest water the fabric allows, and check the spot before the dryer, since heat sets the stain.
How long do henna stains last and why do they darken?
There's no set timeline for how long a henna stain lasts on skin, so don't count on it fading on a schedule. What does change the result is handling: a stain left to dry or put through a dryer is much harder to lift.
Does black henna stain differently?
Black henna often contains PPD, so don't use the toothpaste step on it and don't rely on home treatments for skin. Treat any reaction as a medical concern, not a stain problem.
Is brow tint the same as henna?
Brow tint and henna can look alike, and the stain alone doesn't reliably tell them apart. Patch test first, then use the gentle toothpaste step on skin.
Can I use toothpaste on henna stains?
Yes, on skin non-gel toothpaste is the option that fits here: rub a little in, let it sit 5-10 minutes, then wipe it off. Skip lemon juice, vinegar and baking soda for henna.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.