Get Ready to Re—Enter The Hell That is Henna Freckles

Freckles seem to constantly be falling in and out of fashion, but it seems that every summer there is some new way to give yourself freckles and look a little bit more sun-kissed. One of the most popular freckle faking methods being henna, a dye from India used to color skin and hair and draw semi-permanent tattoos. As summer approaches, so does the desire for freckles and the temptation to use henna.

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You probably shouldn’t DIY your henna freckles, though—unless you’re pretty experienced with henna as a medium. In what is now internet history, Youtuber Naomi Jon shared her own henna freckle horror show last year when her freckles came out quite a bit harsher than expected. Her fail led to the rest of the internet (really just Youtube “henna freckles” because there’s a lot), including internet goddess Jenna Marbles, trying the trend and many people coming to the common consensus—henna freckles are harder than they look.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrLWS8SBXUI

Henna, being a dye, is a pretty finicky substance to work with. According to henna distributor, Beachcombers, even artists who use the dye regularly encounter issues with their henna. As with all dyes, henna gets darker the longer it sits, making it a finicky substance to work with and manage. If you use it, you best be ready to keep a close eye on the clock and do a few arm tests in advance. Or, you know—get some permanent freckles from a tattoo artist.