Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Henna tattoo primary school

37 replies

CosyNavyLeader · 03/04/2025 10:58

My son's primary school are holding an Eid celebration tomorrow.

Part of the day involves the children having Henna Tattoos. Natural Henna.

Are they safe? I was always under the impression you should be wary with Henna tattoos. Not sure if it's black henna only or if natural Henna can be a bit iffy too.

Im just a bit shocked, I didn't think a primary school would risk doing something like this considering all the horror stories I've heard over the years.

Am I worrying for nothing?

I don't want to open a can of worms and ruin it for everyone without getting my facts straight.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
bostonchamps · 03/04/2025 18:34

Making Mother's Day cards/having a nativity/ sports day also aren't 'necessary' to education; how do you feel about those?

Mynewnameis · 03/04/2025 18:28

I'd bet my kid would react to it. I'd be having to say no.

nomas · 03/04/2025 18:26

CosyNavyLeader · 03/04/2025 11:33

It isn't compulsory. However my son wants one and I don't want him to be left out.

I'm just worrying over nothing it seems and wanted some clarification.

I do find it a bit unnecessary though if I'm honest.

Show quote history

Why? What’s wrong with celebrating lots of cultures? It’s not compulsory.

capybaraqueen · 03/04/2025 18:22

I've lived in the Middle East for almost 20 years and get henna very regularly, as does my DD, aged 11. It's a lovely part of the culture here and we love it. Never suffered from any issues, other than people often commenting on how lovely it is and asking for our salon details ❤️

Lellochip · 03/04/2025 17:35

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 03/04/2025 16:53

You can get allergic reactions to henna. Even delayed reactions.
Also, I believe that some henna is permanent.
I think I would probably avoid tbh...

Henna permanently stains the very top layer of skin. That skin is pretty quickly shed over a few days/couple of weeks, depending on where on the body it's done. Hands will not last as long as other places. It will never leave an actual permanent mark.

You're also incredibly unlikely to have an allergic reaction to normal henna - any stories you see of bad reactions are normally from places that use 'black henna' which is actually mixtures of chemical dyes, often PPD which is the thing that can trigger hair dye allergies

Smartiepants79 · 03/04/2025 17:24

Of course it’s not ‘necessary’. Most of the most memorable parts of school are not necessary.
They are just a lovely addition that make their school experience exciting and broad.
The celebrations sound great. How lucky your child is.

GoatCatTaco · 03/04/2025 17:18

Interesting responses.
At a school in the middle east we banned henna at school events, due to issues with reactions.
Maybe that was something to do with (lack of) controls regarding what was actually in products.
But from that experience, I'd say no.

Nina1013 · 03/04/2025 17:13

My daughter had one done as part of what sounds like similar celebrations. She’s over the moon with it and it’s very pretty!

edwinbear · 03/04/2025 17:10

I think this is a lovely thing to do at the end of a school term, to mark a celebration that will be really important to some of the children. I would imagine school have been really careful about the henna they're going to be using. I'd have no issue with it and would be excited to see it once he got home.

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 03/04/2025 16:53

You can get allergic reactions to henna. Even delayed reactions.
Also, I believe that some henna is permanent.
I think I would probably avoid tbh...

verycloakanddaggers · 03/04/2025 16:48

CosyNavyLeader · 03/04/2025 11:33

It isn't compulsory. However my son wants one and I don't want him to be left out.

I'm just worrying over nothing it seems and wanted some clarification.

I do find it a bit unnecessary though if I'm honest.

Show quote history

Loads of things are unnecessary but fun or interesting.

What's your issue with this - I don't see the downside.

SwanOfThoseThings · 03/04/2025 16:44

It will be mehndi henna which is a pure, high grade henna produced for skin tattoos.

Rumplestrumpet · 03/04/2025 16:37

Eid was Sunday - Tuesday this week and many kids who celebrate will have been off school, so it makes sense to celebrate at the end of the week.

It's lovely your child is having this experience - and nice that the mums are sharing their henna talents for the others to enjoy. I'm sure the kids will have fun

WeeOrcadian · 03/04/2025 16:32

Slightly off topic - why an Did celebration now, Eid was last weekend....

And yes, black henna is the one to worry about, I believe it's usually mixed with chemicals similar to those found in hair dye, hence the reactions to it. Standard henna should be fine.

ItGhoul · 03/04/2025 16:24

I do find it a bit unnecessary though if I'm honest

Primary school would be a miserable place for kids if they only did things that were necessary.

It's useful for children to learn about major world religions and cultures, and doing so has been a part of the primary school curriculum for many, many decades. No, they don't need to have henna tattoos to learn about Islam and Eid, but it's a good way of making it interesting and fun for them.

FWIW, I'm not a Christian but I used to enjoy getting a cross drawn on my forehead on Ash Wednesday when I was a child. I'd have LOVED to get henna.

pimplebum · 03/04/2025 15:36

If you don’t trust your kid’s primary school not to put dangerous stuff on your kid’s skin then I think you have bigger problems with the school!

Bit of a dramatic assumption!

but you were worried it was dangerous so you did not trust the school ??

BallerinaRadio · 03/04/2025 15:33

How many horror stories have you heard 'over the years' I can't recall hearing one tbh

FrippEnos · 03/04/2025 15:31

Its probably part of the PSHE curriculum that they have put together due to it being close to Eid.

StevesSleeve · 03/04/2025 15:27

I’ve seen this sort of event lots of times over the years. It will probably be a group of mothers doing it. They will know what they are doing.

Those black henna tattoos are side of the road holiday things rather than parents celebrating a religious festival.

HarryVanderspeigle · 03/04/2025 13:47

Real henna allergy is very rare. People tend to have reactions to the black one as anything could be added.

Ffion56 · 03/04/2025 12:01

It’s very unlikely to be black henna.

Lots of the children this year seem to have temporary tattoos instead, so wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what they’re using. Just ask to see the ingredients/ the packet and say your child sometimes reacts to stuff. Then make a decision based on that.

Original poster
CosyNavyLeader · 03/04/2025 11:58

Starlight1984 · 03/04/2025 11:54

Re the henna, I wouldn't worry. A school wouldn't be allowed to do something like that unless it was safe!

I guessed as much but you never know! Always better to ask.

OP posts:
Starlight1984 · 03/04/2025 11:54

Re the henna, I wouldn't worry. A school wouldn't be allowed to do something like that unless it was safe!

Starlight1984 · 03/04/2025 11:54

CosyNavyLeader · 03/04/2025 11:52

It was randomly generated for me. Not my choice. But I couldn't be bothered to think up my own one 😂

Show quote history

Aaaaaah ok that's fine then - I was worried we were being infiltrated 😂

Original poster
CosyNavyLeader · 03/04/2025 11:52

Starlight1984 · 03/04/2025 11:45

Is anybody else noticing some of these usernames that seem to all be very similar at the moment?

CosyNavyLeader on here, AmpleDenimDreamer on another thread, GutsyPeachExpert yesterday.....

There were a few earlier in the week which were the same setup (description, colour, noun)

Something seems a bit off.....

It was randomly generated for me. Not my choice. But I couldn't be bothered to think up my own one 😂

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread