The application process is somewhat similar, but the result and the chemistry are different.
Traditional henna is made from the Lawsonia inermis plant. When applied to the skin, it stains it a warm reddish-brown colour. It develops slowly and often requires time, warmth, and some aftercare to reach its full depth. Henna has been used for centuries in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, usually in detailed, ornamental designs.
stain., on the other hand, uses jagua as its active staining ingredient. Jagua grows in the Colombian rainforest and its staining properties have long been used by local communities in the region. Unlike henna, jagua stains the skin a deep blue-black. The mark develops through oxidation over 24–48 hours, starting off nearly invisible and then gradually appearing and darkening.
There is no other fruit quite like it – jagua is unique in its ability to stain the skin in the colour it does, which is why it is the active ingredient used in almost all temporary tattoos.
