Hair dyes, henna & straighteners
"Black henna"
Banned in European Union, United Kingdom, United States and Canada; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
Why it matters
High PPD levels on skin can cause blistering, scarring and lifelong sensitisation to hair dyes and other chemicals.
What to look for on the label
Sold as black henna or henna tattoos. Real henna is orange-brown, never jet black.
Full name: "Black henna" (PPD applied to skin)
Country by country
Around the worldBanned in European Union, United Kingdom, United States and Canada; not specifically regulated in Nigeria.
Why: High PPD levels on skin can cause blistering, scarring and lifelong sensitisation to hair dyes and other chemicals.
| Place | Status |
|---|---|
| Nigeria | no specific ruleNo henna or skin-PPD rule found in NAFDAC labelling, bleaching-agent or registration rules. |
| European Union | bannedPPD allowed only in hair and eyelash dyes (Annex III), so skin products are non-compliant. |
| United Kingdom | bannedPPD permitted only in hair and eyelash dye products; labels must warn about black henna. |
| United States | bannedFDA: PPD not permitted in cosmetics for skin; henna approved only for hair; import alert in force. |
| Canada | bannedHotlist: PPD not permitted in products intended for use on the skin. |
Sources: NAFDAC cosmetics registration guidelines · Annex III 8a via CosIng Checker (secondary) · UK Cosmetics Regulation Annex III · FDA: Temporary Tattoos, Henna and Black Henna · Health Canada Hotlist (2025-08-13) via CosIng Checker (secondary). Checked 2026-10-19; rules change, so check the regulator before relying on it.
Is it in your product?
Paste the ingredient list, scan the barcode or read it from a photo. The check flags "black henna" and anything else worth knowing.
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Education, not legal advice. Rules change: check with your country's regulator before relying on this.