Is Henna safe in cosmetics?
Henna has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: restricted.
Moderate
Cosmetic Ingredient
Henna
INCI: HENNA (LAWSONIA INERMIS)
Henna (CAS 83-72-7 (lawsone / 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone); 84988-66-9 (plant extract)) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Hair dyeing, skin conditioning, bulking. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database.
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
CAS Number
83-72-7 (lawsone / 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone); 84988-66-9 (plant extract)
View industrial chemical safety profile →
Function
Hair dyeing, skin conditioning, bulking
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
US US Status
restricted
US Notes
Restricted under 21 CFR 73.2190: permitted only for hair dyeing; FDA does not approve henna for direct skin application (e.g., mehndi body art)
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Henna.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Additional Ingredient Properties
1 property record from structured ingredient metadata.
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "yes", "biodegradation_days": "28-60", "bioaccumulative": "no", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "low", "coral_reef_safe": "yes", "marine_toxicity": "very low toxicity", "freshwater_toxicity": "minimal impact", "endocrine_disruptor": "no", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "no", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", "eu_restricted_environmental": "no", "palm_…
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Henna.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Henna allowed in the EU?
Henna EU regulatory status: restricted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Henna do in cosmetics?
Henna functions as: Hair dyeing, skin conditioning, bulking. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 83-72-7 (lawsone / 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone); 84988-66-9 (plant extract).
Compliance Tools
Check Henna compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
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