Experts Reveal Exactly How To Remove Henna Dye From Skin - Byrdie

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Search Search Close search 12 Ways to Remove Henna Dye From Your Skin, According to Derms By Melanie Rud

person on black background wearing black clothing posing for the camera

Melanie Rud Melanie Rud is a beauty writer with over 15 years of editorial experience, known for her expertise in skincare and product research. At Byrdie, she covers a range of beauty and lifestyle topics—especially gift guides—and personally tests the products she features. Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 11, 2025 03:00PM Reviewed by Cozmo Faris

Reviewed by Cozmo Faris

Cozmo Faris is a professional piercer with more than 12 years of experience who teaches for the Association of Professional Piercers.

About Byrdie's Beauty & Wellness Board Professional Piercer Close

A model with dark floral henna designs on the hands. — Byrdie

Henna tattoos are the perfect, non-committal way to try out some skin ink. The plant-based and natural henna paste temporarily stains the skin for anywhere from two to four weeks, but what if you want to get rid of it sooner?

"The dye in the henna, a molecule called lawsone, binds to the keratin of your skin," explains board-certified dermatologist Marie Hayag, MD, founder of 5th Avenue Aesthetics in New York City. Because of this binding, it's difficult to remove the henna completely in one go. "There is no solution for removing all of the pigment from the dye all at once, but it can be faded relatively quickly," says Dr. Hayag.

Henna tattoos usually fade on their own as a result of our skin's natural renewal process, but you can speed up the process with a few techniques. We spoke to Dr. Hayag, along with board-certified dermatologists Oeyka Obioha, MD, Paul Curtiss, MD, and Sheila Farhang, MD, for their top henna removal tips. Keep reading for the 12 best methods for removing henna dye from the skin.

Meet the Experts

Marie Hayag, MD, is the founder of 5th Avenue Aesthetics in New York City.
Oneyka Obioha, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles.
Paul Curtiss, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist with U.S. Dermatology Partners Carrollton.
Sheila Farhang, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Avant Dermatology & Aesthetics in Tucson, Arizona.

01 of 12

Wash With Antibacterial Soap

Don't overlook this straightforward solution. "Simply using soap and water to wash the area that's covered in the henna will help effectively fade the color," says Dr. Hayag. That being said, it may be the easiest fix, but there are a few important things to keep in mind. One, opt for antibacterial soap, as it generally contains a higher alcohol content that will help remove the dye molecules more effectively. Two, this can be admittedly very drying for the skin, so make sure you're moisturizing immediately after each wash, Dr. Hayag adds.

Byrdie Tip

While this method works for henna stains anywhere on the body, it can be very drying and may be best reserved for the hands while gentler removal methods are better options for the forehead or around the hairline.

02 of 12

Try Micellar Water

"Micellar water has been shown to help pull out the color from the skin," says Dr. Farhang. Apply some to a washcloth, then gently rub it across the henna to further up its removal efficacy, notes Dr. Hayag.

Dr. Obioha is also a fan of micellar water, particularly if you have sensitive skin. Because micellar water is so gentle, you can easily and safely use this technique anywhere on your face or body.

03 of 12

Reach for Oils

Dr. Hayag says that using baby oil or coconut oil on your henna could help it fade. Like micellar water, these oils help pull out the dye and fade the overall color. She suggests leaving an even coating of either oil on the henna-stained area for 10-20 minutes before washing it off. Because this won't strip or dry out the skin, you can use it anywhere, including your hairline or forehead.

Byrdie Tip

Both baby oil and coconut oil have the potential to clog pores. So, if you are using it on your face, you'll want to make sure to not just rinse it off after but thoroughly wash it off with a cleanser or double-cleansing technique so that there's no residue left behind.

04 of 12

Exfoliate With a Scrub

Rather than trying to wash off the henna, you can try to scrub it off. However, exactly how you exfoliate and the products you choose are largely dependent on the area where the henna is.

When you're dealing with henna on your hands or elsewhere on the body, you can call in some more heavy-duty mechanical scrubs, such as salt- or sugar-based options. (Because the skin isn't as delicate as on the face, it can handle some more intense exfoliation.) Keep in mind, too, that the skin on the palms will actually exfoliate more quickly, says Dr. Farhang, meaning even a couple of sloughing sessions should be enough to make a noticeable difference, at least for your hands.

05 of 12

Shave It Away

"Shaving acts as a mechanical exfoliator, whereby layers of dead skin cells are shaved off with each pass," Dr. Curtiss says. The important thing to note, however, is that just shaving, as usual, can help remove the dye. There's no need to use a stronger hand or try to bear down on the skin, which could be very dangerous.

06 of 12

Slough It Away With a Washcloth

Similar to shaving, an abrasive cleansing cloth, exfoliating mitt, or loofa can help slough away the dyed skin cells on the surface. The trick is to soften the skin beforehand with a good steam and gently scrub at the desired area. The key word is gentle! Any heavy-handed use of mechanical exfoliators can cause irritation, rashes, or even bruising.

07 of 12

Try a Chemical Exfoliant

For areas on the face or along your hairline, Dr. Obioha suggests looking for chemical exfoliants. She likes Alpha H's Micro Super Scrub which relies on a 12% concentration of glycolic acid and gentle jojoba beads for mild physical exfoliation but also includes hydrating oils. "It gently dissolves the henna without causing irritation," she says.

Dr. Farhang's choice, SkinMedica's AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, blends a combination of exfoliating alpha-hydroxy acids and beta-hydroxy acids and is her favorite for the face. It's pricey, yes, but keep in mind that both of these options are great to use as part of your regular skincare routine and don't need to be reserved only for henna removal purposes.

08 of 12

Add Baking Soda

As Dr. Curtiss explains, henna is different from other dyes. "Henna stains keratinocytes from higher up in the skin essentially permanently," he says, "Importantly, this differs from other tattoo dyes, which are much deeper, embedded in the dermis, which your body doesn't continuously shed regularly, and are much more permanent."

In other words, even some at-home, over-the-counter products can remove the dye. Enter baking soda, which can be mixed into warm water to form a paste, slathered on the skin, and then gently removed.

09 of 12

Turn to Whitening Toothpaste

"Many whitening kinds of toothpaste, which often contain hydrogen peroxide, can be used to assist in exfoliating skin cells," Dr. Curtiss says. Use the toothpaste similarly to how you would use a scrub.

10 of 12

Use Lemon Juice

According to Dr. Curtiss, "lemon juice, sometimes mixed with sugar, has been used in scrubs to help mechanically exfoliate skin cells. This can similarly be used to remove dead skin cells more quickly."

11 of 12

Do a Salt-Water Soak

"Soaking the skin in salty or warm water can help remove dead skin cells, or alternatively, using a salt-water scrub can help remove dead layers of skin cells more quickly," says Dr. Curtiss. Just mix one cup of water with around a teaspoon of salt and allow it to dissolve before soaking the area of your skin containing the dye.

12 of 12

Apply Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can be swiped over the skin to help remove henna. Dr. Curtiss says it "acts as a mild exfoliating agent, weakens the connection between skin cells, and can be used to help remove the embedded henna dye more quickly."

The Final Takeaway

Henna dye is long-lasting and tough to remove. There's no surefire way to completely remove it from your skin in its entirety immediately, but trying these methods can go a long way towards helping to speed up the pigment fading process.

"Importantly, just soap and water or bathing can help remove layers of dead skin cells," Dr. Curtiss says. "And most forms of basic washing will facilitate the removal of the henna tattoo. None of the above interventions will remove the dye from the skin cells, but rather just facilitate the natural removal of the top layer of skin cells."