Why the Colour Starts Long Before the Cone
Henna dye, lawsone, binds to the keratin protein in the outermost layer of your skin. The richer that layer, the deeper the molecule penetrates, and the darker the stain. Skin that is dehydrated, exfoliated too aggressively, or stripped by harsh soaps has a thinner, less receptive keratin layer. The mehendi artist can do everything right, and the colour will still come out a pale orange by the next afternoon.
