TikTok viral ‘henna freckles’ done by white creators are a problem, say South Asians
- Henna, a dye, traditionally applied to the hands and feet, has grown in popularity on sites like TikTok, where people are using it to create freckles
- South Asians say henna is only seen as ‘cool’ now because it’s used by white people. One says she used to be called names for the henna on her hands and feet
Henna is a plant-based dye that many cultures in different continents have used as a form of body art for millennia.
Over the past two years, a seemingly new use for henna has blown up on TikTok – users of the short-video social media platform are using it to draw semi-permanent freckles on their faces.
Some South Asian creators on the app have spoken out against the trend, calling it an act of cultural appropriation. While various Middle Eastern, Asian and African cultures use henna, creators belonging to these cultures argue the trend pushes white, Eurocentric beauty standards that misuse henna and ignore its cultural value.
More broadly, some South Asian creators and experts say the trend reinforces a structure of racism that has developed on social media, saying they feel ignored by apps that platform white creators who do not give credit for ideas for content or trends that people of colour originally introduced.