Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the
1990s, where they are sometimes called henna tattoos. Henna is typically
applied during special occasions like weddings and Muslim Festivals such as
Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. Similarly in Hindu festivals like Karva Chauth,
Diwali, Bhaidooj and Teej.
In some Hindu festivals, every woman tries to have Henna
done on her hands and feet. It is usually drawn on the palms and feet, where
the color will be darkest because the skin contains higher levels of keratin
which binds temporarily to lawsone, the colorant of henna. Henna was originally
used as a form of decoration mainly for brides.
Below you will find an incredible HeNNa ART FAQ along with
some additional information on the mehndi. Enjoy!
Q: What is Henna?
Answer:
At the simplest, Henna is a paste made out of crushed leaves
and twigs of henna plant. The paste can also be made from dried leaves of the
plant by mixing it with hot water. When this paste is applied in skin (just
like writing from a marker) and left for few hours, it leaves orange to dark
maroon stain in the skin which fades away in 7 to 14 days.
In detail:
Henna is a plant (bionomial name - Lawsonia inermis) found
and grown in South Asian and North African countries. It is used since ancient
time to color skin, hair, fingernails, leather, and wool. The name Henna is
also used for dye or paste derived from the leaves of the plant, and for the
art of temporary tattooing from those paste.
The English name "henna" comes from the Arabic حــنــا, pronounced ħinnā.
Q: I also see word Mehndi or Mehandi is used very often with
henna. What is it?
Answer:
Mehndi is term used for application of henna as a temporary
skin decoration in south Asia as well as India. The art of mehndi (or mehandi)
has been a long-standing tradition stemming from many ancient cultures but is
mostly known today for its history and prevelance in India.
Q: How long it takes to apply henna body art?
Answer:
It depends on the intricacy of design and expertise of the
henna artist. For me, a simple palm size design takes 5 to 8 minutes. Henna
design on hands of a bride may take anywhere from one hour to two hours. After
henna is applied, the paste dries of in 5-10 minutes. We spray lemon and sugar
juice to moist the paste again so that it gets good color to the skin.
Q: How is henna applied?
Answer:
Henna paste is applied in skin just like you are writing in
your skin from a marker. The henna paste is like toothpaste (dark brown in
color though). Various videos on how henna is applied is here:
http://hennaarts.com/videos
Q: How much it costs to get henna tattoo?
Answer:
Henna application is work of art so there is no set pricing
for it. It depends on size and intricacy of design which ultimately boils down
to how much time it takes.
A simple design starts from $10 and can go upto $100 for
elborated bridal henna. For more accurate pricing please contact us.
Q: What care I need to provide after applying henna? Would I
be able to do my normal activities?
Answer:
Henna paste is moist when applied. After application, you
need to keep that body part away from any obstructions so that it doesn't smear
the design.
The paste dries in 5 to 10 minutes. We spray mix of lemon
and sugar juice on the design so that it can get better stain. It takes 5
minutes to dry again.
There is no extra care needed from your side. You can do
your normal work and move the body parts as usual. For best color we prefer
that paste is left ON the skin as long as you can. Once it is dried, it starts
flaking off automatically and it does not stain the dry cloth.
Q: How long I have to keep the henna paste on?
Answer:
Henna paste dries in 5 to 10 minutes. For best color we
recommend you get henna done in the evening so that you can go to bed with
paste on. This will give you the best color when you wake up in the morning.
The paste flakes off slowly but dry paste does not stain the bed sheet. In the
morning you scrub off the remaining paste and take a shower.
Q: How long the henna color stays? How to keep the henna
color dark for long time?
Answer:
Typically henna color fades in one to three weeks depending
on your skin and how much you wash the part where henna is applied. For
longevity of henna color, we suggest less washing of the body part where henna
is applied and less use of soap.
Q: Is henna safe?
Answer:
We use completely natural henna (henna dried leaves mixed
with hot water or some natural oils) which is completely safe for all type of
skins. We have applied henna designs on thousands of people of all ages and
have received no complaints.
Our henna paste is made of henna leaves and some traces of
eucalyptus and clove oil. If you are allergic to eucalyptus oil, we advise not
to get henna.
If you are buying henna from market, please make sure you
get proper information regarding it's origin and contains.
Q: Can I get black or other color from Henna tattoo?
Answer:
Henna is never black. When someone says they do henna which
will produce black color, just turn around and run away. It is most likely they
are using some chemical additive which may be harmful to your skin. Natural
henna produces orange to dark maroon stain. The darkness depends on your skin,
the body part where henna is applied, quality of henna and care you provide.
Most likely black henna is produced by adding chemicals (like PPD) to dye hair
or other objects. It is never safe for skin. Please be wary of places offering
black henna.
Q: Is henna applied in palm and foot only?
Answer:
Traditionally mehndi is applied in hand and feet of women
(and men in some communities) for special occasions like wedding. Now-a-days
with modern trend it is applied anywhere in the body depending on your test and
need.
Q: I had henna tattoo in my back but it was not very dark.
How do I get dark color?
Answer:
How dark henna color you will get depends on various
factors. First of all the body part - henna gives best color in palm. We have
seen good color in ankles too.
In rest of the body part it depends on your skin and warmth
of body and also on the quality of henna paste. We have seen that same henna
applied in the same body part of two person produce different color.
If you are willing to do some extra work, you can get better
color. Keep the henna paste moist for at least one hour by applying lemon and
sugar mix.
Wrap the henna paste with cloth or plastic so that it keeps
the warmth inside and body seeps the color from paste. For longevity avoid
washing that part very often and avoid using soap.
Q: Why henna is called tattoo?
Answer:
There is always debate why henna is called tattoo.
Personally, I do not think Henna has been legally termed as tattoo.
In old days in addition to ornaments on special occasions
like wedding, henna was used for body decoration. With globalization, in late
90s, it got popularity in western countries when various celebrities (like
Madonna) used henna decoration on their performances.
Since then, it is becoming fashion trend and people are
using henna designs just for fun. Since both permanent tattoo and henna are
applied in skin for decoration, now it is termed as henna tattoo. But, be
assured, it has no relation with permanent tattoo and gets off your skin in few
days to couple of weeks.
Q: What is the significance of henna. Why should I get
henna?
Answer:
Henna has been used to adorn young women's bodies as part of
social and holiday celebrations since the late Bronze Age in the eastern
Mediterranean. Henna was regarded as having "Barakah," blessings, and
was applied for luck as well as joy and beauty. It is a divine experience to
adorn your body by henna.
There are various stories and folk lores. In India if bride
gets good dark stain color, it is said that her mother-in-law will love her a
lot :).
Well, I will not rely on such stories to get my next henna
done.
