WHAT? Many people around the world practice some type of body adornment as a cultural tradition or for self-expression. Henna or mendhi is a form of body art practiced in India, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia. It is made from the crushed leaves of the lawsonia inermis (henna) plant. The powder is mixed with a number of naturally staining ingredients. Dark aromatic teas, coffee, tamarind paste, lemon juice, pomegranate juice, crushed beets, tea tree, lavender and eucalyptus oils can be blended to make a paste the consistency of yogurt. This paste will leave a temporary design on the skin.  

WHERE? Parts of the body with good circulation are great places for henna. There are many nerve endings in our hands and feet and are the most common places to have henna applied. The cooling effect eucalyptus oil brings to the paste should leave you calm and relaxed.

WHO? Women and children have mendhi done before a celebration. In modern times, anyone can try this ancient form of body art for any occasion. Please make sure that you are not allergic to any of the ingredients in the paste before application.

WHEN? Henna is done for rites of passage. The mendhi is held a day or two prior to the ceremony to insure that the color is just right. The hands and/or feet are usually adorned.  It takes about 2 days for the henna to become a reddish-brown. Traditionally, a bride with mendhi is not to work until the color fully wears off.

WHY? Protection against evil, good luck, healing, pampering, and relaxation before the festivities begin, are some of the reasons why mendhi is done. In some cultures, marriages are arranged, and brides are anxious to know whom her husband will be. Cultural symbols are used to ask the ancestors for blessings. Certain patterns and designs are believed to bring fertility, happiness and other positive messages.

HOW? The paste can be applied many different ways. Traditional tools for application range from pastry cones made of cellophane or plastic to toothpicks and small sticks. Some artists now prefer to use a small squeeze bottle. Designs are done free hand or with a stencil. The top of the skin is adorned (like decorating a cake) and left to dry for approximately 10-30 minutes. Once the paste is dry, a mixture of lemon juice and sugar (1/2 a lemon for 1 tsp. of sugar) is dabbed on the design. The acid from the lemon helps the paste stain and the sugar keeps it on your skin until it is scraped off.

 

• It is ideal to do henna when it is warm. Heat helps the color develop much faster. If henna is done on a cold day, be sure to keep warm because it can lower your body temperature. The best time for henna is in the evening. The paste is left on over night with a wrapping of cotton tape. Plastic gloves or mittens on the hands and dark socks on the feet are worn while you sleep. This keeps the paste from crumbling off and making a mess. The heat produced by keeping warm will speed up the coloring process for the design to last longer.

• After you remove the paste, rub some olive oil over the design to set the color before you wash the area.

• Designs will last anywhere from 7 to 10 days with the first sign of fading after about a week.

• Henna color develops best on the hands and feet because we have more blood circulation there.

• Henna fades faster if you use hydrogen peroxide or hard soap.

• Designs that are done on the scalp, wrists, arms, legs, and backs appear lighter because there is less blood circulating to these areas.

• Henna does not take well to the face or chest. These parts of our body produce more oil and do not to stain well.

• Henna is natural, so children, pregnant mothers or anyone getting henna should not have side-effects-unless you are allergic to any of the ingredients.

• Once henna has come in contact for at least 15 minutes, a stain will appear. Henna stains almost anything porous that is light in color.