Proof has been found that henna (mehndi) has been used since early Egyptian times and was used to stain the fingers and toes of Pharoahs prior to mummification. Over 5000 years ago it was used as a cosmetic and for it’s healing power and has been a popular cultural practice ever since.
Henna tattooing is a unique phenomenon that is just beginning to see popularity in the United States. The practice is called “mehndi” in India, where brides and their bridal parties are “hennaed” before the wedding. The tradition is that the bride does not have to do any domestic work after the wedding day until after the tattoos have worn off completely. Indian girls look forward to this day with great anticipation. The bride’s entire party is adorned to indicate to the public that those women will be in the wedding party as well.
Mehendi (mehndi) is associated to lots of things - a good dark design is a sign of good luck for the marital couple. It is common for the names of the bride and groom to be hidden in the mehndi design and the wedding night cannot commence until the groom has found the names.
Not only used in India, henna tattoos are an important part of the marriage ceremony for the Swahili people of Kenya. Married women have their hands and feet decorated, but unmarried women can only adorn their hands, according to custom.
Henna has been used by tribes and cultures throughout the east and middle east for centuries. Each culture and tribe has developed their own style of artistic expression and their artwork identifies them, much like any art form identifies the culture from which it came, and the time period. Many resources are available on the internet and in books that describe these styles. Modern mehndi artists (especially American) are also adapting modern styles as well as tribal and Native American designs in their work.
Warning About Black Henna
Henna tattoos are naturally a dark red/orange/brown color (which can vary according to the henna supplier and region in which it is grown). If you are interested in a black tattoo, henna is not for you. So-called “black henna” is available but contains a battery acid known as PPD which is banned by the FDA and is very dangerous to skin. It will create blisters and burns and is extremely caustic. Do not purchase anything that claims to be black henna as it is still available in the United States.
There are hair dyes available in Indian markets that say they are black henna, but they are for hair and are not suitable for skin dying.
If you want a black tattoo, there are temporary body stains available that only last about a week, which are perfectly safe. Look for dyes that are made for airbrush tattoo work.
The Herb
The henna plant (Lawsonia Inermis) is generally grown in hot, dry climates like Sudan, India and other eastern countries. Henna has been known not only for it’s cosmetic uses, but also for medicinal uses. It is believed to be effective in treating certain types of cancer, muscle contractions, fungal infections, headaches and general anti-septic purposes. Henna was one of the first forms of cosmetics and was frequently used by women. The leaves are dried and pulverized to make a fine powder. The powder is then mixed with other activating ingredients and used immediately to make the best dye.
Henna can be easily obtained today in Indian grocery stores and over the internet. It is very inexpensive and the quality is very good. There are two grades of henna: hair henna and mehndi henna. Hair henna is of a lower quality and is sold for people who want to dye their hair with it. It is not suitable for skin dying because it is not strong enough. The hair takes dye a lot more easily than skin does so mehndi-quality henna is not necessary for hair dying. The color ranges from red to black (although beware of any hair dye that says it is black, it could contain battery acid which can injure skin and eyes).
When purchasing henna, be sure that it is mehndi henna. I like the brand “Mumtaz” which is approximately $1.95 per 100-gram box. This is enough henna to tattoo hundreds of people! Only purchase as much as you think you’re going to need, because you want to get it as fresh as possible. There are other brands and types available on the internet, which range in color from the beautiful chocolate brown of Mumtaz to a deep red (Iranian). The selection of henna depends on your experience and preference, and the clientele you have. For example, darker skin requires a more red (“scarlet”) henna, for African-American or Indian skin. For pale Caucasian skin, any henna will work.
Comparison of Styles
Arabic: large floral patterns placed on hands and feet.
Indian: fine line floral and paisley patterns covering entire hands and feet.
Sudanese: large bold floral patterns with geometric angles.
Tribal: primative basic shapes often depicting nature.
Celtic: large bands of repetitive and intertwining geometric shapes.
