Henna Tattoo

by: Aysha Patel & Jenelle Wallace

What is Henna Tattoo?

Henna tattoos (also known as just henna, henna, mehndi or mehandi) is a form of body art that started in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southern Asia roughly 5000 years ago. The term "Henna" is the Arabic name for the plant the dye comes from, Lawsonia Inermis. Henna tattoos are temporary, only dying or staining the top dead layers of skin. It can last anywhere between 1-3 weeks depending on its placement and care. Henna is applied starting as a paste, which then stains the skin over several hours. Application of henna involves no needles, instead henna is applied using applicator bottles, syringes (not puncturing the skin), or cones. Natural henna stains only as a reddish-brown, so beware of anything labeled as "black henna" or "colored henna".

Henna: Lawsonia Inermis

Henna is a small tree; the word for the art form is the same as the word for the plant . Henna traditions in North and East Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Henna produces a burgundy dye molecule, lawsone, primarily concentrated in the leaves. This molecule bonds with keratin (protein) used to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather, silk and wool.

Preparation of Henna Paste

Whole, unbroken henna leaves will not stain the skin. Henna only stains when lawsone molecules are released from the henna leaf.

Fresh henna leaves will stain the skin if they are smashed with a mildly acidic liquid.

Fresh body art quality henna powder

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Add enough lemon juice to make a paste about as thick as mashed potatoes

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Cover the paste with plastic and let it sit for 12 hours at 70F

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HENNA PASTE

Learn more about mixing henna at http://www.hennapage.com/henna/how/mix.html

Henna is commercially cultivated in India Pakistan Afghanistan

Iran
Henna plants like heat and drought and will only grow where the minimum temperature is above 60 F

Sudan Bangladesh Yemen

Morocco
Egypt

Henna stains range from pale orange to nearly black. Fresh henna from hot, dry climates makes the darkest stains.

According to different cultural background mehndi (henna) can be divided into several types. Most famous types of mehndi designs are Pakistani, Arabic, Indian and African. Designs from these diverse regions can

easily be differentiated. Here are their of design.

Here are their individual features that will help you in identifying the type of design ;.

Pakistani Henna Design

Pakistani henna designs are a merger of complex versions of Arabic and Indian henna designs. These designs are also much detailed and are worn by brides on henna, wedding. Even children wear simple version of these henna designs on Eid festival.

Indian Henna Design

Indian Henna are the most popular designs and are very diverse. They range from simple designs to complex. Simple designs have a big dot or a figure in back of hand (dorsal) or in the center of palm. Finger tips are also covered by henna. This design is very easy and can easily be mastered by armatures. After some practice this design wont take you more than a couple of minutes. Moving towards complex henna patterns we see highly detailed and fine designs. Such designs are sketched on important occasions like wedding, nikka etc. Such designs are hard to master and they can take hours just to finish one hands design. Mostly such henna designs are worn by Brides

Arabic Henna Designs

Compared with the complex Indian henna designs, Arabic designs are much simpler. Arabic designs mostly consist of leaves, veins, flowers etc. These designs are perfect candidate if you want to extend the design from hand to arm or from foot to leg. Another distinguishing feature of Arabic designs is that the shapes are not filled, they are just outlines. These designs also partially cover your hands or feet. These designs consume less amount of mehndi and are easily dried which means that you dont have to wait!

African Henna Designs

Just like the Arabic counterparts these mehndi designs are also not filled. These designs are simple geometric shapes, consisting on lines, squares and dots. The space between the lines is not as much as that of Arabic designs. These designs cover your hands, arms like a fine mesh.

Pregnancy, Baby showers and Blessing ways

Henna during pregnancy is an ancient practice and is soothing as well as calming. It is believed to help bring about an easy birth and healthy child. A fun twist on tradition; applying the henna directly to the belly!

How to Apply Henna

You can apply henna with many different tools such as: Fine brush Syringe Mylar cone Carrot bag with tip

Learn more about applying henna at http://www.hennapage.com/henna/how/apply.html

Henna: Staining Skin

The thicker the layer of skin, the more lawsone will be allowed penetrate resulting in darker and longer-lasting stains. Henna creates the darkest stain on which part(s) of the body? Steaming or warming the henna pattern will darken the stain. Henna stains appear to fade away in 7 30 days due to exfoliation.

Benefits of Henna
Henna is fun and isnt a forever body art like tattoo or piercing. Stains hair reddish and makes it stronger and silkier. Effective against ringworm, dandruff, and other fungal diseases. Strengthens skin and fingernails and deters drying and cracking. Has some anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Henna is a sun block.

Henna Vs. Tattoo

What are some similarities?

Henna stains the outermost layer of the skin, and does not pierce the skin. Henna does not hurt. It feels cool and pleasant on the skin. Henna stains will fade away as the outermost layer of the skin exfoliates.

Tattoos are made by piercing the skin and putting pigment under the skin.

Tattoos are permanent.

Today Henna is still widely used in the traditional areas as well as America