What is Henna?
Henna, also called Mehandi, is an ancient form of temporary body art which has been practiced for thousands of years in India and the Middle East. Ground henna leaves are mixed with lemon juice, sugar, and fragrant essential oils, and applied to the skin in intricate patterns. The paste is then left to dry and set for several hours or overnight, after which the paste is scraped or washed off, leaving a stain on the skin. This stain starts out light orange, but it darkens over the next day or two to a rich brown color. How much it darkens depends on many factors, such as the person's individual skin type and color, and how long the paste was left on. This "temporary tattoo" lasts 1-3 weeks.
For pictures, see the photo gallery.
Caring for your Henna Tattoo
Remember that Henna dyes the surface, "dead" layers of skin only. This is why Henna tattoos are darkest when applied to the hands and feet, where the skin is thickest. To prolong the life of your henna design, do not scrub or exfoliate the area, and protect the skin from drying by using moisturizers.
Henna tattoos cannot be quickly removed, and will simply fade naturally over the course of a week or two (or longer). To speed this process, simply scrub the area when washing, to exfoliate the dead skin layers.
WARNING
At some festivals or street performer's booths, you may see people applying "black henna" paste and making temporary tattoos. This is not real henna! Real henna is brown or greenish and has an herbal smell. Real henna is safe and all natural, and has been used for thousands of years. So-called "black henna" is not henna at all, but cheap hair dye paste, laced with dangerous chemicals! This harsh formula has produced irritation, burns, and even permanent scarring in many people. Do not ever let someone put "black henna" on you or someone you love! |
