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Mehndi (Henna) Art

by: Sugar&Spice | last updated: February 24, 2009
Category: Fashion & Trends | Tags: Henna, Mehndi, henna tattoos, heena, mehndi art, mehendi
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Mehndi (Henna) Art

Henna, also known as Heena, is a form of body art that has existed since ancient times. Mehndi (or Henna) is the application of henna as a temporary form of skin decoration, in countries like Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Morocco, Yemen, and Somaliland. It is typically employed for special occasions, particularly weddings. It is usually drawn on the hands and feet, where the color will be darkest.

The patterns of mehndi are typically quite intricate and predominantly applied to brides before wedding ceremonies. However, Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, where they are sometimes called "henna tattoos".


What is Henna exactly?

Henna is a flowering plant, the sole species in the genus Lawsonia in the family Lythraceae. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia, and northern Australasia in semi-arid zones. Henna is a tall shrub or small tree, 2–6 m high.

Henna, produces a red-orange dye molecule called lawsone. This molecule has an affinity for bonding with protein, and thus has been used to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather, silk and wool. It is usually drawn on the hands and feet, where the color will be darkest because the skin contains higher levels of keratin which binds permanently to lawsone, the colorant of henna.

Mehndi (Henna) Art

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. Brides typically had the most henna, and the most complex patterns, to support their greatest joy, and wishes for luck. Some bridal traditions were very complex, such as those in Yemen, where the Jewish bridal henna process took four or five days to complete, with multiple applications and resist work.

Henna paste is usually applied to the skin using a plastic cone or a paint brush, but sometimes a small metal-tipped jacquard bottle used for silk painting (a jac bottle) is used. The cone has a fine opening at the thin end which lets a thin flow of paste to facilitate intricate designing.

Why is Henna as Body Art Popular?

Henna painting has become very popular as a form of temporary tattoo and is liked by a lot. The best aspect of henna is that it is totally natural, made from a plant plant whose leaves are first dried and then crushed to make a fine powder. While applying, the powder is mixed with water. This makes henna totally safe to use. Along with that, its application is totally painless and the effect is temporary. You can use henna to get tattoos, without worrying about pain or infection. In case you are not satisfied with a particular tattoo, just wait for a few days. Its color will soon wash off and you can easily go for another design.

Popular Mehndi Patterns

Though there are no set patterns or designs for Henna, there are some popular designs that have been followed since ages. One of the most popular designs is a paisley that is often filled with a checkerboard pattern. Another popular pattern is a lovely peacock, with the sharp and curved beak and the corona on the head. Floral patterns are quite popular as well.

Mehndi Art Pictures

For More info on Mehndi

For more pictures and info on Mehndi visit www.hennalounge.com


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Guide Comments

Avocados said over 2 years ago:

Love it, love it, absolutely love it!!!

henna caravan conference said over 2 years ago:

Henna Caravan loves henna too.

heena shaikh said over 2 years ago:

pls sent me latest mahendi art design

iqra said over 2 years ago:

like the design but do put other designs and do put hand designs

sonu.c.n said over 2 years ago:

please sent me some mehendi designs.

Rea khan said over 2 years ago:

its fantastics, do send me some desings.

sophie khan said about 1 year ago:

WOW nice henna pattern always coming up show me some more great so far

Charitra Suvarna said about 1 year ago:

Nice mehndi designs. Would like to know more mehndi designs and update myself with the latest designs too.

chimmu said about 1 year ago:

beautiful designs featured

barnali sarkar said about 1 year ago:

please sent me some most beautiful indian easy designs of mehendi.

ragni mehra said about 1 year ago:

nice mehendi designs. i want to learn more mehendi designs. please send some latest beautiful indian designs.

lolipop said about 1 year ago:

can you plz send me some mehndi picture's everytime you get new one's

Sandhya said about 1 year ago:

Cool designs.Send me designs specially for wedding

Sabrina said about 1 year ago:

Please sent me all mehndi design

blahhh said about 1 year ago:

I like it! waht am I saying! I LOVE it! So yeah , send me.

vanitha said about 1 year ago:

please sent me some most beautiful indian easy designs of mehendi.

ayesha qureshi said about 1 year ago:

pls send me some indian and arabic designs and also for legs

Fahmeeda said about 1 year ago:

I am very eager to learn mehendi designing so please some beautiful indian and arabic designs.

nethra said about 1 year ago:

pls send me some beautiful mehendi designs

kajal said about 1 year ago:

please send me some pictures of henna. THANKS IN ADVANCE

Shruthi said about 1 year ago:

It is really nice. I really liked it, so pl send me some designs....

pooja.donda said about 1 year ago:

please send me some pictures of heena for marriage

dipali patel said about 1 year ago:

please send me pictures of heena

Neha said about 1 year ago:

These mehandi designs are really very nice. Plz ssen me some pictures for my wedding..

Kusum said 11 months ago:

To learn mehandi designing step by step see sewingmehandi.com Buy CD's for so many products.

deepika said 11 months ago:

simple and nice mehandi designs.. please send it to my ID..

Kavi said 11 months ago:

Wow awasome.can u send some designs to my ID

Hina said 11 months ago:

http://mehndicollection.co.cc brings you the latest mehndi designs in our gallery. Browse through our mehndi pictures and find the perfect bridal, arabic, pakistani, glittered mehndi design for your wedding and learn how to put mehndi on your hands.

pratima said 10 months ago:

It's really one of the beautiful mehendi design i have seen. Really beautiful, plz send me some more cause i will get married soon. plz.

Priya said 10 months ago:

please send some design to my id

manjula said 10 months ago:

your designs are tooo good. Plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzz zzzzzzz zzzzz zzz z send some of your designs to my mail id. plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz yaar don't forget.

lavanya said 9 months ago:

hi ur designs r toooo good, plz send me more, n plz send me in detail how to make a henna cone

Sunshinemom said 9 months ago:

I love the design on the leg (second last). I think I will try it out my daughter's leg. We are going to the big fat Indian Wedding:D! No better excuse to wear that one!

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