Henna tattoos are increasingly popular nowadays. Its appeal has reached not only teens and adults but also kids and the older folks. Check out these 10 fun facts about Henna tattoos.

You’ve seen them at concerts. People parade them during festivals, and they are a common thing at parties. Perhaps it’s the exotic vibe that it gives off or maybe because the skin art is only temporary. The body art appeals those who aren’t committed to permanent body ink. Regardless of the case, these exotic skin decorations have become increasingly popular in Western culture. Here are 10 fun facts about Henna tattoos.

Henna skin painting is distinctly an Asian thing. It is hugely popular in the region. Particularly in the Hindu culture, the skin art is a common fixture informal celebrations like weddings. You can see Hindu women have it designed on their hands and feet. If you’d like to give henna a try, these brands of Henna Tattoo Paste are all safe and easy to use.

Depending on the color of Henna used as well as the person’s skin type, the body decoration usually lasts for four weeks. Aside from its application as skin art, Henna may also be used to color the hair. Additionally, in some countries, they use the leaves as anti-perspirants and deodorants. And can you believe Henna is a remedy for fevers and headaches?

You’re probably wondering where Henna ink comes from. The paste comes from dried, powdered leaves of Laesonia inermis, which is commonly known as the Henna plant. This tall shrub is native to semi-arid and tropical regions like Southern and Western Asia as well as Northern Africa.

As the plant is a symbol of long life, love, and eternal youthfulness, Henna skin painting is a significant representation of Asian culture. What started off as tradition, these tattoos gradually takes over the other side of the world, with many Westerners wanting more of it.

1. First recorded usage of Henna dates back to the days of Egyptian pharaohs

There is a close link between Henna and body ornamentation in Hindu culture. Despite its strong aesthetic ties, the tall shrub also finds its purposes of spiritual and beauty benefit during the time of Rameses II and the rest of ancient Egypt. In fact, usage predates the Henna back to the predynastic era, which is about 3400 BC.

Using infrared technology, researchers discovered an orange-red color in the specimen, which is consistent with the active ingredient in Henna. The findings also suggested that they apply Henna to the body after death, perhaps as part of the ceremony or a mourning ritual. Mummified bodies of royals, including that of Rameses II, have Henna-painted fingers and toes as well as hair dyed with Henna.

In the case of Rameses II, he supposedly had red hair during his youth. However, an examination of the mummy revealed he used Henna to dye his hair; perhaps he did so to restore his youthful look, or the Henna application was part of the mummification process.

2. Henna symbolizes the sacred bond of marriage

As Henna use is synonymous with celebratory events like weddings, Henna tattoos signify the sacred union and eternal love between a man and a woman. It also marks the coming together of their families.

Under Hindu and Muslim tradition, Henna serves an essential pre-wedding function. While men take no direct part in the ritual, the groom’s family will send the Henna to the bride before the wedding ceremony, specially prepared and beautifully packaged.

Then an artist will apply Henna tattoo designs on the bride’s hands. In Muslim culture, intricate swirls and lattices should be in floral pattern while Hindu tradition allows the bride to have various designs. This ancient ritual echoes the affluence of royalty, making the bride look like a princess on her special day.

But did you know the purpose of Henna in weddings is not only limited to body decoration? Under Hindu and Muslim tradition, Henna supposedly wards off the evil that plagues married couples. The more intricate the design of the Henna tattoo, the harder it is for evil to penetrate.

People in these cultures also believe the deeper the color of the Henna tattoo on the bride’s hands the stronger the love between the man and his wife. A darker shade also means the groom’s family will love the bride.

It is also customary for the bride not to do any housework until the Henna tattoo wears off.

In addition to being a symbol of love, Henna tattoos are also a representation of fertility and loyalty between spouses as well as prosperity, bringing good luck to the couple and their families.

3. Discover the healing benefits of Henna

Can you believe Henna is a remedy to bring relief from ailments? While most of us associate Henna with body art, there are many significant health benefits that Henna provides. The oil, bark, and seeds offer precious elements in traditional medicinal practice.

With the high concentration of nutrients and healing chemicals, the shrub offers anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and hypotensive benefits. Henna gives relief from migraines, fever, and stress.

Here are some of the other therapeutic benefits of Henna:

• When applied to hair, it strengthens the strands and improves hair health and shine, preventing hair breakage or loss, including dandruff.
• Clears up irritation, infection, or pain in the beds of finger and toe nails.
• Reduces wrinkles and fine lines, slowing down the aging process.
• Provides an antibacterial effect on skin.
• Protects wounds, scrapes, and burns against inflammation and infection.
• Gives anti-inflammatory relief for rheumatic or arthritic pain.
• Alleviates many sleep disorders like insomnia and restlessness.
• Great detoxifying agent that optimizes liver and spleen function and health.
• Lowers blood pressure and gives a hypotensive effect.

Want more interesting tidbits? Here’s the rest of the list of 10 fun facts about Henna tattoos.

4. Henna as a talisman

For people in Yemen, Henna isn’t only cosmetic; it offers protection from evil. Tradition says Henna can be used as a talisman to ward off demons and other malevolent spirits. Women would adorn themselves with Henna to protect themselves from the “wicked eye.”

Old legend also has it that Henna can be used to revive the dead. The story goes like this: when two lovers died, people from their village specially prepared a Henna concoction, which they placed near the bodies of the lovers. As the lovers were able to sniff the Henna medicine, they came back to life. This was how Henna was regarded as the paradise tree because it brought the dead to life again.

5. Henna plays a huge role in Indian mythology and marital bliss

How did Henna gain so much traction in Indian culture? Legend has it that Parvati, a Hindu goddess, uses Henna to get to her husband’s good side. To win Lord Shiva’s favor, she decorates her body with Henna ink as the former was difficult to please. Thus, Henna earned the reputation as a wife’s ally to guarantee success and bliss in marital affairs.

Aside from being an irresistible sensual allure and aphrodisiac, Henna also protects the wife and her family from misfortune.

6. Henna is one of Cleopatra’s beauty secrets

The Egyptian queen isn’t a stranger to beauty. In fact, Cleopatra is one of the most beautiful women in history. One of her beauty secrets is Henna.

Did you know Cleopatra uses Henna to paint her fingernails? During this time, Egyptians see fingernails colored with Henna as an indication of high social status. Mixed with juniper berries, the Egyptian queen also looks to Henna to achieve the hair color she desired.

Having seduced many powerful men during her time, would you say Henna is an effective seduction ally or was Cleopatra that beautiful? Whatever the case may be, Henna indeed is a beautiful body ornament.

Can’t get enough of our list of 10 fun facts about Henna tattoos? Read on.

7. Henna doesn’t come in black

Westernized versions of Henna dye appear as black or its similar shade. On the contrary, Henna’s natural color ranges from orange to reddish brown. Commercialized products advertised as “black henna” do not, in fact, contain natural henna. Instead, they are made from other plant varieties and mixed with other chemicals.

Black henna, in particular, comes from the plant known as Indigofera tinctoria, which is blended with unlisted dyes and substances, including the chemical p-phenylenediamine (PPD).

While this variety produces the black stain very quickly, black henna isn’t very friendly on the skin. Due to numerous complaints ranging from permanent scarring to severe allergic reactions, the U.S. FDA issued a ban on the use of black henna, which contains PPD.

The use of PPD in black henna started in the 1990s. Henna artists experimented with the chemical substance, thinking it was a fast and easy way to achieve the darker shade as they create body art. Unfortunately, at that time, there was little knowledge as to its side effects. As a result, many of the Henna artists’ clients suffered injuries such as intense itching, severe blistering, and permanent scarring due to reactions to chemical sensitivities.

Sensitivity to PPD may develop into a life-long condition. A person who acquires such sensitivity may have an aversion to perfumes or sunscreen as well as other chemical-based products like printer ink, textile dye, and hair color.

On the other hand, real natural Henna is safe on skin and hair. While it doesn’t normally wash off once it dries after application, Henna will eventually fade away as new ones replace the cells on the skin and hair.

8. Henna is an art form 

Most people probably got the idea that Henna tattoo is fake tattoo since it isn’t a permanent body ink. On the contrary, Henna tattoo is an art form on its own, having roots reaching as far as the days of the Egyptian pharaohs while having wide usage in Hindu, Muslim, and Moroccan cultures, among others.

Compared to conventional, permanent body ink, Henna skin designs lack the realistic colors and are only available in orange or reddish brown shades.

Did you know natural henna is safe for kids? If you’re looking to indulge your children in temporary body art, make sure to pick a henna product that’s free from PPD; avoid black henna products as it can be painfully dangerous to the skin.

Here’s an added tip: Henna tattoos are best at night. Why? You’ll see the best color results once you wake up in the morning.

9. The name Henna is derived from the Arabic word Hinna

As we’ve mentioned above, the coloring paste and ink came from the dried leaves of the Henna plant. Standing at about 15 feet, the shrub got its name from the Arabic word Hinna, which has direct reference to the dye produced by the plant.

However, getting the dye isn’t as easy as drying the Henna leaves. To produce the dye, they dried up the leaves first and after that ground up to create a powdery texture. To achieve the familiar Henna paste, it is best to add a little lemon juice. Some producers, however, add a drop of essential oil, but this is seldom done as the chances of causing skin irritation increases with the addition of the oil.

Did you know Henna offers another added benefit to our skin? Not only is it a cooling agent, but it also provides protection similar to what’s given by sunblock products. If you’re looking to get a tan this summer, enjoy the UV protection of Henna skin designs.

10. Henna is safe

When produced using only natural components, Henna is safe, even for kids. What you should avoid though are the black Henna varieties that contain harmful substances like PPD. Black henna has chemicals in it and is not all natural product,

The downside, however, of natural Henna is it doesn’t give the jet black shade that is common in the public’s mind. This is why black Henna is favorite because it provides the darker color that many people prefer.

But if you’re predisposed to having painful rashes or swelling on the skin when exposed to chemical substances, it’s best to lay off black Henna; particularly those containing PPD.

Got Henna?

So that was our list of 10 fun facts about Henna tattoos. We hope it cleared the misconceptions and untruths you heard or read about the body art.

Henna is a versatile body ornament. If you’re looking to attend a party or join a Mardi Gras, it’s a great way to spice up your look. You’re wearing art without the life-long commitment of permanent body ink. What’s more, it’s entirely a painless way to have skin art.

Looking to hire a henna artist? Hire one of our talented team of artists. If you live in the Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor, Colorado, area, we’d love to create intricate henna tattoo designs at your next party or event. We hope you enjoyed reading our article on 10 fun facts about henna tattoos.