The art of henna became increasingly popular over the years. Cool henna tattoo designs have been circulating not only the Internet, but also from henna tattoo artists who are great with the art. Since henna tattoos are temporary, it is quite famous with children and teenagers, especially with the coming summer holidays.
The Origin of Henna
Pakistan, India, Africa and the Middle East have been practicing the art of henna for over 5000 years. It was originally called Mehndi in Hindi or Urdu. Henna is a flowering plant that grows about 12-15 feet high. The English name “henna” is derived from the Arabic word “hinna”.
Aside from being a flowering plant, henna also refers to the dye that is prepared from the henna plant and that is used for temporary tattoos. It has been around for years used to dye hair, skin and fingernails, as well as fabrics such as silk, wool and leather. The plant is also known to treat skin conditions.
What are henna tattoos?
During the later years, henna has become more popular as the dye used on skin for temporary tattoos. Henna artists usually have kiosks during events and it is very trendy during summer. People who want henna tattoos can choose from a number of cool henna tattoo designs. And because they are temporary, you do not need to worry about removing the ink.
Every culture and religion has unique uses for henna tattoos. For some, it is traditionally used for celebrations and rites of passages.
Others, like in Hindu weddings, use cool henna tattoo designs painted on the bride to symbolize joy, beauty, spiritual awakening, and offering.
In Morocco, people paint henna on doors to bring prosperity in the household and to chase away evil.
Depending on which country you get the henna tattoo from, the designs will look different. Henna tattoos from India feature fine lines and floral patterns compared to Arabic henna designs which tend to be larger, and African cool henna tattoos are more bold and geometric.
How to take care of your cool henna tattoo
Taking care of your henna tattoo can prolong its stay on your skin. Generally speaking, a henna tattoo can stay somewhere between one to three weeks. Here are some ways on how to maximize its staying power:
- First off, you will need to make sure that your cool henna tattoo is done by an artist who uses high quality henna and the dye should be prepared properly. It is most important to make sure that the henna dye is of high quality also to assure you that it will not be bad for your skin.
- Let the henna tattoo dry first. Before you do anything else, you have to let the tattoo completely dry first. It usually takes approximately half an hour before the henna paste is dry enough. After that amount of time, you do not have to worry about smudging it. Keep pieces of clothing, and other valuables, even including hair away from your cool henna tattoo. This means that, you need to choose a good spot for you to put the tattoo on.
- Leave the henna tattoo on; the longer you leave it on, the darker the color will be and the longer it will last.
- Take extra steps for a better mix of henna dye. You can either use lemon sugar spray sealant with the mixture. But it is important to not over saturate the henna as it can lead to the dye dripping in places and could be harder to control when applied to the skin.
- Protect the henna from water. If you have a cool henna tattoo that you want to stay for a longer period of time, you have to protect it from water. Use henna balm and put it over your design when you take a bath, or do the laundry, or wash the dishes and avoid going in chlorinated swimming pools. If you cannot get a suitable henna balm, then you can use olive oil.
- Watch the color develop. The color of your cool henna tattoo design will appear to be a shade of orange at first. It usually varies, ranging from very light orange, to pumpkin orange. Over time, it will get darker and over the course of 48 hours, it will turn anywhere from orange-brown to maroon or chocolate brown. The tattoo will be at its darkest after 1 to 2 days.
- Avoid chlorine, salt water, dish soap, bleach, and other cleaning materials which can have harsh chemicals. You can take a bath or shower like usual but as much as possible, avoid hand sanitizer. It is the number one thing that you need to avoid because it can “kill” henna stains on your skin fast. Aside from hand sanitizers, acetone and nail polish remover causes rapid fading of your cool henna tattoo stains.
- Take the henna off. This does not mean that you will remove the stain completely but only do this after it has been on as long as possible. When taking off the henna, you can brush it off with your hand. Do not wash if off as it will completely disappear from your skin.
Most people, especially teenagers, prefer the temporary cool henna tattoo because they can just remove it when school starts.
Schools have a set of uniform policies, and tattoos can be a violation of such policies which might get a student in trouble should they be discovered with one.
How to get cool henna tattoos (DIY)
Of course, if you are artistic and creative enough, you can make your own cool henna tattoo designs. This is good for bonding with friends for sleep over parties or even for occasions and other events.
The first part of getting your own cool henna tattoo is making the Henna Paste. Follow the steps to guide you on a Do-It-Yourself cool henna tattoo design:
- You will need the following to make your own henna paste:
- Henna powder
- Lemon juice
- Eucalyptus oil
- Herbal tea (strongly brewed)
- Sugar
- Olive oil
- Straight pin
- Squeeze bottle
- Various tips
- Cotton balls
Henna powder can be bought at Walmart or Walgreens and can also be ordered online at amazon.com
- Sieve ¼ cup or 57 grams (2 oz) of henna powder into a bowl. Make sure that the henna powder has a fine consistency. Sieving henna powder will remove any grainy materials in the powder. The color of the powder should be greenish-brown.
- Add ¼ cup or 59 milliliters (2 fl oz) of lemon juice on your henna powder. The mixture should be a little bit stickier than that of a toothpaste. The mixture should be fine enough to pass through the tip attached to your squeeze bottle.
- Add a half-teaspoon of sugar and 3-5 drops of eucalyptus oil in the mixture you created. They give a more silky texture that moisturizes the skin.
- Slowly add 2-3 tablespoons or 39 milliliters (1.3 fl oz) of strongly brewed herbal tea to the mixture. This helps the skin from peeling or cracking during application and provide tannins to the mixture.
- Cover the henna mixture with an air tight seal or plastic wrap. Store it in room temperature within 24 hours. The mixture should not be too runny and is ready to be used.
- Put the mixture in the squeeze bottle with the tip. The mixture in the bottle should be ready to use.
The second part of getting your own cool henna tattoo is creating the design.
- Practice the design on a piece of paper. You can also make or choose your own design on the computer and print it out for you to practice on.
- Wash the area that you plan to put on the cool henna tattoo with soap and water. Apply a small amount of Eucalyptus oil to the area of the skin to moisturize it. Hands, feet, ankles or wrist works best for henna tattoos as this is where the skin is thickest. This will give you a darker or more prominent stain.
- Use a stencil on the area that you wish to put in the tattoo. Trace the design that you want or draw the design that you want on the area. Apply the mixture with the tip of the squeeze bottle resting right above the skin.
Some people are actually allergic to Henna powder. Please visit the doctor immediately if you notice problems with your tattoo.
If you are actually thinking of getting a permanent tattoo instead of a temporary cool henna tattoo, here are some differences between the two to help you decide:
1) Pain
Permanent tattoos are painful depending on the area where you are putting the tattoo but the pain intensity will also depend on your pain tolerance. Areas on the skin that has more bones than flesh area are more painful. Rib areas are more painful that areas on the arms or feet. The pain is like a number of ants biting you at the same time. If you are thinking of getting a permanent tattoo, artists use needles for it.
Good news for cool henna tattoos. These temporary tattoos are not painful at all. Applying the tattoo is not with the help of needles but of various tips that are attached on squeeze bottled. They are easily removed or fade out with time.
2) Blood
With permanent tattoos needles are used to pierce the skin in order to create art. A little bit of blood is involved in the process. Blood usually mixes with the tattoo ink but artists can easily remove it. They do this with cotton balls while completing the design painted on your body.
Cool henna tattoos do not involve blood at all. The design will be drawn on the area of your body without piercing it. You will not see a drop of blood oozing out of your skin if you get a temporary tattoo.
3) Cost
The cost of getting a permanent tattoo varies. It is generally expensive depending on your tattoo artist. The design, color, size and the area where you want to put the tattoo will also affect the over-all price.
A temporary cool henna tattoo is cheaper and generally more affordable. You can even do it on your own with your friends. The ingredients are easily available. You can find it in your area or buy it online. Temporary tattoos are more reasonably priced by far.
4) Aftermath
Aftercare for permanent tattoos is a lot harder than temporary ones. You have to wait 3-5 weeks until it will heal completely. You also should be mindful not to put water on the area where the tattoo is. The area may also be itchy. You should remind yourself not to scratch the area where you have the tattoo. This is like caring for a wound on your skin. You can use ointment to help with the itching.
Temporary cool henna tattoos will only remain on your skin temporarily. Unless you have an allergic reaction to henna, there is no need for aftercare in this case. The tattoo will also wash away after a couple of days with water.
5) Meaning
A permanent tattoo will remain with you for the rest of your life. That is unless you decide to remove it surgically (or using a laser). It will stay with you; old, wrinkled skin and all. Some people will actually think twice before getting a permanent tattoo. Even if the meaning of the permanent tattoo will stay with you for the rest of your life.
While a temporary cool henna tattoo may look permanent depending on how it was applied, this will be easily removed. It may not remind you of the meaning of that tattoo or you may forget it when you get old but who knows? The experience may stay forever in your memories.
Contact Us
Do you want these popular henna tattoo designs at your next event? Our henna tattoo artists will come to your party and create these beautiful works of body art.
Contact us at (970) 377-0093 (or email us at teamrjevents@gmail.com). Our talented artists will create fun, intricate designs for you. We serve the areas of Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor, and nearby areas in Colorado.