The origin of henna body art has been around for more than 5000 years. Some records even show over a 9000-year-old tradition of henna body art in some countries. The henna plant grows well in hot, dry regions of the world. Henna can be commonly found in places like India, Yemen, Pakistan, Middle East and Jordan among others. It is part of every important tradition or religious ceremony in these countries.
In some places where the scorching weather is part of the way life, henna is also popular. Henna has natural cooling properties that can help ease the unbearable heat. Desert nomads would make a paste out of the dried out henna leaves and apply it on their bodies. They would soak their palms and the soles of their feet to get the air conditioning effect. The cooling sensation also lasts the whole time the henna stain is on the skin. And this is where henna body art started. As the henna stain faded, it would leave patterns on the surface, which led to the idea that decorative designs would make for excellent henna body art. Henna body art can even be found on Egyptian mummies. There is also documentation that shows Cleopatra uses henna body art for decorative purposes. What made it even more popular during the ancient times was that it was an affordable alternative accessory to those who couldnât afford expensive jewelry.
Practice of Henna Body Art in the West
Now more than ever, henna body art is gaining popularity in the western world. The world has taken over the tradition of decorative henna body art. This beautiful natural artwork made of dried up henna plant is a trendy temporary body decoration. Having started in the 90âs, its popularity has not waned ever since. Even celebrities have adorned themselves with henna, and it can be seen in their movies and music videos. A henna station at weddings and birthdays is now quite common. Guests can now have their hands and feet decorated like the ones the eastern brides have on their weddings.
The Many Uses of Henna
There are many uses for henna. One of its primary purposes is for decorative art. The primary form of self-expression that breaths meaning to age-old traditions. Celebrations like weddings and birthdays have even more significant meaning because of the ancient cultures that bind them with their ancestors of centuries past. Henna body art is a reminder of what was once and still is a symbol of beauty.
One of the best things about henna other than for decoration is that it is also famous for its healing properties. Did you know it is widely used topically to treat many types of skin conditions or ailments such as headaches, burns, stomachaches and even athleteâs foot? And it is also known as a fever reducer because of its cooling properties. It helps the temperature to go down. Some would even use it to prevent hair loss and first aid treatment for burns.
Another widespread use of henna is using the paste as a sunblock. It is a typical farmerâs trick to rub henna on the livestockâs nose and bodies to prevent sunburn. And itâs a favorite sunblock for humans as well! What makes it great as a sunscreen is that it leaves a natural tan. It also stays on the skin even after three to five days after being applied to the surface. The henna tan lines last longer than the actual tan!
Another great use of henna that the farmers commonly use is to make their bag âinsect-proofâ or âmoth-proofâ making it inedible and poisonous.
Quick Facts about Henna Body Art
· Most henna designs last for at least one week to five weeks if proper care is taken.
· Henna body art is not a tattoo. It is not permanent.
· Henna artists do not use needle to stain your skin.
· It can last longer on the soles of the feet. Also the palms of our hands. The reason for this is that the skin is tougher and thicker.
· Henna does not last long on faces, backs, and upper arms.
· It should stay on your skin for a couple of hours to be able to achieve a darker stain.
Henna Body Art Tradition
Did you know henna is one of the most important parts of every special occasion? You’ll likely see it at weddings, birthdays and holidays in most of the Middle East, Pakistan, India, and Africa. In one of the most important traditions, the Mehndi Night, the bride, together with her friends, family, and relatives gather for the wedding. During Mehndi Night, games, music and dance is performed while the bride gets henna painted on her hands, feet, and other parts of her body. It usually takes several hours for the bridal pattern to be finished and is usually done by several henna artists. Throughout the wedding ceremony, the guest usually gets the same design on the back of their hands.
In modern times, most brides would have their henna done before the Mehndi night so they can have fun together with their guests. Also, having the henna body art a day or two earlier before the wedding ceremony ensures that the bride gets a deeper stain during the day. Ancient traditions also believe that if the henna stain stays longer on the bride, she does not have to do any housework. There is also the belief that if the bride gets a darker stain this would mean that they would have a healthy and happy marriage and a great mother-in-law. That is why most brides strive to get the darkest stain as much as possible.
Guide to Caring for your Henna Body Art
Here, we have a guide that would best explain how you could take care of your recently applied henna body art. We all have the tricks you can use to help maintain your temporary tattoo.
Taking Care of Your Recently Applied Henna Tattoo
One of the first things that you should do before getting a henna body art is making sure that you get the best high-quality henna from a trustworthy supplier. You need to double check that the henna paste is appropriately prepared to guarantee that you will not have any allergic reaction or infection from the henna paste. If not done right, all the guides to caring for your henna body art wonât help you if your skin is infected.
First, let your henna body art dry first.
The henna paste after application does not dry immediately. It takes thirty minutes to an hour before the henna paste gets thoroughly dry. So you need to make sure that the henna completely dries. Keep all clothing, hair or any items away from the henna body art.
Second, make sure your henna stays on.
If you want to have beautiful looking henna body art, leave it for as long as you can have them on. The longer the henna stays on, the darker the color gets making it appear more intense and stunning. You can leave it for a minimum of an hour or 24 hours.
Third, tips for a better henna body art.
If you want to have a gorgeous looking henna body art, do these for greater looking stain.
First, to seal the decorative stain, take a lemon sugar mixture and spray it on the temporary tattoo. Keep in mind that you should refrain from oversaturating the stain. If you do that, the dye would be dripping all over the place.
Second, your hands should be warm, not cold to the touch to maintain and enhance the color of the stain.
You can also wrap your henna body art. However, this is only advisable if you have extensive work done. It is advisable that experienced artists who are knowledgeable in wrapping dried henna, do it. If it is not done correctly, it can lead to disastrous results. Most brides would want to cover their henna to preserve the beautiful stain in time for the wedding ceremony. But wrapping is unnecessary if you use high-quality henna.
Fourth, keep henna away from water.
When you have henna body art on, make sure you keep them away from water. Refrain from bathing, going into the swimming pool, doing the dishes or using moisturizers as this makes the henna fade faster. Use henna balm or organic moisturizer to protect the stain. You need to double check the ingredients to ensure that you have all natural components in the mixture.
Fifth, allow the color to develop.
The color of the decorative henna body art usually starts with a little bit of shade of orange. Over the next 48 hours, it slowly turns into to a darker shade of chocolate brown. It will be darkest after two days.
Sixth, maintaining your henna body art for as long as possible.
If you want the stain to last longer, make sure you avoid bleach, soap, saltwater, chlorine, hand sanitizers, cleaning products or any other harsh chemicals that can easily wash the stain away. You should avoid using nail polish remover, as this is also known to remove henna stains quickly.
Seventh, taking the henna off.
At some point, you may need to take off the henna body art even if you want to leave it on as long as possible. Henna, in time, usually fades on its own. However, if you want to remove it quicker, you can use a brush to take it off, or with your hand. You can also try using a scraper or a butter knife with oil, while slowly gently scraping off the henna. Another option would be to exfoliate your skin with a washcloth, loofah or a pumice.
Henna body art is a beautiful, delicate art form, which uses the body as a walking canvass. It has roots steeped in deep cultural history that have survived the test of time. Using Henna during the modern times and incorporating the art into modern day activities honors the ancestors that have long since passed. It is a mysterious and unique tradition that captivates the enthusiast of its exotic and immeasurable beauty.
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.