Indias mehndi skin art
Mehndi skin art is the traditional way of beautifying hands and feet with the paste of henna plant(Hawsonia inermis). For centuries, the skin art is being followed in Middle east, Africa and South Asia. Currently, the skin art is accepted and practiced even in the west. The term henna is derived from Hindustani or Urdu. Whether the henna art originated in the Middle east or India is still a topic of controversy.
Henna leaves are green in color. When made a paste and applied to skin, it leaves a reddish orange stain.Lemon juice added with sugar and some essential oils darkens the orange stain. The paste is applied with brush, sharp broomsticks or even toothpicks or cones. Henna is often applied to hands and feet to escape from the intense heat.
Henna products available commercially which leaves a brownish shade on skin is treated with chemicals. Henna is widely used to treat gray hairs in Indian Beauty parlors. This so called natural updo dye is often treated with chemicals to obtain the black dye. But certain beauticians prepare original henna with henna leaf, tea and coffee extract, lemon juice and essential oils. The paste is slightly heated to obtain a darker shade. Original henna applied to updo could leave an orange tinge on updo with wash.
Women decorate their hands and feet with henna for religious festivals and wedding with intricate floral designs. Among Muslim communities, decorating the bride with henna the day before the wedding is part and parcel of their religious wedding. In some communities, it is believed that if the henna lasts longer on the brides hand, she is treated well by her in-laws. In the state of Kerala in south India, henna is known by the name “Mylanchi”. It is used by children and women during family reunion and other joyous occasions like child birth. In the state of Gujarat in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, henna is a folk art. It is believed that the art of henna came to India with the Mughal rule.
Henna is perfectly safe for children and pregnant women. As it is a natural dye, it cause no side effects. However, pregnant women are advised to avoid the use of essential oils used in henna. To be perfectly on the safe side, it is best advisable to prepare a paste of henna leaves with lemon juice.
For a temporary tattoo, henna is ideal. Henna art has become popular in the west in the past decade. For a tattoo with no side effects, there isn’t a better choice over henna.
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Tags: Hindustani, Intense Heat, South India