Henna is a dye procured from a tree Lawsonia inermis whose leaves when dried and mixed with boiling water, stain the skin with a mahogany color.

The leaves of the tree are gathered green and are placed in the shade to dry gradually.  The leaves are then pounded and sifted to obtain a very fine powder.  The compound is mixed to make a paste that is neither fluid nor thick (toothpaste consistency).  The henna is then covered and left to rest overnight. Mehndi designing is a form of intricate painting that has been practiced for thousands of years.  It is an ancient form of body art which has originated from the Middle East and India.

Henna Today

Traditionally henna leaves were dried, crushed finely, sieved in a fine cloth, made into a paste and applied with the help of a match stick.   Now a days henna powder is easily available in a packaged form.  Plastic cones have been devised for easy application.  The cone has a fine opening at the thin end which lets a thin flow of paste to facilitate intricate designing.  Though not as fresh, pre-filled henna cones are also available for ready use.   Henna designing has become very popular all over the world as a form of temporary tattoos and is liked by one and all.   One of the main advantages of this form of art is that the designs gradually fade from the body over a period of two- three weeks.   Henna is indeed a beautiful and painless alternative to tattoos.

Interestingly, the onslaught of new fashions and styles for women has not pushed this ancient art of henna design to the background.  With new trends in fashion henna designs have blended well with time.  In fact they have become more beautiful and intricate with the use of plastic cones.  The popularity of henna designs strongly indicates that this is something that is going to be around for a long time to come.

Henna in India

Girls and women of all ages use henna.  It especially signifies married women (Suhagan).  Widows generally do not apply henna on their hands.

Henna in the Middle East

In the Middle East, women use henna to decorate their hands and feet.  Men also use it as a dye on their hair and beard.  Women apply henna on their hands and feet approximately once every two weeks.  It is usually after the night prayer that most women dye their hands and feet.  It is believed that the action of the dye is most efficacious at night, especially when left on the skin all night. 

To obtain a maximum black hue, a dry lemon is boiled in the water used to make henna paste as its acidity makes the dye fast and the tint becomes deeper from the color released by the lemon.  After 3-4 days the mahogany color fades into an auburn hue lasting for approximately 10 days and in turn fading to a light orange tone.  Rarely do women let the color reach this stage and most apply fresh henna along the same lines of design of the first decoration, unless a different decorative style is desired.  In the latter case women wait until the dye has completely faded.