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Henna Body Art by Lily |
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Henna art or Mehndi has a rich history. In many cultures it is still a big part of certain ceremonies and traditions. It is an art form which has transcended time and presently is used as an elegant and temporary adornment by those who appreciate its beauty and simplicity. It is said that those wearing henna shall have good fortune and a new bride with henna`ed hands does not have to do any housework until her henna has faded away. One of the earliest uses for henna was to cool the body. Henna has a cooling effect when applied to the skin. People living in hot climates where henna is plentiful would dip their hands and feet into a mixture of henna paste, some simply placed a dot of henna on the palms and soles of the feet and others would draw beautiful designs with the henna.
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A henna stain can last from 1-3 weeks depending on where the design is placed on the body and how well it is cared for after application. A "mud" which is made from the dried and ground leaves of the henna plant, citrus juice and pure essential oil is applied to the skin and allowed to dry slowly and remain on the skin as long as possible. The length of time the mixture is left on the skin decides how deep the color will be and how long the design will last. The mud can be flaked off when dry to reveal an orange stain that will darken to a deep russet brown over the following day or so. The henna reacts differently from one person to the next. Skin type, body temp, overall health all play a role in how the henna stains. Some get deep red stains others coffee brown. There are many different types of henna all of which having their own distinct characteristics. My preference is Moroccan henna which yields a lovely warm color. The design fades as the skin naturally exfoliates. For this reason care should be taken not to rub at the area as this will hasten the shedding of the skin cells and the design will fade quicker. For more pics click the "more pics" link below.
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Only natural henna is used in all of my work.(ingredients:henna,lemon or lime juice, pure essential oils,my henna paste may or may not also include tamarind,clove,cardamom) I do not use any "colored" henna as it is mostly made of dyes that are not safe for all skin types and the design does not last more than a few days, nor does it capture the traditional beauty of a natural henna design. I NEVER use "black henna" or "PPD"(Para-Phenylenediamine) which is a trans-dermal toxin and can cause chemical burns and scarring. The chemicals absorb into the body through the skin and can cause a myriad of health issues. Always check to see that the henna you or an artist is using is of a green or greenish brown color. It should smell earthy and not have a chemical smell. Henna powder should be green as well, not gray or black. If an artist cannot give you a complete list of ingredients or refuses to put the paste on their own skin walk away. There is no such thing as black henna.If an artist says you can achieve a black stain after leaving the paste on for 20 minutes its most likely PPD not henna. If an artist says she mixes her paste with water it`s probably PPD. Henna requires an acidic liquid to release the dye from the plant matter. Water won`t work. PPD is the ingredient in brown and black hair dye. It is not meant to be placed on the skin and it is ILLEGAL to do so. For more info on "black henna" check out thehennapage.com |
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