The Ancient Art of Henna

Henna/ Mehndi art has always been a part of the Asian culture for many centuries. It has become widely available in the Western world. It is especially used in many life celebrations including weddings, festivals, and birthdays.

Henna/ Mehndi is a natural plant that is left out to dry, before being crushed into a powder form. The Henna powder is then mixed with cold water to form a paste. Which is then used as a decorative art on hands, arms, legs, feet on the body that are ordained with creative designs and is left to dry. The henna is then removed, leaving a unique orange or deep red stain pattern on the skin.

Henna FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is henna?
Henna is the dried leaf powder, from the plant called "Lawsonia Inermis".

Where does Henna come from?
Henna is grown in hot climate places such as: Egypt , India , Pakistan and Sudan .

How are you able to tell what henna powder looks like?
Natural henna is always a green, brownie green colour.

How is henna applied to the skin?
Henna is traditional put on the skin using a cone and also a bottle with a fine silver nozzle tip.

How long does it take to apply henna?
For a large pattern it can take from 30- 45 minutes, a small design will roughly take from 15-30 minutes. A very large pattern may take a few hours.

How long should you leave the henna on the skin?
You need to make sure all the henna is completely dry all over, before removing it. Usually, the henna is left on up to 2 hours minimum. But, it depends on the individual, as to their personal preference if they would like to keep it on longer.

What colour does the henna pattern reveal as on the skin?
Henna dye on the skin normally brings out an orange, brownish or deep reddish colour. The colour of the henna designs are mainly based on the strength of the henna paste, the length of time which the Mehdni is left on the skin and what part of the body it is applied to.