- What is henna or mendhi?
- What is in henna paste?
- Is henna safe?
- Does henna come in different colours?
- What kind of designs are available?
- Can I be hennaed if I'm pregnant?
- Is henna the same as a tattoo?
- How is henna applied? How long does it take?
- How do I take care of my henna? (Aftercare Tips)
- How long does henna body art last?
- How do I prepare for my henna session?
WHAT IS HENNA OR MENDHI?
Henna is the Arabic word for the "lawsonia inermis" plant. It is also called "mendhi" in many parts of India but it has also been known under that names of hina, heena, henné, mehndi, menhdi, mehandi and mendi. It is a desert shrub that favours hot dry environments such as in many parts of the Middle East, Southern Asia and Northern Africa. It can grown up to 20-25 feet tall and has sweet scented blossoms.
The leaves of the henna plant
are harvested several times a year. They are carefully
dried and ground into a fine greenish-brown powder; which
is then used mixed with other natural ingredients to make
henna paste.
Henna has been used for
thousands of years by many cultures as a cosmetic
embellishment during auspicious occasions, such as
weddings and other celebrations. Most often it is the
skin, hair and nails; but it is often used as a
decorations in other crafts such as wood, fabric, leather
and even wax candles. It has been and is still in
practice by many different cultures such as Muslim,
Islamic, Jewish, Christian and Hindu. Henna is not
associated with any one culture in particular, and each
has it's own traditions regarding the use of henna. Henna
is also not associated with any particular religion, but
it is often used as part of various religious
celebrations.
Many consider it to be a blessing that brings good luck,
health and wealth to the wearer and in some societies it
is believed that henna can ward off the evil eye. Henna
also has been associated with medicinal properties in
controlling foot health issues (such as rashes, athlete's
foot and ringworm), and is a natural sunscreen and skin
cooling agent.
WHAT
IS IN HENNA PASTE?
There are a variety of personal recipes that henna
artists use; however most of them contain several of the
following ingredients: henna powder, water, tea, lemon
juice, sugar, honey, molasses, and essential oils. It
will smell natural and earthy and possibly a bit herbal,
depending on the essential oil that was used.
Traditionally, lavender is used in henna pastes that will
be used on pregnant women or children, because it is one
of the mildest of the essential oils.
IS
HENNA SAFE?
Henna is one of the oldest recorded cosmetics in human
history as it has been used for thousands of years. Real
henna is safe to use on people of all ages, including
children above the age of 7 and on pregnant women. If you
have allergies to certain essential oils, it is a good
idea to discuss it with your henna artist as these are
often used in henna paste.
If your doctor has told you that you have G6PD, or you are allergic to fava
beans and aspirin, you should avoid using henna. Young
children under the age of 7 and babies have thinner
skin that has not yet developed it's full
acid-balancing capabilities and should therefore avoid
using henna -- in such cases we offer glitter
embellishments as an alternative.
DOES
HENNA COME IN DIFFERENT COLOURS?
True henna always stains the skin in various shades of
oranges, reds and browns; from a light orange to a deep
cherry red or dark chocolate stain. Real henna paste must
stay on the skin for several hours in order to stain.
Dried henna paste is a very dark brown in colour.
**(Photos on this site which seem very dark are
actually showing dried henna paste.)
Real henna is NEVER black! So-called "black henna"
actually contains PPD, a toxic chemical which can often
cause severe allergic reactions and permanent rashes.
Stay safe and stay away from anything called "black
henna"! It is often seen being offered in touristy areas,
such as beach-side resorts, carnivals and amusement
parks. Always ask what is in the henna paste, and if in
doubt, do NOT have it applied to you. Black henna is
illegal in Canada, please read: Health
Canada's Advisory on "Black Henna".
WHAT
KIND OF DESIGNS ARE AVAILABLE?
We have a large
selection of both traditional and modern henna pattern
and design books for our clients to browse through in
order to select a design. There is also a special design
book of simpler designs for use at group events, in order
to allow for quicker flow-through of clients. This
ensures that the maximum number of people can enjoy the
henna experience. Custom henna designs can also be
created just for you, based on your descriptions and
freehand sketches, or on your supplied reference
materials.
CAN
I BE HENNAED IF I'M PREGNANT?
Yes, henna is safe to apply on pregnant women. We use
only pure henna paste with lavender for belly henna, as
it is the mildest of essential oils. Do be aware that
very large bellies may have very thin skin that does not
stain as dark as other parts of the body.
IS
HENNA THE SAME AS A TATTOO?
No, henna is a painless temporary artform that does NOT
pierce the skin the way that tattooing with inks does.
Henna is a plant paste that is applied only to the
surface of the skin and allowed to dry and stay on the
skin for several hours while it stains the skin. Henna
body art will only last 1-3 weeks, so that you can
experiment with a variety of designs, unlike tatoos which
are permanent and can be very painful and costly to
remove.
HOW
IS HENNA APPLIED? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
Henna is applied on the skin as a paste, either using a
small cone or a j-bottle applicator. Clients often find
that it is a cooling and calming experience. Small simple
designs can take as little as 10-15 minutes, medium ones
from 30-45 minutes. Complex designs such as for weddings
or those covering a large area can take several hours to
apply.
After the henna paste has dried, it is sprayed with
several light coats of sealant to help keep the dried
paste from falling off too quickly. Depending on the
area, sometimes a protective layer of clear medical tape
is applied to keep it from being rubbed off. The paste is
left on for at least 4-6 hours or overnight for best
results. It is then scraped or peeled off; under no
conditions should the paste be washed off with water as
this will cause the stain to be very faded!
HOW
DO I TAKE CARE OF MY HENNA? (AFTERCARE TIPS)
When the paste is freshly removed, the henna stain will
be a light orange colour and will deepen in colour over
the next 2-3 days. If you plan on displaying your henna
body art for a specific event (party, prom or wedding);
you should have the henna applied at least 3 days ahead
of time so that it has time to develop into it's full
stain.
Henna stains several skin cells deep; as your skin
exfoliates the stain will gradually wear and fade away.
You should avoid getting water on your unprotected henna
stain for the first 24 hours in order to help the henna
stain to it's best effect. Avoid harsh cleaning products,
abrasives, or chlorinated water (such as in spas, hot
tubs and swimming pools). If necessary, protect it with a
specialized henna aftercare balm, shea butter or a lotion
that does not contain alpha hydroxy acids, or
even rubber gloves if you have to be exposed to the above
conditions. These simple precautions will help you to
keep your henna body art looking it's best and last for
the longest possible time.
HOW
LONG DOES HENNA BODY ART LAST?
Depending on what part of the body that it is applied on,
henna will generally last anywhere from 7 to 21 days, in
some cases it can last even longer. Making sure to leave
the dried henna paste on for at least 4-6 hours at the
minimum; from 6-8 hours or overnight will enable it to
stain the skin deeper, meaning that it will last longer.
Good aftercare by the client is also essential in keeping
it looking good and lasting longer. (See above for
aftercare instructions)
HOW
DO I PREPARE FOR MY HENNA SESSION?
Bathe, shower and exfoliate your skin *before* your
session and do NOT apply any lotions on the area to be
hennaed. Be sure to dress comfortably, with easy access
to the area to be hennaed. If you are having your feet
done, it might be best to wear something loose such as
flip-flops. If you are having the palms of your hands
done, be sure to have a ride or lift home instead of
driving!
Waxing, manicuring and nail polish should be done ahead
of time so as to not ruin your henna! For an understated
look, go for a classic french manicure, pale or sheer
colours. For a more dramatic look, darker nail polish
colours such as red, burgundy, bronze or even gold can be
stunning!
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* Henna plant photo courtesy
of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
* Henna powder photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Commons
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