Have you ever thought of your body as a canvas brought into existence to become a true art creation? Human beings have always been known for their penchant for extravagant experiments with decorating themselves. One of the most fashionable yet changeable and safe form of body art remains henna painting.
In the West, the art of Mehndi (an Indian word for henna), a traditional art of henna design wide-spread in India, North Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, has earned an especially high popularity over the last few years, having become a hot accessory everywhere from the catwalk to the high street. The new fashion trend of such "temporary tattooing" hit the scene when the list of celebrities brought it into the public eye by decorating their bodies with the fancy calligraphy. In 1996, musician Lorretta Roome, who learnt mehndi painting from Indian artist Rani Patel, held a photographic exhibition in New York to introduce the exotic art to the Western world. The kickback was immediate. Model and actress Liv Tyler had her hands and feet painted with henna for the cover of the April 1997 issue of Vanity Fair magazine, photographed by Herb Ritts. Pop legend Madonna featured it in her Frozen video and ad campaign for "Ebel Swiss Watches" and even ornamented her face for the 1998 MTV Video Awards ceremony. Catwalk queen Naomi Campbell flashed her henna designs on the catwalk. The list of celebrities adorned with mehndi continues with Demi Moore, Gwen Stefani, Mira Sorvino, Kathleen Robertson, Prince, Yasmine Bleeth from Baywatch, and many others.
Henna paste, made from the crushed leaves of the henna plant, a shrub that grows in hot and dry climates, has been used by people in over 60 countries for thousands of years. While the lower part of the plant serves well for hair treatment, skin conditioning and heat rash relief, its top leaves is what is used best for henna art designs. In many religions and cultures henna ornaments symbolize happiness, luck, well-being, devotion or sexuality and have been part of traditional rituals, such as celebration of marriage, deterring of evil, blessing of a new life or preparation of a person for death. In India and Pakistan, application of henna is still used in wedding ceremonies, when all female members of both families converge and get to know each other amid storytelling and beautifying themselves with intricate patterns.
To some, the art of mehndi symbolizes a shift in thinking from the material towards the spiritual, to others it may represent a fascinating art form, a new fashion statement, an exotic accessory to impress your lover or a mere alternative to permanent tattoo. Since in Western civilization Mehndi remains more as an artform rather than a part of ritual that carries a cryptic meaning, there are no rules or guidelines as to where and how you can decorate your body. Your imagination is the only limit. Hands, palms, fingers and feet are the most popular places for paining. However, this does not mean you have to ignore other areas. Most traditional henna patterns are based on very simple shapes like circles, loops, triangles and lines that gradually develop into more tortuous and complex designs. Feel free to experiment and explore your artistic potential. Lacy, geometrical, tribal, abstract, or whimsical patterns – there are no boundaries for diversity. Just keep in mind that henna stains very quickly and, once you make a mistake, it will be very difficult to fix it.
True mehndi is done with pure green henna powder that leaves stains ranging from orange to red to brown hues. Many suppliers today offer henna in different colors, derived from mixing the herb with other substances. However, this is not recommended as the chemicals may cause allergic reaction. Black henna has especially been known as dangerous due to a synthetic black hair dye called para-phenylendiamine added to it, which can lead to serious skin injures. Natural henna paintings are absolutely safe and last up to several weeks causing no harm to epidermis. Richness of color as well as durability of design may vary depending on such factors as skin type, ingredients of the mehndi mixture, how long the paste is left on skin and how frequently the decorated area is washed.
Today many beauty salons and tattoo parlours offer mehndi services. Nevertheless, creating your own patterns and decorating your body with your own hands is also possible and can actually be a lot of fun. If you are new to mehndi, do some sketches with eyeliner first or transfer the pattern to the skin prior to applying henna. Mix the henna powder with lemon juice until the blend is slightly runnier than the consistency of toothpaste, apply the mixture with a plastic cone, a plastic craft bottle with an applicator tip, or a paintbrush, and leave it on for as long as you can. The minimum time is three hours. For the best results, leave it overnight. For a darker and thicker mixture, add very dark tea or coffee, sugar or honey, and a few drops of clove oil. To keep the henna stuck on your skin, seal it with spray hair gel and wrap in plastic. Stains will be darkest and last longest in the areas where skin is thickest, like feet and hand palms.
Don't be afraid to experiment with your creativity! It's the freedom that goes along with mehndi art that makes it so enjoyable and diverse. Let yourself express your inner sensations and become more appealing, enigmatic, outstanding, and unique.