About mehndi

WHAT IS MEHNDI? Mehndi is the art of applying Henna on the body. It is a beautiful form of temporary body decoration. Mehndi is a traditional form decoration for both men and women in countries such as India, Morocco, and Pakistan. It is generally used for special occasions, particularly HOW IS IT MADE? Henna is a small shrub called Hawsonia inermis, and is found in Iran,India,Pakistan, Egypt, and North Africa. The young leaves and twigs are ground into fine powder, then mixed with water and applied on the hands, feet and hair to give them a reddish-orange color. The henna mud mixture can be applied in beautiful patterns via a small plastic bag with a small hole pricked into one corner. This bag acts as a mini pastry-decorating tube. WHERE ON THE BODY IS IT USED? Henna is used for decoration on hands and feet. It is also used to dye the hair. Henna is heat sensitive. The warmer the skin, the longer-lasting the dye. The stain lasts longest on the palm of the hand. The color is much lighter on the back of the hand. The bottom of the feet also takes mehndi well. If applied on the hair it dyes it to a reddish-brown color. HOW LONG DOES IT STAY ON THE BODY? When the henna mud is applied, one is directed to keep the mud on the skin overnight, or for several hours. The longer the mud remains, the longer the color will last. It helps to keep the mud a little moist with a mixture of lemon juice and sugar (it smells good, too!). The reddish-brown color of Henna begins to fade within two days. It then changes to a lighter color in six to seven days. It fades gracefully. Mehndi usually stays on the body for fifteen to twenty days, varying with the body heat of each individual. WHAT KIND OF MOTIFS ARE USED? Traditional designs are made of very fine lines and often have paisley motifs. Other popular traditional motifs are leaf and flowers. More modern motifs now may have animal motifs, heart motifs or the name of the person, but in NYC, anything goes. WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING HENNAED LIKE? Women look forward to sitting down with a mehndi artist. The whole act of Henna decoration is a wonderful experience in itself. It is a royal experience. It can be a peaceful experience, or it can be part of a larger party. Oftentimes, friends and relatives gather around and do preparation for Henna. The aroma of Mehndi oil and Henna itself is intoxicating; the mud smells very rich and earthy, and reminds me of home. It feels great to be pampered by someone else. The Mehndi artist holds your hand in a soft and gentle way. Then she decorates your hands and feet while you lie down on a couch. In India, I could be excused from a day's work because of Mehndi