What is Mehndi?
by Anita Shah

Mehndi is the traditional art of painting hands and feet with a paste made from the leaves of the henna plant. (Lawsonia inermis).

History states that Mehndi or Henna was not only used for cosmetic purposes but also as a healing ointment around 5000 years ago.

The art of Mehndi was originated in the Middle East and North Africa and was spread to India by the Muslims. The art of mehndi, in India, came into practice during the 12th century. However, it is often suggested that Indians used mehndi earlier than the 12th century. Henna is grown in tropical climates like Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, India and Sri Lanka.

Mehndi, is traditionally and religiously used by certain cultures for decorative purposes on the hands and feet, and is now becoming popular in the west. Mehndi is a rising trend among men and women because it is a temporary, painless, and an inexpensive method of tattooing. Many people opt for a simple design on their ankle, shoulder, back, or arm The common belief is that mehndi brings good luck.

The art of applying Mehndi or Henna varies according to the different religions, cultures and traditions. The Arabic Mehndi designs have more floral nature to them and are not as finely placed as Indian mehndi designs which are very intricate. In contrast, the African designs are more geometrical in nature.

The henna plant is 8 to 10 feet high and its leaves are dried and crushed to make henna powder. The powder is than sieved 2-3 times through a fine nylon cloth to make it finer and easier to use. The powder is then mixed with water, lemon juice and special oils (eucalyptus or clove oil) to produce the thick mehndi paste. Special care has to be taken to keep the Mehndi paste smooth. Before one can begin applying mehndi, the produced paste must first be inserted in a "cone" to aid in applying mehndi. The "cone" is the term that refers to a plastic sheet rolled up in a cone shape with a cutout opening at the bottom. This cone shaped plastic sheet is then used to administer the mehndi. The "fineness" of the mehndi is dependent on the size of the opening at the bottom of the cone. The smaller the opening, the finer the mehndi.

Once you know to produce a thick and smooth mehndi paste, you can then begin to experiment with different designs to achieve colours that range from a deep orange to shades of dark brown. After the mehndi has been applied, a solution of lemon juice and sugar is then applied to the mehndi to allow it to remain stuck to the skin. This lemon juice solution has a side benefit of improving the dying process. The mehndi colour usually lasts for several days to several weeks depending on various factors. The colour tends to stay longer the less frequently it is exposed to water and soap. One note of interest is that the final colour of the applied mehndi is not known until 8-10 hours after the mehndi has been applied. Because different people desire different shades of mehndi it is imperative that the mehndi designer be experienced enough to know the correct mehndi powder composition to attain the desired final shade of their client’s mehndi. Furthermore, the final colour of the mehndi will also depend on the body temperature of the client.