Mehendi

Ingredients Of Mehendi  |   Suggestions On Mehendi | Tours


Expression, fun, painless, and cheap. Mehendi is the Indian version of tattoos, which is finely impregnated with Indian culture and tradition. Though the history of mehendi is untraceable but it is believed that it was originated in India during the Mughal era. Whatever the historical account is, mehendi is quite a popular cosmetic product in India. this traditional art form wavers from different region to region. The variety of designs epitomize the culture, religion, tradition, good health, wisdom and even spiritual enlightenment.

Mehendi is art form done herbal heena leaves. Leaves first dried, powdered and then mix with water and different oil for a deep stain on body. It gives a beautiful red and white stain on the body. Sometimes lemon juice is added to give a stronger stain. After laid out the design, a mixture of lemon and sugar swabbed over the design set in. Mehendi unlike permanent tattoos fades over time, generally it will stay for 1 to 4 weeks thats also depends on which body part use for decoration and how long you stay the paste was left to set.

Mehendi is customary in Indian wedding. Indian weddings are incomplete without the ritualistic designs on their hands and feet. Dark color of mehendi represent good luck and prosperity to newly wed couple. Designing mehendi is also various. In India Rajasthani design is very often used in various weddings and other festivals. In Rajasthan itself there are lots of pattern. Most common is called chowk- means courtyard. This pattern is popular among womenfolk. This pattern also used at the time of various festivals like holi, teej. Pankhi is also another pattern means a hand fan mainly use in summer months. Another pattern, which is very famous among people is lahariya-means a wave or ripple, popular in rainy season. Another popular one in India is Arabic pattern, which is distinctive from Rajasthani style. Arabic pattern is large floral designs on hands and feet. But generally Indian decorate their hands, feet with small lacy style. African style of mehendi decoration is another typical style, which is bold, large geometric designs and genrally black. Black stain comes when the henna paste is removed by blackish paste and ammonia. However, it is not widely popular in India.


Main Ingredients Of Mehendi

Lemon Juice- Henna stain can be best intensify by applying lemon to remove the paste.

Essentials Oil- Most common oil is eucalyptus oil. Other oils like tea tree oil, cajeput oil and terpeneol is used . to remove the strong odor, floral oil is also mixed with it. But use of more essential oil can shorten the stain of mehendi, also oils may be irritate your skin.

Tea- To darken the coloration, tea is used. Also give a nice smell.

Sugar/Sugar Syrup – Sugar increases the rate of absorption of moisture. Also it prevent the paste to dry early.

Tamarind Paste - It improve paste viscosity, stickiness, and acidity.

Fenugreek Seeds - Fenugreek seeds or okra seeds give heena more stingy consistency.

Cloves- These are coloring agent. Instead of giving essential oils, you can use cloved powder to darken the stain.

Wine/Wine Vinegar - Acts same like lemon juice.

Titanium Powder - Makes paste smoother.


Suggestions On Mehendi

Always try to wear dark mehendi. Black color is preferable. Mehendi is generally sports by the combination of dress.

Another way to prepare a desire color is to mix mehendi with transparent adhesive.

After decorating the henna paste, decorate with glitters.

Let the mehendi dry it for maximum time. More than half hour for a much permanent and darker stain.

Mehendi In The West

Mehendi is now a days popular in west also because of its herbal and painless method. In Euro-American culture it is a recent phenomenon. Actress Demi Moore was the first Hollywood celebrity to sport mehendi. Followed by pop star Gwen Steffani, actress Liv Taylor, Drew Barrymore, and Madonna applied this traditional art form on their body. Mehendi as trendy alternative to tattoos, many popular glossies like Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar spread this trend to the western market.

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