| Henna/Mehndi |
by Little Salem
| Henna as an Art Form You can look up henna, mehndi or mehandi and find loads of information on henna. It has been used as far back as 6000 BCE and it is still used today. Traditionally it has been used by women at different stages in life; during menses, on the bride the night before the wedding, during pregnancy and childbirth. It is definitely not limited to women though, as it has been applied ceremoniously on boys and men for birth, circumcisions and weddings. To find an in depth study on the history, science, and application of henna, I go to the Henna Pages at www.hennapages.com. Henna is a multi -layered art form. For me, it is yet another art medium in which I can express myself. It is one more path where I can achieve a state of bliss that is known to artists. The first step for mehndi is the application. This should be relaxing for the person receiving henna. On its own, the henna design is beautiful, but it can be adorned with gilding, glitter and jewels if so desired. After the henna is removed, the stain is an orange to orange-brown color. On the second and third day the stain becomes darker as the henna becomes oxidized from being exposed to the air. The henna should last anywhere from one to three weeks, depending on your skin and where the henna is on your body. (The best stain is on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet, the further away the henna from these areas, the lighter the stain will be.) Henna is a natural sun block. If you should get a tan while you have a henna tattoo, you may end up with a reverse pattern, as the area that was tattooed will block the sun. I look at it as yet another dimension to the art! Giving and receiving henna is more than a two dimensional art form. It includes many factors that cause it to become an art experience that has it’s roots at the early years of our existence. |
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