Bridal Henna

Bridal henna is very critical henna design. In the Middle East and India, the bride is judged by her henna. Depending on the wealth of the family, they are willing to travel a long distance to get a good henna artist. In some of the cultures, the wedding lasts for a week. In the Middle East there is one day of the wedding called the day of the henna. They will prepare the brides skin a month in advance with oils and honey for that day. The bride will enter a room with the henna artist only with one or two female relatives. They want the henna artist to focus with no distraction. The henna artist will draw henna on the bride’s arms, legs, chest, and upper back. Some cultures draw henna around the stomach and lower back. When the artist is done with the bride, she will then draw henna on the female family members of the bride. She will draw simple designs, so that she doesn’t take away the attention from the bride’s henna. The henna drawing happens in the morning, so by the afternoon more women will come and celebrate all night. The bride will leave the henna until the next morning and wash it off.                                   

Different Colors of Henna

There is only one color of a henna stain, which is the red-orange color. Many people like to use different colors of henna. The most commonly used than the other colors is black henna. You will find it at any Indian, Middle Eastern, or online stores. They also have blue, red, purple, green, and yellow henna. Beware; these products are full of unknown chemicals. If you do your research you will find that people having permanent scars on where the henna was applied. Some people mix indigo powder in the henna to have a black stain for your skin or hair. Indigo powder is safer to use but only lasts a few days. When you buy henna, you can tell by the color. Natural henna powder is green. If the henna powder is red or black, there are other ingredients mixed in it. There is also glitter henna. This is usually used in henna parties. Women will apply the glitter henna on the regular henna designs just for decoration. The glitter will not stain on your skin therefor it is safe. Make sure when you are buying henna to read the ingredients, and test it on your skin.

Henna for Medicinal Purposes

Henna has medicinal purposes. It helps reduce the swelling of a sprain, and cools down rashes and burns. For sprains, all you need is a cup of henna, half a cup salt, half cup of fresh grated turmeric, and water. You mix the henna with the ingredients until it is a yogurt texture, and let it sit for at least five hours. Smear the henna mix around the sprain until the area is fully covered. Wrap a cloth around the area, and leave it on until the henna is dry. If you have any cuts, then you might not want to put any salt because it will burn. When you take off the cloth, you should notice that the swelling has reduced. Henna is also good for rashes and burns. It is known to have a cooling system. For burns and rashes, mix the henna with water and raw honey. When you apply the henna you should fell it soothing the irritation.

Henna for Pregnancy

In the Middle East, when a women finds out that she is pregnant, they will perform a henna ceremony. All the female friends and family members will be invited to participate in the ceremony. A woman will draw a flower around the pregnant women’s stomach with henna. The design will start from the navel and expands out. This normally occurs within the first three months of pregnancy. The other women at the party also get henna drawing, but they will have it on their hands instead. They also believe that if there is a solar eclipse, when a woman is pregnant, that she should smear mixed henna on her stomach. This is done because of superstition. It is believed that without it, the child will be born with a white birthmark anywhere on their body. They fear that the birthmark might be on the baby's face, so they are very cautious.
    

A pregnant women with henna design on her stomach

After the woman gives birth, the mother stays inside the house and is pampered with oils and honey for 40 days. On the 40^th day, the mother will have a henna ceremony to celebrate her recovery and motherhood. Just like when she finds out that she is pregnant, close friends and family members will attend. This time instead of having henna drawn on her stomach, she will have it on her arms and legs. The other women will have it done on their hands as well.

Henna vs Mehandi

In the Middle East they call it Henna, and in India they call it Mehndi. Both use it for the same purpose, but they have different design techniques. In the Middle East, they don’t fill up the skin as much. They like to have wider designs, and not to cover up all the skin. It is usually a flower design that wraps around the hand and arms. They also do the same for the legs. In India it is more henna than skin. Their designs are more basic swirls than flower designs. They draw birds and different symbols. They fill up the birds and symbols with swirls, and dots so there is less plain skin. Since I am a beginner, I am just doing the Middle Eastern version. It is less time to draw than the Indian version. Hopefully when I can draw faster, I can do more of the Indian version. Both countries use it for a symbol of beauty, and special occasions.

Middle Eastern Design

Indian Design

Henna Tattoo Applicators

There are three different ways you can apply henna. The basic version is a cone made from a plastic bag. Make sure the bag is durable; that way it won’t rip when you are applying henna. Use a thick square plastic bag. Twist it into a cone until the tip is very sharp, and put tape around it. Then fill it with henna, and make sure to close the opening with lots of tape so it doesn’t leak. Cut a small opening at the tip. The larger the opening, the thicker the henna line will be. Another way is using a syringe. You fill up a syringe with henna, and use a tip size you desire at the end. I personally don’t like this version because it is very tricky. You have to be very careful when pushing the henna. If you push too hard, it can squirt out a lot, and make a mess. The easiest way, and the one I use, is a plastic henna applicator. It is a small plastic bottle, with a variety of tip sizes you can choose from. It comes in one ounce and two ounce bottles. You fill up the applicator with henna, and choose the tip size you like. It is more controllable then the others. You squeeze the bottle on the sides to get the henna out, and start drawing. You can purchase the plastic wrap for the cones and applicators online.

Heena Cone

Plastic Henna Applicator

Henna Syringe

How to prepare Henna for tattoos

There are different ways you can prepare henna. Essential oils help darken the color, but the tattoo will fade faster. You can use eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, or mehendi oil. Some people recommend using gasoline; it will give you a dark color, but it is not safe. Also mix the henna with back tea with sugar, and lemon juice. First, mix in just enough tea and lemon juice until the henna is firm. Make sure to get all the lumps out, so it is easy to get it through the tip of the applicator. Then after you get all the lumps out, you put a few drops of any essential oil you wish. After you have that in, you can put more of the tea and lemon juice until the henna is like a toothpaste texture. You put the henna in your applicator, and let it sit for about six hours so the ingredients can mix in. I like to use the eucalyptus and the tea tree oil. The mehandi oil gives the best stain color, but has unknown ingredients in it. If you know you have fresh henna, you don’t have to use oils. Fresh henna usually will give a strong stain. Just mix it with tea and lemon juice.

Prepared Henna