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

Henna Tattoo Designs

From what I know, my ancestors used henna. Their designs were just to put henna around their fingertips, and a circle in the middle of the palm. Other women would put it around their fingertips, put a ball of henna in their palm, and squeeze it into a fist. This way the hand would be stain on the hand, except the creases that we have on our palms and fingers. The more modern designs are more artistic. Most of them are flower patterns wrapping around the hands or legs. Some people like to draw animals or names. You can also have designs on your back, chest, or stomach. The henna will stain anywhere on your skin, but the darkest stain you will get is on your palm. We have thicker skin on the palm, and that causes the henna to stain deeper. The longer you leave the henna on, the darker it will stain. I recommend leaving the henna on for at least five hours. If you have the patience, you can put the henna on overnight and wash it in the morning. This way, you will get the best color.

Traditional Design Before

Traditional Design After

Modern Design Before

Modern Design Before

Modern Design After

Modern Design After

Henna for Hair

Instead of using dye, full of chemicals to get red hair, you can use henna. Henna can be used for dandruff or deep conditioning as well. For dandruff you can mix it with water, and a few drops of tea tree oil. The tea tree oil stimulates the scalp and gets rid of the itchiness. It also removes dead skin. You will feel it tingling on your scalp when you apply it. If you have dry hair there are three ingredients henna can help moisturize it. You can use olive oil, coconut oil, or raw honey. You will not get much of the color, but you will get shiny hair. I recommend using at least one cup of the oils or honey with milk when you mix it. You should do it every two weeks to see results. If you want it just for the red color, than you can just mix it with water. You mix the henna until it’s kind of a smoothie texture; not too watery but not too thick. Make sure you cover the whole scalp and the hair. With all the different techniques you should keep it on for at least four hours. If you have the patience, you can leave it overnight and wash it off when you wake up.

Before

During

After

                                                             

What is Henna?

Henna is a natural dye that people use to decorate their skin. It can also be used as a hair dye. Henna comes from the henna plant. The leaves are dark green and oval shaped. It is picked, dried, than ground into a fine powder. It is than sifted to get all the stems out. It can be mixed with water or tea. When you apply it on the hand or hair, it gives it a dark orange color. Henna is temporary. It lasts about two to three weeks, depending on how much you wash the area. You can purchase henna anywhere; Internet or stores such as Middle Eastern or Indian stores carry it. Henna is very popular in India and the Middle East. They use it during weddings, holidays, and special occasions. My mother uses henna a lot. She uses it to dye her hair and hands. I hated it when I was a child. I didn't like when kids at school asked me about it. As I grew older, I got familiar with the different designs and techniques, and I began to like it. In many cultures henna is a form of art, and is a very important aspect.
                                                                                                                                

Henna Powder