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