Mehndi Designs

Mehndi is the application of henna as a temporary form of skin decoration traditionally from India.

Henna is a flowering plant used since antiquity to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather and wool. Traditionally women in India make the henna paste by grinding fresh henna leaves on a grinding stone with added oil. This method is known to bring much darker colors than the modern methods. In the modern age, people often buy readymade Henna cones, which are ready to use and make painting easy.

Henna was originally used as a form of decoration mainly for Hindu brides. However, it is also applied during special occasions such as Hindu festivals.

In some Hindu festivals, every woman tries to have Henna done on her hands and feet. It is usually drawn on the palms and feet, where the color will be darkest because the skin contains higher levels of keratin which binds temporarily to lawsone, the colorant of henna.

Because of the time it takes to prepare, often many people are involved in the process.

Often Hindu and Muslim brides will have the name of their husbands-to-be added to their Mehndi designs on their hands, because this is the first thing the groom is allowed to touch. Traditionally name is hidden in mehndi in order for the wedding night to commence the groom must find his name. If the groom fails to find his name within the intricate patterns, the bride will be more dominant in life. Sometimes the wedding night is not allowed to commence until the groom has found the names. Grooms name hidden in the right hand design...Arun

Mehndi designs consist of taking small naturalistic designs and motifs (such as a Paisley shape, straight lines, scallop lines, dots, tear-drops, leaf shapes, etc.) and combining them to make a large, more complex design

The Process: 1. Henna paste is usually applied on the skin using a cone or a paint brush. Sometimes a small metal-tipped bottle is used.

2. The painted area is then wrapped with tissue, plastic, or medical tape to lock in body heat, creating a more intense color on the skin. 3. The wrap is worn three to six hours, or sometimes overnight and then removed.

4. When first removed, the henna design is pale to dark orange in color then gradually darkens through oxidation, over the course of 24 to 72 hours. 5. The final color is reddish brown and can last anywhere from one to three weeks depending on the quality and type of henna paste applied, as well as where it was applied on the body (thicker skin stains darker and longer than thin skin).

Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, where they are sometimes called henna tattoos

Alanis Morisette

Mehndi Hand Project 1. Select a flesh-tone colored construction paper 2. Create a contour line drawing of your hand – life size 3. Fill in with Calligraphic and Naturalistic Line Designs 4. Cut out and neatly mount on black paper 5. Sign front with white colored pencil