The History of Henna
The History of Henna
The practice of applying henna paste to the skin in elaborate designs is becoming more and more popular in the West, but it has been an important part of Eastern cultures and traditions for centuries. The application of henna as skin decoration (body paint) is called ‘Mehndi’, and is often used for social occasions with special meaning, predominantly for weddings.
Henna is one of the most ancient forms of body painting, and has a rich history in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. It is generally applied to the skin of the hands and feet primarily because these areas of the body carry with them tremendous symbolism – and, coincidentally, higher levels of keratin than the rest of the skin.
The henna ‘body paint’ is made into a paste and is then applied with a paint brush, plastic cone or a tiny metal-tipped bottle. After the henna is applied, the artist wraps the area of the body in plastic or another substance in order to trap the body’s heat and, consequently, intensifying the color. After several hours (or overnight) the wrapping is removed and the design is revealed. The henna lasts on the skin from two weeks to a few months. It is an earthy rich, reddish-brown color.
In Pakistan, Sudan, Bangladesh, and predominantly in India, henna body paint is applied in intricate designs to the hands and sometimes feet of brides and even grooms prior to or as part of the wedding ceremony and, socially, during celebration rituals and festivals. It is sometimes applied to expectant mothers during the seventh month of pregnancy to mark the joy of the upcoming birth; it has even cited as having been used during fertility rituals as early as 1600 BC.
In addition to having connotations of love, joy and life-giving energy, henna ‘bodypaint’ is a tradition that imbues the painted person with a feeling of great beauty and peace. In the West, during the past two decades, it has become increasingly used in celebration and during get-togethers – henna is often used for bachelorette parties, and during baby showers or other celebrations which mark an exciting passage in a person’s life. There are many resources for henna designs and body painting kits on the Internet and in libraries and bookstores.