Mehndi

Henna is a dye found in hair coloring, that is also used in a temporary body art known as mehndi. It is made from the dried leaf and petiole of Lawsonia alba Lam. (Lawsonia inermis L.). The dye is traditionally found in India, Pakistan, Iran, and North Africa—as well as in expatriate communities from these countries.

The American Food and Drug Administration has not approved henna for direct application to the skin, but only for adding a deep red tint and shine to hair. Most other cultures consider naturally-made henna to be harmless, though some products known as black henna have been adulterated and can cause allergic reactions and permanent tissue damage.

Properties and Chemistry of Henna

To create henna, the leaves are dried and ground into a powder that is greenish-brown. Lemon juice and essential oils (such as tea tree and lavender) are added to release the dye from the powder, and sugar is mixed in to produce a mud-like consistency. The resulting paste needs to set for about 24-30 hours to allow the dye to release fully.

When used on skin, henna penetrates only the dead cells of the stratum corneum, a layer which is thickest on the hands and feet—especially for males. How long the paste is left on the body affects the depth of penetration, and the stain will last longer when fully absorbed in thick skin.

Allergic reactions to natural henna are rare, and typically do not cause serious health effects. Symptoms are usually apparent within a few hours—and are generally limited to mild itching, shortness of breath, and/or tightness in the chest.

Use of Henna as Body Art

Mehndi on hand

Mehndi usually denotes the application of henna as a temporary form of skin decoration. This usage is popular in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia—as well as expatriate communities from these areas. It is usually drawn on the hands and feet, where the designs will last the longest.

Henna paste is usually applied to the skin using a plastic cone or a paint brush, but sometimes a small metal-tipped jacquard bottle used for silk painting (a jac bottle) is used. The affected area is then wrapped with tissue, plastic, or medical tape to lock in body heat, creating a more intense color on the skin. The wrap is worn overnight and then removed. The final color is reddish brown and can last anywhere from two weeks to several months depending on the quality of the paste.

The patterns of mehndi are typically quite intricate, and predominantly applied to brides before wedding ceremonies. However, traditions in Bangladesh, Kashmir and Sudan sometimes expect bridegrooms to be painted as well. In Rajasthan (northwest India), where mehndi is a very ancient folkart, the grooms are given designs which are often as elaborate as those for brides.

Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, where they are sometimes called "henna tattoos". This American marketing slang is inaccurate, since tattoos are defined as permanent surgical insertion of pigments underneath the skin.

Black Henna

"Black henna" is the name given to an artificial product created by the addition of paraphenylenediamine ("PPD") to natural henna to create a black stain. PPD is traditionally used in black hair dye but is a sensitizer, which means that it is something that the body is naturally allergic to or can become allergic to. Black henna can cause severe reactions which can take anywhere from 5-15 days to appear, which can cause permanent scarring and may even be life threatening. Reactions to black henna frequently necessitate immediate medical attention from a doctor or allergist.

However, other dyes exist which are sometimes called "black henna", which are usually composed of a mixture of henna and indigo. These generally do not contain PPD.

External references

• A comprehensive listing of Mehndi Artists across the US, Canada and North America.
• The Henna Page (HennaPage.com) - Recognized by Wikiverse as a primary source of henna information.
• Free instructional materials from HennaPage.com: E-Books and Powerpoint presentations.
• HennaTribe - A member run forum and gallery
• HennaPage.net - a guide to henna body decoration
• Henna for Hair - instructions, pictures, and discussion
• Christian Science Monitor story about use of henna in the West
• Application, pictures and information
• Photos of Mehndi
• More Pictures of Henna on Hands and Feet

Henna: A Spiritual Ritual:

• [http://ihenna.com/album/album02/joeyearthgoddess - Use of Henna for spiritual and self expression

Safety:

• FDA report on henna as tattoo
• Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Volume 1
• http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/health/henna/
• Para-phenylenediamine "Black Henna" information.
• http://www.earthhenna.com/tattooinformation.html