 Henna
And Mehndi Tattoos -
Where It All Started And Why
Henna
/ Mehndi has a very long history with centuries of migration and
cultural interaction. Many different traditions began in multiple
different cultures over the past 5000 years and it has now become
part of our modern history as well. Henna / Mehndi has a rich and
beautiful past including evidence that it was originally used
in ancient Egypt to stain the fingers and toes of
the Pharaohs prior to mummification. The
most common association with henna tattooing is it's use within
the Indian culture used as a ceremonial art form for wedding ceremonies.
Along with it's beautiful and eye catching cosmetic uses, henna
/ mehndi is also known for it's natural healing properties for health
problems such as
headaches, liver disorders, skin diseases
and more.
The
art form of mehndi differs from region to region, as it is a tradition
that has been a part of so many cultures over the past 5000 years
to present. Arabic designs tend to be more floral in their patterns
while Indian designs are made of a delicate blending of fine lines
creating striking pattern which covers a larger area of the skin
such as the hands and feet. You will see this Indian tradition most
often used as part of a wedding ceremony. Africans
and Native/South American Indians have used henna tattooing as well
but their designs tend to be larger geometric designs as opposed
to the more often seen delicate designs of India.
The
modern henna tattooing that has now become part of many cultures
worldwide which didn't originally use this form of body art can
be quite diverse. Some people choose to wear a traditional Indian
design while others use henna tattooing as a replacement for a modern
tattoo design. Henna tattoos have become a very popular way to express
ones individuality without the pain and permanency of an actual
tattoo.
Aside
from the tattooing side of henna, it is also very often used as
a hair dye. Henna hair dye is a safe and natural way to change your
hair color as opposed to the typical chemical hair dyes that so
many people use. Henna hair dye is safe and gentle on your skin
and hair making it a wonderful alternative to the very abusive chemical
hair dyes you will use at a salon or buy from your local hair products
retailer. Henna hair dye is completely natural and safe to use while
you are pregnant as it is made from vegetable dyes rather than chemical
dyes and unlike many chemical hair dyes henna does not contain bio-available
lead acetate, which can be harmful to the fetus, particularly the
nervous system and brain.
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