What is henna?

Henna comes from the leaves of the henna plant. The paste or powder which one is more familiar with, is obtained by crushing the leaves into a powder. Fresh henna leaves have a very earthy scent. When the paste is made with the proper mixture of henna powder, lemon and eucalyptus oil, you get the distinctive henna fragrance. This paste is then applied onto hands, feet and other parts of the body using various tools.The art of Henna goes a long way back in countries like India, Egypt, and Morocco. Henna is put on many celebratory occasions such as weddings and baby showers. It is also considered a sign for good luck and propsperity for the future.Henna is an all natural healthy way to explore body art.

Three reasons why many prefer henna art to body tattoos:

1. Henna is natural.
2. Having henna applied is painless.
3. It is temporary.

Henna lasts for an average of two weeks depending on the person's skin type and the depth of the stain. However, as skin exfoliates over time, the henna design fades. So, if you dont like it - or feel like a change every once in a while, all you have to is wait for it to disappear!There are many styles in the designs : traditional Indian, Arabic, Moroccan and so on. Being from India, I am most familiar with Indian designs - especially the well known Bridal designs. For those of you who have never experimented with henna before, I would strongly encourage you to try it out (check for allergies first though!). The art of applying henna may not seem easy at first, but the more you do the easier and more fun it gets. Soon, you will have found a new creative outlet!