The Prophet Muhammed dyed his beard red using henna and his Caliphs adopted this practice. Fatima, Muhammed’s daughter, adorned her hands in mehndi. Khamsa, also the Arabic number 5, refers to the protective image of Fatima’s hand with patterns on it, often worn as a talisman. The use of henna and mehndi by the Prophet insured its place in history and its popularity and acceptance among the Muslim people.

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Your henna design can last as long as 1 to 3 weeks with proper care. Please leave the paste on as long as possible, at least 2 hours. The longer the paste stays on, and the warmer your skin is while it’s on, the better the result. When you want the paste off, you should scratch, not wash, it off. Wait at least 24 hours after paste removal before getting the design wet. The design will look orange shortly after paste removal and in the next 12 to 24 hours it will darken to its final color. Over the days and weeks the design will fade as your skin cells exfoliate and new cells are made beneath. You can prolong the life of the design by rubbing a vegetable-based oil into your skin- such as olive oil. Chapstick can be used in a pinch to protect your body art before bathing.

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The current craze for body painting among the urban youth has suddenly revived interest in mehndi — the natural and pain-free art of decorating the hands and feet with henna on ceremonial occasions. Today, it has taken the place of tattoos and the many harmful chemical applications for colouring the skin.

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Henna doesn’t hurt. You´re not injecting anything into your skin. A vegetable dye is being painted on top of it. When people react badly to henna body painting, it is most often to an essential oil in the henna paste rather than to the henna itself. If you have any fragrance or essential oil sensitivities, please consult your henna artist as to the exact recipe used, or specifically mention what substances you are allergic to. The most common side effect from henna applications is a contact dermatitis, usually manifesting as a brief rash with itching.

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Helpful Hints:
After scraping off the mud, try not to get the skin wet for several hours to help the color set better, about 4 or 5 hours. Traditionally the henna is left on overnight. If you use the lemon-sugar glaze, the henna will actually stay on overnight and the bits that do come off will wash out of your sheets. The less you wash the painted area, the longer the design will last. Swimming, hot tubs, dish-washing, etc. will all cause designs to fade more quickly. Applying lotions or creams to the skin can also result in less color retention.

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Medicinal Mehndi uses:
# as a bitter tea for stomach or intestinal troubles
# as a paste to cool fevers and cure headaches
# as a paste to cure ringworm or nail fungus
# to reduce chafing and prevent blisters
# to soothe irritated, dry or chapped skin

Cosmetic Mehndi uses:
# as a hair thickener and conditioning treatment
# as a nail colorant and conditioner
# as a decorative stain for the body

Other Mehndi uses:
# as a brown dye for wool, cotton, and silk
# as a marker to ward off evil

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To apply henna on hair, you will need only the henna powder and several simple-to-gather items that you probably already have around the house. Avoid using metal bowls or utensils for mixing, as they can react with the natural chemicals present in the henna.

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The use of mehandi or henna became a significant part of Indian folk art soon after the advent of the Muslims. The orange-red mehandi color was often painted on new brides. The women were painted with intricate designs on order to distinguish them from unmarried young virgins, who were in danger of being kidnapped by the Muslims. From that time onward, it is said that mehandi flourished as decorative art in India. Hindus consider mehandi as very dear to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and fortune. If ever there was a plant associated with luck and prosperity, it is henna bush.

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