We love Henna designs – they’re lovely, intricate and provide a surprising solution to categorical your character and individuality. The traditional physique artwork has been common in elements of India, Pakistan, Africa, Egypt and the Center East for over 5,000 years, and the momentary brown dye is well-known for adorning palms, toes, legs and arms forward of vital celebrations. In South Asia, it varieties an integral a part of the mehndi get together for brides forward of their wedding ceremony day, the place it symbolises good well being and prosperity, plus a deep bond the darker it goes. It is also used to symbolise pleasure, kindness, well being, wealth and peace throughout many cultures. However other than trying fairly, how a lot have you learnt about Henna?
What’s henna?
Whilst you’d be forgiven for considering henna was the identify of the art work, “henna is definitely a plant,” explains Pavan Dhanjal, CEO of Pavan Henna. Historically, “the leaves can be crushed up right into a powder and blended with water,” she says. The mixture creates a dye that is been used for generations to create momentary designs on the pores and skin.
“Henna is a type of adornment for ladies nearly like jewelry on particular events,” provides Nissa Hussain, director at Fusion Henna. Usually, these designs symbolise “prosperity, wealth, new beginnings, and celebration,” confirms Pavan.
As for the way henna designs have advanced, “henna designs are sometimes a mixture of repetitive motifs similar to flowers, vines, mandalas and so forth. Nonetheless, in newer years, henna has been tailored to extra up to date kinds and utilized extra merely similar to henna rings on the fingers or utilized in a bracelet fashion as a brief tattoo,” says Nissa.
The historical past of henna
Henna has an extended, wealthy historical past, however earlier than it was used for adornment, it served a extra sensible function. “Henna was used centuries in the past in hotter climates to chill down the pores and skin. It could be unfold on the palms of the palms and toes,” explains Pavan. “This may cool the pores and skin down and on the similar time give a vibrant color and perfume. Over time this turned ornamental, and designs would usually mirror on the area folks lived in and the style fashion on the time. At the moment, usually huge daring designs are Arab fashion, intricate designs are from India, thick floral designs from the Punjab and tribal designs with symmetry are from the African area,” she provides.
Is henna secure to make use of?
As with every dye or plant extract, it is vital to do a patch take a look at to see how your pores and skin responds. However pure henna is taken into account typically secure to make use of for momentary tattoos.
Nonetheless, be careful for black henna ink (often known as PPD), a chemical model that is banned within the UK to be used on pores and skin. It creates darker designs however may cause hurt and burns to the pores and skin. Pure henna ought to be brown or olive in color (by no means black) and odor of crops.
Be sure you go to a good artist with good evaluations. Or, should you’re all in favour of having a go your self, select a dependable stockist. “We have now our Henna Bar in Selfridges and we additionally promote our henna there. We have launched on-line with them, too,” says Pavan. It is the primary time Selfridges has stocked henna. “Earlier than, you’d solely be capable to get it at your native Indian grocery retailer, so it is a huge deal for us,” says Pavan.