Henna

Henna Plant

Henna is one of the safest cosmetics ever used, knows no boundaries in culture, ethnicity, gender, religious or spiritual beliefs. The art of applying henna on hands and feet is known as Mehndi and it is a very old custom and ancient form of art of the Asian subcontinent.

Origin And History of Henna

The word Henna has its origin in the Arabic word Al-Hinna.  It’s botanical name is Lawsonia Enermis, a plant which grows to be 4 to 8 feet high in hot climates and can be found in Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Persia, Morocco, Palestine, Yemen, Egypt, and India. The leaves, flowers and the twigs of the plant are ground into fine powder containing natural dying properties called tannins; the powder is then mixed with hot water.   Various shades are procured by mixing henna with the leaves and fruit of other plants, such as indigo, tea, coffee, cloves and lemon. 

Henna Powder

Historians argue that henna has been used for at least 5,000 years in both cosmetic and healing capacities.  Some researches argue that henna was originated in ancient India while others claim it was brought to India by Egyptian Moghuls in the 12th century C.E.  Still others will contend that the tradition of applying henna to the body began in the Middle East and North Africa in ancient times.  The origin can be from Egypt because it was one of the art forms in Egypt. It has been found that henna was used to stain the fingers and toes of Pharaohs earlier to mummification. The mummification process took many days and as the Egyptians were diligent in planning their rebirth after their death, they believed that body art ensured their recognition  into the afterlife and therefore used Henna to identify them.

Uses of Henna

Traditional Use of Henna

Middle Eastern Henna Design

In 2100 BC, henna has been used by early Babylonian and Sumerian civilizations. Before Moghul Era kings and queens used henna for body decoration as it signifies prosperity and fertility. Traditionally uses of henna comprises of :

• Applied for decorating hands.
• Used due to its cooling and healing properties.
• Henna is used for hair coloring and as conditioner.
• To decorate the bride used as a part of wedding celebration.
• Act as a skin cleanser and healer.
• It was considered that time that henna made human more aware of the Earth's energies therefore used by people to be in touch with spirituality.

Modern Use of Henna

As the time grows from traditional era to modern era, uses of henna also grow as it is now being manufactured and exported to a number of countries. Henna is not only used for adorning purpose but is also used in a variety of products. Henna is both used in its raw form as well as in powdered form. It is largely used due to its wide properties and applications such as :

• Among youth, henna tattoos are very popular and famous.
• Used as a hair tonic, hair conditioner.
• Apply for body adornment.
• Leading companies use henna due to its anti bacterial and anti fungal properties to make different skin products and hair products.



Bridal Henna

• In countries like India and Pakistan weddings are incomplete without the Mehndi ceremony .The ritual of this  ceremony is followed in every part of the country where the hands of the bride are adorned with the lovely red color of Henna. The patterns are intricately made by the artists or the beauticians.

Medicinal Uses of Henna
The henna tree and its branches constitute a dissolving factor of limpness of an organ due to moisture contained in it. The medication properties of henna plant is used for various purposes such as :

• Henna is used for curing common ailments such as burns, ulcer, swelling and pleurisy.
• It is helpful in the treatment of small pox occurring at early stage.
• Henna balm and paste is beneficial in treatment of cracking of nails. It is also helpful in treating scabies and itching
• The medicinal properties of henna helps in preventing hair growth, vision, youthfulness and treating pimples, blisters and skin pustules between the legs.

 Henna tattoo and Body Art

Men and women throughout India, Pakistan, Africa, and the Middle East have been adorning their bodies with graceful, colorful henna tattoos for thousands of years.

The designs can be small or large, simple or intricate, pictorial or abstract, mystical or whimsical — but they are always pleasing to the eye. Just about any part of the body can be painted with these specially formulated natural henna mixture: hands, fingers, feet, face, legs, arms, back, belly, and everything in between. Best of all, henna leaves a stain on the skin that fades away after only a few weeks.

So, whether you want to simply try out this fascinating and exotic art form or make a bold fashion statement or please your lover henna body art is the safe — and fun — alternative to permanent tattoos.

Henna as Hair Dye

The  dye molecule in henna (Lawsonia Inermis) in sufficient quantity to stain hair is Lawsone , which is a red-orange molecule. Only henna leaves are useful for dying hair, and other parts of the henna plant do not dye hairs.  Chemicals, metallic salts or other plants must be added to henna to make any color other than red. Henna itself DOES NOT come in range of colors. However, there are pre-mixed colors called compound Henna. Some chemicals or dye plants can be added to alter the color of henna. Many “henna colors” are created with metallic salts.  The most frequently used material is lead acetate, though silver nitrate, copper, nickel, cobalt, bismuth and iron salts have also been used. The good thing is, Henna doesn't damage your hairs at all if you are using the real henna i.e. the one without chemicals. Viola! You have your hair dyed without even damaging them.