For a long time you wanted to make a drawing on your body, but you are very afraid of pain or just not ready to get a tattoo? Henna painting on the body exists just for this. But where to start? Go to the salon or maybe do it yourself at home? And what is henna anyway? Let's figure it out.
What is henna?
Not many people know that henna is actually a plant called Lawsonia inermis in Latin. Different parts of this plant have different uses. Its upper leaves are used just for henna painting, as they have the best coloring properties. The bottom ones are used to make a powder for making red hair dye, and the stems are used to create a colorless powder. In general, all parts of the plant are involved in production.
Henna paint can be different: natural or with the addition of chemicals. Chemical henna is very easy to apply at home, the pattern on the body can even be colored if desired.
With natural henna, some difficulties may arise, as it dries very quickly and is more capricious in use: it requires additional auxiliary products (for example,oil), and there is a need to carefully prepare the skin before use.
A bit of history
How long do you think this kind of art appeared? Painting on the body with henna is 5 thousand years old, and it was used by women from Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, Ancient Greece. She decorated her arms, legs, back and even nails. This drawing on the body was not only an aesthetic decoration, but also a kind of amulet against unclean forces and evil spirits.
In the XII century in India, henna painting, mehendi - that's what this art is called, was part of the marriage ceremony. And today, Indian brides are painted with henna, and the remains of this product are buried in the ground so that the marriage is durable and protected.
Mehendi came to Europe relatively recently and, unfortunately, has lost the importance that is still preserved in many Arab countries. Europeans decorate their bodies with paintings because it is beautiful, not because it means something. It is for the same reason that many people get tattoos. But what is still better: henna or tattoo?
Tattoo or henna: what to choose?
Of course, a bio-tattoo (that's what they call mehendi) has a number of advantages over a standard tattoo. But let's talk about it in more detail:
- Henna is hypoallergenic. Of course, today chemical impurities are often added to it. But natural henna does not cause allergies. Getting a tattoo is a risky choice. You never know if you will be allergic to one or the other.paint component (some people, for example, are allergic to red). It's fine if your skin just rejects the color, but it doesn't always end well.
- Compared to a tattoo, henna does not use needles when drawing, that is, you do not damage or injure your skin in any way.
- Some people have a low pain threshold, so getting a tattoo is impossible for them. Henna painting is a completely painless process.
- Henna, unlike tattoos, is short-lived. The drawing remains on the body from several days to several weeks, depending on the color of the paint. And if you get tired of the drawing, then wait a couple of weeks, and he himself will disappear. With a tattoo, everything is much more complicated. Removing a tattoo is an even more expensive, long and painful procedure than getting one.
Where do you get inspiration from?
In fact, any pattern can be applied with henna. It is very popular among girls to apply henna painting on their hands. If you decide to put on something meaningful but don't know what yet, here are some tips:
- "Fatima's Palm". This is a drawing of an inverted palm, symbolizing faith, love in the family, and is also a talisman from the evil eye.
- "Peacock". A symbol of joy, celebration, creativity and inspiration.
- "Spiral". Symbol of living energy. Opens the chakra, is one of the most ancient symbols.
- "Lotus". This flower means innocence, purity, purity.
- "Elephant". A very revered animal in India, it is a symbol of wisdom, poise and tranquility.
- "Triangle". Since ancient times it has been considered a magical symbol that protects against diseases and natural disasters.
- "Mandala". A very popular drawing in recent years. Each mandala has its own meaning, so almost everyone can choose such a pattern.
Henna painting in the salon
After you have decided which drawing you want to apply with henna and where, it remains only to decide where you will do it: at home or in the salon.
In the salon or with a qualified craftsman at home, of course, it is easier to do. The procedure costs from 600 rubles to several thousand, depending on the complexity and size of the drawing, and takes several hours (application + drying).
As mentioned earlier, no one is allergic to henna, well, only with rare exceptions. Rather, it can be caused by the oil with which the composition is mixed (henna dries the skin, so oil is mixed into it). But the master may well replace one oil with another if you have an allergy, the main thing is to inform about it in advance.
The composition is applied to the skin with a thin brush and orange sticks, left for a while, and then removed with a special tool. The procedure itself is simple, it is quite possible to do it at home, but if you are not sure that you can do your first drawing yourself, or it is not very convenient to do it (for example, you want to paint your back), then it is better to contact a professional.
Mehendi at home
If you decide to apply hennaat home, prepare everything you need in advance. What do you need for this?
Prepare your skin a few hours before drawing. It is better to peel at the application site, but this step can be skipped.
Prepare the paste and application tool. Ready-made pasta can be bought at the store, it costs about 500 rubles. You don't need professional tools, you can do with a plastic bag or a paper bag with a neatly cut off tip.
To make pasta you will need:
- leaf tea;
- lemon juice;
- sugar;
- henna powder.
Cooking pasta:
- Make some tea. The stronger the tea, the darker the shade of the finished composition.
- Add the juice of half a lemon and 2 tablespoons of sugar to the tea.
- In powder (not vice versa!) Gradually add tea with lemon juice, stirring.
- Let the mixture stand for 15-20 minutes.
Test the crook of your elbow by applying some of the mixture. This step is necessary as you may be allergic to lemon juice.
Wipe the area of application with essential oil. Henna, of course, will dry longer, but the pattern will turn out brighter.
It is better to apply the paste with gloves. It's not toxic, but your hands can be stained so that they look worse than self-tanner! Since not everyone has artistic abilities, prepare a sketch or stencil in advance. When drawing, take your time, if you make a mistake, remove the excess with a cotton swab.
Leave the composition on the skin until completely dry. This process takes time for everyone in different ways, but usually it is no more than 7 hours. Remove the dried layer of paste from the skin. And now you are the owner of a unique henna pattern!
Care
Like a regular tattoo, henna painting also needs care:
- Do not remove the dried layer from the skin with water! And in general, limit the contact of the pattern with water for 4-6 hours.
- Don't take hot baths or sauna often as the pattern will start to wash out.
- Do not lather or rub the application site.
- For the same reason, limit sports and strenuous exercise.
- The more the pattern comes into contact with clothing, the less durable it is.
- Lubricate mehendi with essential oil.
Conclusion
Mehendi is a unique pattern, not only because you can create your own sketches, but also because the color of the pattern will directly depend on your skin tone.
This article talks about the name of henna painting on the hands, feet and other parts of the body, how to make mehendi at home, how to care for and maintain the durability of the pattern. It will be useful to those who are very interested in this topic.
And the photos of henna painting will inspire you to create your own, unique and inimitable drawings.
