Henna is an ancient art form that is still practiced today by men and women, young and old, all over the world. These “tattoos” are a form of body art, associated with a distinctive deep orange-red color and intricate patterns on the hands, belly, arms, legs, and feet. There are many different henna designs that stem from rich traditions in India, Africa, and the Middle East. And today, you can create your very own henna tattoo using readily available henna tattoo kits.
Henna is a small flowering plant that grows in tropical climates such as Africa and Northern Asia. While its flowers are often used to produce perfume, its leaves contain a useful staining pigment called awesome (also known as hennotannic acid), in various hues from burnt orange, to deep red. To extract it, the leaves are dried and then crushed into a fine power. In addition to having various health benefits—including the ability to bring down fevers, cure headaches, and reduce sleep issues—the versatile ingredient can be used to dye clothes, hair, and also temporarily, skin.
Henna is applied to the skin as a paste, and once washed away, the reddish-orange stain begins to oxidize and darken over the next few days. Although not permanent, the body art can last up to one or two weeks on the surface of the skin, making it a pain-free alternative to traditional tattooing.
The art of henna body art has been practiced in India, Africa, and the Middle East for thousands of years. The exact origin of the ancient art isn’t clear—while some argue the first people to use henna to dye their skin were ancient Egyptians, others claim India was the place of origin (where it’s known as Mehndi in Hindi and Urdu). It is thought to have evolved from desert communities who discovered that they could cool themselves down by applying a paste made from henna plants to their hands and feet. It wasn’t long until they started applying it in various decorative patterns, and as the designs became more intricate, so did the tradition.
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