Source:-(google.com.pk)
Henna Indian Culture Biography
For centuries, mehndi — the art of henna painting on the body — has been practiced in India, Africa, and the Middle East, where the henna plant is believed to bring love and good fortune, and to protect against evil. Mehndi is traditionally practiced for wedding ceremonies, during important rites of passage, and in times of joyous celebration. A paste made from the crushed leaves of the henna plant is applied to the skin, and when removed several hours later, leaves beautiful markings on the skin that fade naturally over 1 to 3 weeks.
Henna Use in the Past
Besides being the key ingredient in mehndi, henna has also been used to dye the manes and hooves of horses, and to color wool, silk, and animal skins, as well as men's beards. Studies of mummies dating back to 1200 BC show that henna was used on the hair and nails of the pharaohs.
Henna Today
Until the art of mehndi became hot news in 1996, henna was mostly used in the United States as a hair dye. Widely recognized now as a wonderful way to dye the skin and to achieve the look of a tattoo, traditional henna uses and application processes have gone contemporary. Although some will always prepare their own henna paste, mehndi kits of varying quality, with foolproof instructions and convenient stencils, can be purchased in many retail and online outlets (including this Web site).
The history of henna is a tough one. There are many conflicting stories about where the first henna was used. However as a plant it has been around for centuries in a variety of hot climes and continues to be used in both traditional Hindi and Muslim countries as well as in the west for a temporary alternative to a life-long permanent tattoo. Countries where henna can be found include India, Pakistan, Syria, Persia, Morocco, Egypt and Iran. The colour of the henna stain varies depending upon country of origin and the quality of plant there grown. The henna that we as a company sell originates from Rajastan India and gives a dark brown-red colour in contrast to many of the Arabian henna’s which have a far redder hue. The natural dyeing properties in henna are tannins.
Henna has a variety of names including Mehndi (Hindi), Hinna (Arabic) or Lawsonia Inermis (Latin). Other synonyms include henna, Mehandi, Mehndi, Al-Khanna, Al-henna, Jamaica Mignonette, Egyptian Privet and Smooth Lawsonia.
Henna is a small scrub with small, dark green scented leaves. The leaves are dried and ground down into a powder which is finely sieved two or more times through a fine nylon cloth. These filtering process results in removing the coarse fibres from the powder, making what is left finer and easier to use.
The art form of henna application varies from one religion to the next. These varying designs meaning different things to each culture, such as good health, fertility, wisdom and spiritual enlightenment. It spans different cultures and religious traditions, thus the wearer’s country of origin easily recognisable. Arabic henna designs are generally large, floral patterns on the hands and feet. Indian henna designs are made up of fine, thin lines for lacy, floral and paisley patterns covering entire hands, forearms, feet and shins. African henna patterns are bold, large geometric shapes, usually black. After the henna paste is removed Africans apply a blackish paste of ashes, ammonia compounds and other corrosives to get the henna stain to turn out blackish. This is poisonous and certainly not recommended, as there have been reported deaths from this procedure. We can only assume the reason they would go to these risky lengths is the natural colour of the henna stains, dark brown to dark orange, does not show up as well on very dark skin.
Henna has some exceptional qualities. Did you know that it has cooling properties, is a great conditioner and staining qualities? If you have ever died your hair with henna powder you would feel your scalp and head to be cold. In India in the summer the soles of feet are painted with henna to cool the sunbaked populous. Likewise when henna is applied to the skin as for a tattoo, again the skin feels cool.
Henna Indian Culture Biography
For centuries, mehndi — the art of henna painting on the body — has been practiced in India, Africa, and the Middle East, where the henna plant is believed to bring love and good fortune, and to protect against evil. Mehndi is traditionally practiced for wedding ceremonies, during important rites of passage, and in times of joyous celebration. A paste made from the crushed leaves of the henna plant is applied to the skin, and when removed several hours later, leaves beautiful markings on the skin that fade naturally over 1 to 3 weeks.
Henna Use in the Past
Besides being the key ingredient in mehndi, henna has also been used to dye the manes and hooves of horses, and to color wool, silk, and animal skins, as well as men's beards. Studies of mummies dating back to 1200 BC show that henna was used on the hair and nails of the pharaohs.
Henna Today
Until the art of mehndi became hot news in 1996, henna was mostly used in the United States as a hair dye. Widely recognized now as a wonderful way to dye the skin and to achieve the look of a tattoo, traditional henna uses and application processes have gone contemporary. Although some will always prepare their own henna paste, mehndi kits of varying quality, with foolproof instructions and convenient stencils, can be purchased in many retail and online outlets (including this Web site).
The history of henna is a tough one. There are many conflicting stories about where the first henna was used. However as a plant it has been around for centuries in a variety of hot climes and continues to be used in both traditional Hindi and Muslim countries as well as in the west for a temporary alternative to a life-long permanent tattoo. Countries where henna can be found include India, Pakistan, Syria, Persia, Morocco, Egypt and Iran. The colour of the henna stain varies depending upon country of origin and the quality of plant there grown. The henna that we as a company sell originates from Rajastan India and gives a dark brown-red colour in contrast to many of the Arabian henna’s which have a far redder hue. The natural dyeing properties in henna are tannins.
Henna has a variety of names including Mehndi (Hindi), Hinna (Arabic) or Lawsonia Inermis (Latin). Other synonyms include henna, Mehandi, Mehndi, Al-Khanna, Al-henna, Jamaica Mignonette, Egyptian Privet and Smooth Lawsonia.
Henna is a small scrub with small, dark green scented leaves. The leaves are dried and ground down into a powder which is finely sieved two or more times through a fine nylon cloth. These filtering process results in removing the coarse fibres from the powder, making what is left finer and easier to use.
The art form of henna application varies from one religion to the next. These varying designs meaning different things to each culture, such as good health, fertility, wisdom and spiritual enlightenment. It spans different cultures and religious traditions, thus the wearer’s country of origin easily recognisable. Arabic henna designs are generally large, floral patterns on the hands and feet. Indian henna designs are made up of fine, thin lines for lacy, floral and paisley patterns covering entire hands, forearms, feet and shins. African henna patterns are bold, large geometric shapes, usually black. After the henna paste is removed Africans apply a blackish paste of ashes, ammonia compounds and other corrosives to get the henna stain to turn out blackish. This is poisonous and certainly not recommended, as there have been reported deaths from this procedure. We can only assume the reason they would go to these risky lengths is the natural colour of the henna stains, dark brown to dark orange, does not show up as well on very dark skin.
Henna has some exceptional qualities. Did you know that it has cooling properties, is a great conditioner and staining qualities? If you have ever died your hair with henna powder you would feel your scalp and head to be cold. In India in the summer the soles of feet are painted with henna to cool the sunbaked populous. Likewise when henna is applied to the skin as for a tattoo, again the skin feels cool.
Henna Indian Culture
Henna Indian Culture
Henna Indian Culture
Henna Indian Culture
Henna Indian Culture
Henna Indian Culture
Henna Indian Culture
Henna Indian Culture
Henna Indian Culture
Henna Indian Culture
Henna Indian Culture
Henna Indian Culture
Henna Indian Culture
