Henna 101

If you've never heard of henna tattoos, or are new to the wonderful henna plant, this is the place to be! Here we will touch on the history of henna, henna tattoos, when and how it is used in modern day, and a basic understanding of how henna works. 

Henna History 

Henna has first been recorded as dye for the hair and cloth. People as far back as Egyptian (17th Dynasty, 1574 BCE) died their hair, eyebrows, and beards with henna for a bright red look. The prophet Mohammad is said to have had his beard dyed red with henna and put black kohl under his eyes. Along with this, the henna helps produce a rich red for fabrics and clothing. The popularity of henna is still on the rise with characters like Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy who referred to her red hair as a "henna rinse".  Still now, even commercial dyeing companies use henna for their reds or red undertones for hairs and fabrics.  

Along with Mohammad having his beard died red with henna, he also encouraged women to dye their nails with henna to distinguish between a man and a woman hands. We also can see henna rising at the same time but in different ways and in different cultures. Slowly the red henna came from finger and toenails to the palms and soles of the feet. From there is looks like the creatives took over and turned henna into an art form. This art form was traditionally used as a celebration. Often that celebration was in preparation for a women to meet her new husband, or to commemorate a victory over an enemy in war, or to wish an expecting mother an easy and healthy birth. 

Henna Tattoos Today

Henna today has continued with tradition and has transformed. Today henna can be applied simply as a fashion statement or fun vacation memory to take back home with you. People even test out permanent tattoos by first getting a henna tattoo to see if they like the placement and idea for their tattoo. In addition to these more modern uses for the henna plant, there are many that keep the more original traditions alive. During weddings for many cultures, the bride, her mother, and the bridal party are adorned with henna tattoos  This shows that traditional celebration, and also allows for creativity in what people might depict in their wedding henna. Even some grooms and men at the wedding receive a henna tattoo also! 
In my opinion, the beautiful art of henna is for anyone and everyone to enjoy. Children, women, men, and all the rest. The great thing about henna is how safe for the skin it is, and makes it so accessible for anyone! 

What is Henna?

Henna (lawsonia Inermis) is a flowering pant known as Hinna, Egyptian Privet, or Mignonette Tree. It is also the sole species in the genus Lawsonia. When referencing henna paste for use of dying the skin, it contains the Lawsonia Inermis leaf ground up along with other ingredients. Each artist has their own recipe thats perfect for their style and the climate they're in. I prefer to mix an essential oil, a little sugar, and lots of lemon juice into my henna paste. These simple and all natural ingredients keep the henna paste safe for nearly everyone. Only those with a citrus or essential oil sensitivity would need a test dot to see how their skin reacts. 

Because of these ingredients, we also have to keep henna tattoo paste refrigerated or frozen to keep it from going bad. Do watch out for any henna cones that are kept on a store shelf. Even if the label says all natural, there is at least a natural preservative included or worse; a dye called PPD. Preservatives and PPD can cause serious and sometimes permanent damage to human skin, especially for those with sensitive skin. A great way to tell if your henna paste is good and natural is to smell it! If it smells faintly of chemicals, thats not an organic paste. If the henna smells over the top strongly of an essential oil, it might be natural henna that has gone bad by being in the heat or sun. A good smell for henna is a simple and pleasant smell of essential oil and some leafy or earthy smells mixed together. Very light on the nose and just smells good!

I hope you can now understand some of the magical properties of henna. Henna has brought me and many I know a great amount of healing and good into our lives. I am blessed to share this art and culture with you! If you're looking for more information about henna, come back soon. Posts on henna, jagua, graphic design, social media management, and tricks to running a business will be in the near future!