Henna Tattoos

What is henna? Henna is a small flowering shrub which is coming from Ancient Egypt. The fragrant flowers are used to create perfume, and the leaves are dried and then turned into a fine powder that’s used for dying clothes, hair and temporarily dying the skin — hence henna tattooing. The exact origins of henna tattooing aren’t clear.  It was said that Cleopatra used henna to adorn her body and Egyptians used the dye to paint the nails of mummies before they were buried. The art of applying henna to the hands and feet is known as Mehndi, and is traditionally used for celebrations and rites of passage. Every culture and region of the world uses henna tattoos in its own unique way. For Hindu weddings, henna is painted on the bride to symbolize joy, beauty, spiritual awakening and offering, while Moroccans often paint doors with henna to bring prosperity and chase away evil. Depending on where you get henna tattoos, they will look different. Indian tattoos feature fine lines and floral patterns, while Arabic henna designs tend to be larger in scale and African henna patterns are more bold and geometric. We are often asked how long does henna last. It depends on many different factors but usually 1-3 weeks. Indian brides protect their fresh henna by covering it and not doing any housework. If you have the ability to do that expect it to last for 3 weeks. This art form is so beautiful and you are never done learning it!