16 October 2022
Henna Tattoos: Exquisite, Impermanent Stains
Yet, henna does not stain the skin unless the lawsone is released and this involves the leaves being smashed with any mildly acidic liquid (such as strong tea).
Then it must be made it to a paste which is applied to the skin. Could the whole process have been discovered by a single individual or was it through a series of revelations through processes of trial and era over generations?
The paste is a vital element in the henna tattoo process. It is next to impossible to create patterns effectively from simply crushed leaves so they are dried and milled then sold as a powder, This is then mixed with a mildly acidic liquid (an alternative to strong tea would be lemon juice) until it has the consistency of toothpaste.
Many different tools are used to apply it, from cones to syringes to simply fingers. If left on for just a few minutes and then removed there will only be a light stain. For the optimum stain the paste has to be left on the skin for several hours – but it needs attention.
Left to its own devices the paste will dry and drop off in bits – which will mean that the final stain will be dark in some areas and lighter in others – not the desired effect at all. So often the paste is sealed down by the application of a mix (made from sugar and lemon) on to the paste. It can also be done by applying some form of sugar to the paste itself – and many believe this adds to the final color of the stain. After a few hours the paste is scraped off the skin, leaving the stain behind.
At first, the tattoo appears orange in color but this will darken over the next few days. As the palms of the hand and the soles of the feet have the thickest layer of skin for the lawsone to penetrate, these will last the longest. After some time the henna will gradually fade as natural exfoliation and cleansing takes place.
Today, henna does not necessarily appear in the traditional places - or in the traditional ways.
However, the earliest textual reference to henna being used to mark women as they prepare to meet their husbands is over three thousand years old. Historically, the Night of the Henna was a significant point in the life of a young woman and was a tradition followed by most people in the places where henna grew naturally. Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and Zoroastrians all signified an oncoming wedding by decorating the bride (and sometimes even the groom) with henna.
Henna was and is also applied during important religious events such as Eid, Diwali and Passover. In fact, henna was used for a hugely diverse number of reasons. If you were victorious in battle – henna. If it was your birthday – henna. If you were about to be circumcised – henna. The tradition of applying henna even extends to favorite animals such as horses and donkeys which would have their hooves hennaed. Where there was a celebration and henna was available, it would be used.
Today the fashion of Bridal Mehndi (as henna is known in India and Pakistan) is highly popular and the art of the henna tattoo continues to evolve in both its intricacy and embellishment: you could say it is entering its glittery era. New novelties are now proliferating, from glitter and gliding to the line work becoming finer and finer. The art of the henna tattoo is - in all its many forms and traditions - here for good.
First Image Credit Flickr User Henna Sooq
Henna Cones by Henna Sooq
