The spots applied to the skin gradually disappeared, leaving patterns on the surface of the skin, which led to the idea of using henna for decorative purposes. It is documented that Cleopatra herself practiced painting her body with henna.
Henna has historically been a popular decoration not only for the rich, but also for the poor who could not afford jewelry. It has long been used for a variety of occasions: At present, the whole world has adopted the ancient oriental tradition of henna painting to decorate its body. It became a popular form of decoration in the 90s in the United States and continues to grow in popularity to this day. Celebrities such as Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Yasmine Bleeth, Liv Tyler, Xena and many others paint their bodies with mehendi patterns, proudly presenting themselves to the public, in films and so on.
Henna (Lawsonia inermis; Hina; mignonette tree) is a flowering plant that grows 12 to 15 feet tall and is a single species in the genus. The plant is used in the preparation of material for dyeing skin, hair, nails, as well as fabrics (silk, wool). To decorate the skin, henna leaves are dried, ground into a fine powder and prepared into a paste-like mass using various methods. The paste is applied to the skin, coloring its upper layer. In its natural state, henna colors the skin orange or brown. When applied, the color appears dark green, after which the paste dries and flakes off, revealing an orange color. The pattern turns red-brown within 1-3 days after application. On the palms and soles, henna turns darker in color, because the skin in these areas is rougher and contains more keratin. The drawing remains on the skin for about 1-4 weeks, depending on the henna, skin characteristics and contact with detergents.
One of the popular wedding traditions of the East is. The bride, her parents and relatives get together to celebrate the marriage. Games, music, dance performances fill the night, while invited experts apply mehendi patterns on the arms and legs, up to the elbows and knees respectively. Such a ritual takes several hours and is often performed by several artists. As a rule, henna patterns are also drawn for female guests.