Henna Tattoo: Designs, Kits, Removal, And Temporary Tattoos

Decorative body art is a way to enhance the appearance of the human figure as well as to communicate a message. However, going to a tattoo parlor has both a high physical and financial toll. Also, the permanence of the art is frightening. Will that Tweety-bird transform into Big Bird in just a number of years?
An attractive, cheap and creative solution to these problems is Mehndi, or the body art of the henna tattoo. This common name is misleading, however. A henna tattoo is temporary and is not considered a real tattoo; henna is a natural dye that does not penetrate beyond dead skin cells.
The history of the henna tattoo dates back to approximately 5000 years ago, when people in India, the Middle East and Africa would use the henna plant to dye the skin. In 1200 B.C., the pharaohs of Egypt used them for both decorative and cooling purposes. The henna tattoo has been used for special occasions and celebrations throughout history, and has been tied to hopes of good feelings, happiness and good fortune.
In India, the henna tattoo is an important part of the wedding ceremony; the belief is the darker the henna tattoo, the longer the love in the relationship will last. In Morocco, in a woman's seventh month of pregnancy, an artist creates a henna tattoo design on the woman's ankle that corresponds with an amulet the woman wears. Together, the design and the amulet are supposed to protect the mother and child during the birthing process.
Now, the henna tattoo is becoming popular in America and is available in red, brown and black. It is possible for a person to do Mehndi by themselves. In order to do this, he or she needs: henna powder, lemon juice, sugar, tea tree, eucalyptus or other 100 per cent essential oil and time.
Also, professionals use fixatives and wraps that make a henna tattoo stay on longer by keeping the skin warm. Examples of common fixatives include hair spray, liquid latex and glue. Wraps have to be applied carefully, so as not to smear the tattoo by overheating it. Because of this, common wraps include cotton and gauze. To set in, the henna stains take 12-48 hours to darken. The longer the stain stays on, the longer the design will last.
Stores enable people to purchase a henna kit, making the process both quicker and easier. Kits such as the Earth Henna Tattoo Kit allow people to use stencil transfers to create beautiful designs. This method takes only six hours to oxidize and darken and the people using the kits can avoid sticky lemon mixtures.
If people become disenchanted by their henna designs, removal is quick and painless. Soaking the skin in salt water for 15 minutes is the first step. This process helps remove a bit of the powder. Then, using a rough-skin remover can help, after it proves to not irritate the skin. Also, exfoliating by using a loofah will help slough off layers of dead skin, where the henna pigment sits. Finally, any healthy sweat-inducing activity will diminish the appearance of henna.
For those who are too squeamish to go under the needle but love tattoos, Mehndi is a cheap and temporary option. By purchasing ready-made henna, or making henna paste on one's own, an individual has the ability to create his or her own body art.


Sources:
Guyhto, Ayanna. “Henna Tattoo Removal.” Happy Living. 2005. 04 July 2007.
http://www.happynews.com/living/bodyart/henna-ta ttoo-removal.htm
“Henna 101.” Henna Tribe. 2005. 04 July 2007
http://www.hennatribe.com/henna101.htm
“How to Use Earth Henna Tattoo Kit.” Lakaye Studio. 2007. 04 July 2007.
http://www.earthhenna.com/How-to-Use-the-Earth-H enna-Tattoo-Kit-c105.html