The Art Of Henna

Henna tattoos have a long history of use in eastern cultures, particularly in the sub continent, Arabia and North Africa, but why is henna so popular today? Some would say that it is simply a fashion trend inspired by celebrities such as Madonna, Liv Tyler, Demi Moore and Prince. Seeing Madonna with henna tattoos on her hands in her video for 'Frozen' certainly gave henna more exposure to the media. It became a much talked about style of body decoration, and as a result interest in this traditional art form was ignited, spawning a great deal of promotion on television and in glossy magazines.

One cannot wholly attribute the popularity of henna to those celebrities alone. Henna is still used in eastern cultures and it was only probably a matter of time before these practices became more accessible in today's multicultural society.

Mehndi, which is a far more traditional name for henna, celebrates the hands as a miracle of creation and a vehicle of love. It focuses our attention on the sacred nature of the hands activities. Here instrument in turn becomes canvas. From the hand to the hand the henna flows a deep red into patterns of personal meaning, defined by and redefining traditions.

Mehndi is a unique form of painting because it is not only honourable but also requires contact. Human touch, itself a medium of expression, it adds another dynamic dimension to this work.

It is a fundamental human trait to use the skin as a canvas for artistic expression. To decorate one's body is the most pertinent expression of individuality and creativity that is available, be it permanent or not.

Tattooing as an art form on the skin has been practiced for many thousands of years. Today it is constantly growing in popularity, as are all forms of body decoration and adornment, such as piercing various parts of the anatomy.

The history and origins of the use of henna are hard to trace. With centuries of migration and cultural interaction, it is difficult to determine which culture and people started using henna first. There is archaeological evidence to suggest that the ancient Egyptians used henna to colour their nails, hair and even their beards, as traces of these have been found on the nails and hair of mummified pharaohs.

Whatever the case, it is clear that henna has been used by many different cultures for many centuries.

Once the use of henna as a form of body decoration became more widespread, it developed in its cultural importance and was included in many aspects of daily, spiritual and ceremonial life. As its popularity grew so to did the diversity of designs, application methods and recipes.

Another attraction of henna tattoos is that they are temporary. You can try out different styles and designs without them being permanent or painful, unlike real tattoos.

As we all know that fashion changes rapidly, and what is in vogue today may well be out of date tomorrow. With henna you can change your designs as your taste and fashion demands.

Contributed by: Fazilla Shujaat