Henna Design

Henna design is often thought of as a safe and temporary alternative to tattooing. Unless removed through long and painful procedures, tattoos are permanent skin decorations. Those who wish to have body art for a special occasion or perhaps want to experiment without branding themselves permanently often turn to henna design.

But this type of body art is much more than a temporary way to participate in the tattoo revival that has occurred in recent years. Body enhancement using henna design has been around for years. In fact, it has played and continues to be a part of various customs and ceremonies in many cultures throughout the world. In some cultures, henna has also historically been applied for spiritual or healing purposes.

Some say the use of henna originated in India, while others claim that it began in The Middle East or North Africa. Tattooing of the hands and feet with henna as part of spiritual or death rituals has been fairly commonplace in many cultures. In many areas, henna design is used as a body decoration for brides, newly engaged individuals and pregnant women, just to name a few. It has been much more than a way of body enhancement in many regions.

One of the reasons it has played such a heavy part in the spirituality and celebrations of many cultures is that henna is not only very safe to the skin, but actually contains soothing, cooling and healing properties.

Essentially a form of temporary tattooing, it is done without piercing the skin. Henna dyes the skin when it is applied, so it is obviously much less painful than permanent tattooing. A henna design can last on the skin for a time period ranging from as few as three to as many as eight or more days, depending on the thickness of the skin where the henna is applied.

Because it is temporary, painless, artistic, and steeped in cultural traditions, henna design has enjoyed a recent revival in popular culture. Many celebrities have experimented with it, and it has gained popularity with Westerners of all ages. Many opt for the traditional art of mehndi, or the henna tattooing of the hands and feet. But henna design can be found in as many styles and varieties as other types of tattoos.

For some, the practice holds deep cultural and religious significance. For others, it is a safe, fun and creative way to experiment with self-expression through body modification. Unlike many other cultural traditions, henna design shows no signs of fading into history, but is in fact likely to become even more common.



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