Thursday, 23 February 2012

HENNA

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About Indian Henna
Henna
is a Persian word, which describes a small flowering shrub (Lawsonia inermis). It is found all over the world, including India, Pakistan, Morocco, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Egypt and Bangladesh. However, the variety of henna plant varies from region to region. Different plants have different coloring properties and hence, the color of the powder also varies. Henna has been used for thousands of years, for its medicinal properties and cosmetic properties. Apart from this, it is also used for coloring and conditioning the hair and in the form of body art.

Henna powder, in its pure and natural form, is a bright or deep green, khaki or brown. The color produced by pure natural henna ranges from orange to red, to black cherry and near black color. Contrary to the popular belief, pure black color is not produced by natural henna powder. Talking about its production, henna powder is made from the leaves of the henna bushes. When manufactured in large quantities, the leaves are taken to the factory and machine grounded. Normally, henna powder is made by blending different types of henna leaves from different parts of a country or from different countries.

Once the leaves have been grounded, the powder is sifted. This is because, if not sifted, the henna powder will contain pieces of the leaves. The finely sifted henna powder contains no leaves, making it best for cosmetic use. Henna powder colors the skin, when the dye is released, as a result of the henna powder being mixed with water or lemon juice and being applied on the skin. Hanna, when applied to the body parts such as hands, arms, legs, near the naval region and at the back, is called mehndi. For a simple mehndi design, it may take about 10 to 15 minutes, but if you want to go for an intricate design, you might need to invest several hours.

After application of henna, you need to dab it, with a lemon-sugar solution when it becomes firm on the skin. This is essentially done to preserve the paste. Unlike tattooing and piercing, henna does not hurt, because it is applied on the surface of the skin with an applicator and not injected into the skin. Traditionally, a cone is used for making the designs. However, mehndi can also be made using a bottle, with a fine silver nozzle tip. People enjoy the cooling sensation felt after the application of mehndi. This aromatic mixture, apart from conditioning the skin, gives a natural soothing effect.

Henna has, today, become a part of all major festivals and celebration. Be it, Purim, Eid, Diwali, Karva Chauth, Passover, Nowruz or Mawlid, it has graced every occasion with its presence. Celebrations like wedding, birth of a baby and birthdays seem to be incomplete without the ceremony of henna. Brides, in the present time, typically have the most complex patterns of henna, to express their greatest joy and wishes for luck. With an improved technology being used for its cultivation, henna available today, has an enhanced dye content and greater artistic potential than earlier.

Henna Body Painting
Body art has been in vogue, since times immemorial. Right from piercing, tattooing to body painting, there are a number of options for people to enhance their look with the use of art.

Henna Paste
For henna powder to release the dye you will have to make a paste of the henna powder with water or lemon juice. There are a number of things that can be added to the henna powder to make a paste that will stain your skin or hair the color you desire.

Mehndi History
For millions of people in India and Middle East, mehendi is the preferred way of dyeing hair. It makes the color of the hair reddish and also conditions them.

Henna Hair Coloring
Henna has been popular for coloring hair for centuries in the Middle East and in India. Using henna for nourishment and coloring of the hair is part of the normal beauty regime in these countries. Thanks to its attributes, henna has been used by both the rich and the poor for centuries.

Benefits
Henna
is a very good natural conditioner for the hair. It strengthens the hair, thanks to the presence of several nourishing constituents in it. It has anti fungal properties which help in controlling dandruff. When you use henna on your hair it becomes easier to detangle and your hair is more manageable. A natural dye, it dyes your hair a beautiful and natural red.

Henna and Various Types of Hair
Henna
, a natural product, acts differently from synthetic dyes. It coats the hair with a transparent red coloring. As you repeatedly apply henna on the hair, the color gets deeper. An advantage of using henna is that it is natural. It conditions and colors your hair in a natural and safe manner.

On dark hair henna gives red and reddish highlights.
  • When applied on black or dark brown hair, the hair are dyed auburn to burgundy with red highlights that are visible in the sunlight.
  • Henna dyes blond hair a natural red.
  • Henna on red hair makes the hair a deeper red.
  • Henna dyes white hair a natural red or a deep red.
Ways of Using Henna

When using henna, you can make a paste to suit your hair type. Some people who are concerned about their hair becoming dry, can add special oils to their henna paste. People add floral water, eggs and other natural dyes to their pastes to create the perfect paste. You can also ask one of your friends to help you because applying henna could get messy.

For keeping yourselves clean, drape your shoulders with a towel and wear plastic gloves. You can preferably do a test on hair from your hair brush before actually dying your hair. Begin at the bottom layers of your hair and work your way up. Use henna paste to thin strips of hair at a time. Apply evenly till all your hair is covered with henna.

Tips
  • Mix warm lemon juice or warm water with henna paste. Allow paste to on the hair for 2-12 hours. This depends on the dye release of the henna powder.
  • After making the paste, apply it to your hair wearing gloves. Start from the back and move forward.
  • Wash and rinse the paste out.
Henna Paste

For henna powder to release the dye you will have to make a paste of the henna powder with water or lemon juice. There are a number of things that can be added to the henna powder to make a paste that will stain your skin or hair the color you desire. Most people follow a trial and error method and finally come up with a recipe that suits their needs. Given below is a basic henna paste recipe, you can try it out and add to it to suit your needs. To make henna paste or mehendi

  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 2 tablespoons black tea or coffee
  • 3 tablespoons of sifted henna powder (make sure you sift the powder before making a paste)
  • 1 teaspoon eucalyptus oil

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