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For more than 5000 years, cultures from India to Africa to the Middle East have embraced the art of henna body decoration-for fashion and beauty, for personal expression, for social and religious occasions, for healing purposes and more. In recent years global travel and migration, along with increased communication and cultural sharing has brought henna to many parts of the West, mingling traditional practices with new interpretations and uses. Since the mid-1990s henna body art has enjoyed a vogue throughout the U.S. and Europe. Popularized by artists, actors, fashion models and musicians, it has been discovered by thousands of interested individuals from all backgrounds.
Henna is all natural, safe, temporary and painless - a unique way to decorate your personality, spirit and body.
Henna derives from a plant known as Lawsonia Inermis, whose leaves are dried and crushed to make a powder with natural dying properties. The application of henna has four distinct benefits ("the four C's"), as it cools, conditions, cleanses, and colors the skin. Henna is also commonly applied to hair -- on which it is has a similar effect -- by millions in Asia and Africa, where it is inexpensive and readily available, and helps cool the scalp in the hot summer months.
The henna plant grows in hot climates and can be found in countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Morocco, Yemen, Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Senegal, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and India. It is known by many names, including Henne, Al-Khanna, Jamaica Mignonette, Egyptian Privet, and Smooth Lawsonia. The art of applying henna is referred to as 'henna' and 'mehndi', depending on which culture or country one comes from.
From the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt to modern-day wedding parties, from Morocco to India, henna has enjoyed a variety of applications and meanings throughout the centuries.
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