One of the coolest displays of art that I have seen was henna design - no, really. It was a really cool nature design and was utilized in the form of giving a tattoo. Tattooing is simply using what nature has to offer and using it as a form of expression on the human body. In many cases the natural ingredient is ink. But there is something so quaint and ethereal about henna design that I find it to be simply breathtaking.

The first time I had the opportunity to see henna design in action was during my trip to Rajasthan, India. It was quite an exotic odyssey. The state is located in the desert and is known for its large community fairs. It is a central meeting point where people from the neighboring villages gather to celebrate and they can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The longer the duration, the bigger the fair. And the bigger the fair, the more mammoth the attendance.

I was there for the Fall fair. It was a four-day event and the energy there was absolutely astounding. The people were simple and their wants simpler. The colors and spirit found there were something that never before even remotely have come before these eyes. This is where I saw my first henna design, and I must say it was quite impressive.

I happened to notice the henna design as I was walking around the fair trying to capture the color of all that I saw. I saw two women sitting on the on ground and were totally engrossed in their task. When I moved closer, I saw that it was a henna artist and that she was applying one of the finest henna designs I have ever witnessed.

I just kind of stood there in a daze admiring her work in launching a much joy she spread by artfully sketching her henna designs on people's hands. It was a very simple operation and there were not a lot of implements require for her to create her art. Just a tube of henna and her active imagination. She had a book of designs that the customers can browse through to choose one they wanted. And she would set to work to draw the design in all its glory on their hands.

That's all that I needed to give me hooked on the art of henna designs. Now I'm actually compiling a book of henna designs. Guess who is going to be on the cover? My henna design muse of course! She is the perfect choice and I'm thrilled to include her.

Cool Henna Design Tattoos is a post from: Urban Henna - Temporary Tattoos

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Have you ever seen henna design? It's simply captivating as an art form. It's used in society as a popular way to produce natural tattoos that are temporary by nature. It harnesses the power of nature and produces beautiful manmade results in the form of temporary tattoos.

Henna designs are rich with colour. Artists that perform henna design often have a portfolio of designs to hand that you can choose from. Find one you like and have it put on you by the artist. There's no need to worry about any long term effects due to the fact that by nature itself they aren't long lasting. The artists requirements in terms of what they need to work with is quite minimal. A portfolio design and some henna combined with a large helping of creativity is all that's needed. The henna design is then drawn onto the subject as per their requirements.

Henna designs tend to last for the longest duration of time on both the hands and feet, so this is where they are most commonly drawn. It is then put on the skin using something such as a brush, then once completed it its wrapped which results in a vibrant colour. Henna designs last anywhere from one to four weeks in duration. This is largely dependent upon what quality of henna paste was used.

Some henna designs can be very finely detailed with great complexity, which you may find surprising for something that is most certainly finite. I guess all good things come to an end, but the great thing is you can get another great design drawn onto you whenever you like. If you decide you do ever want a henna design or a permanent tattoo be sure to check out our site for more great coverage.

Henna Design Is An Ideal Way To Get A Temporary Tattoo is a post from: Urban Henna - Temporary Tattoos

Related posts:

1. What kind of black ink can I use to draw temporary tattoos? krl713 asked: I've tried permanent markers and didn't like...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Henna tattoos are a natural form of body art - a safe and temporary alternative to getting a real tattoo. Henna tattoo artists use a natural henna ink which is made from powder from the leaves of the henna plant. They make a paste with the henna powder and paint a henna tattoo anywhere on your body.

The tradition of henna tattooing, also called mendhi, has been practiced for millions of years. They have found henna art traces as far as back as the tombs of pharaoh's day. Henna tattoo art is still a popular tradition today.

Before applying henna ink to your skin, make sure to test a small amount on your body and check for allergic reactions. Henna tattoos rarely cause reactions in people, but its important to make sure. Once you know the henna ink will not cause a bad reaction, you or your henna tattoo artist can begin the work of art on your skin.

The sky is the limit with the patterns and images of henna tattoos, but the colors are usually limited to dark shades of red, green, brown, or black. This also depends on how your skin reacts since every skin tone will take the henna tattoo ink a little differently.

Henna Tattoos – A Natural Way to Decorate Your Body is a post from: Urban Henna - Temporary Tattoos

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Henna tattooing was recently introduced and made famous in the US by Madonna, Demi Moore and a few other celebrities. The reverence for the henna, however, has been in existence probably ever since the first henna tree, or rather the first henna hedge, set its roots into the soil of the planet earth.

Henna is a shrub in its truest form and it can reach a height of six yards. The henna plant blossoms in very fragrant white or rose red flowers and the species is sometimes classified under the name of Lawsonia alba Lam. or Lawsonia ruba.

This writer first learned of henna a few decades ago, when she was invited to a henna night in Southwestern Turkey. Henna night is sort of a female stag party, usually scheduled to take place the night before the wedding or a couple of days earlier when the women get together and paint each other's hands and toes with henna. The henna night is famous for the camaraderie of women and the constant girlish giggling even among the matronly set. The party is akin to the girls night out, not just with henna painting but with the food, drinks, and a lot of fun.

One good thing about henna tattooing: unlike the tattoos the western culture is used to, the henna tatto is not permanent, for it fades away in time or it comes out after a few washings. Some women who are well known local artists can create fancy designs with a pastry bag, a toothpick, or a rolled piece of paper dipped into a paste of crushed henna leaves.

First, to make the henna paste, henna leaves are crushed and mixed well. For the tattooing or rather the henna painting, the henna paste has to be at room temperature. Chilling the paste reduces the color. Henna painting craves heat. As a matter of fact, the ladies put their feet on a heating pad even before the henna is on their skin.

When one observes the leaves of the henna plant carefully, it is easy to see the red veins going through the leaves. Most of the red color comes from those veins. After the henna is on the skin, it is topped with a little sugar and lemon juice mixture to set the colors, and also some heat is applied from a heating pad or a heated Mediterranean tile. The longer the wait, the stronger is the color.

There are several different species of the henna plant because it is so widespread in the temperate zones of Middle East, Asia, Australia and North Africa.

Women have worn henna through the centuries as decoration, and in some tribal regions, different henna decorations helped distinguish different tribes. Henna is also considered a medicinal plant, for it has been used from the earliest times as an astringent and a sedative, finding its way into many folk remedies. Since henna shows some ultraviolet screening activity, it is sometimes used as a sun-blocker.

Washing the hair with henna gives it a slight reddish tint and a wonderful shine. It is believed that henna feeds the hair follicles and helps stop split ends.

Joy Cagil is an author on a site for
Writers (http://www.Writing.Com/) Her training is in foreign languages and linguistics. She has a degree in Turkish philology and she has lived and traveled some in Turkey. In her background are varied subjects such as psychology, mental health, and visual arts. Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/joycag

Henna Plant and Henna Tattooing at a Female Stag Party is a post from: Urban Henna - Temporary Tattoos

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Henna is great for strengthening hair as well as being capable of bringing hair the world's most beautiful natural colors. Gorgeous shades of coppers, auburns, reds, cinnamons, brown and burgundies... Radiantly rich colors and a thick head of healthy locks with lustrous volume- what more could a girl want?

Now before you run out and actually henna your hair, there are some things to consider. Have you recently died or permed your hair? Would you plan on perming your hair in the future? If so, you may wish to rethink or hold off! Henna is great for your hair, but doesn't play well with chemical hair treatments. Unless you want to risk a head of green hair, or goodness knows what else, you really want to wait at least 30 days from your last perm or coloring. Also, once henna is applied to your hair, it is said that the color can remain for up to one whole year!

I even ran a little experiment just for the purpose of having this information to share. Hey, we're all friend here, right? I can take the risk of a head that looks like ripe lime for the team!

Now until this experiment, I have been dying my hair with henna for well over a year and a half. Prior to that, I was an avid permanent hair dye user, so I know how my hair reacts to permanent dye. Even with naturally dark brown hair and the occasional grays, my hair would take to dye very well- even with very light shades. For my experiment I waited 10 weeks from my last henna application and used my old favorite brand permanent dye in a light "strawberry blonde" color.

The results? As usual, my dark roots took to the dye like a charm, including my iridescent silver hairs. Now, the rest of my hair is another story... The entire rest of my head remained the very same EXACT color it was before it was introduced to the dye! The dye had absolutely no effect, even since it was a good two and a half months since my last use of henna. So from the conclusion of this experiment, we can gather that if you decide you want to go henna, don't plan on going back for a long time!

Another factor to consider is your desired outcome. Henna, even though it is obviously is a powerful sticking dye, is not capable of actually lightening your hair. Also, if you have lighter colored hair, the highlights in certain shades may be more intense. Sometimes it takes a few tries of different types of henna and herbal additives to achieve the exact shades you're looking for.

So is it worth it? Well, only each individual person can decide. There are those that try it and curse the names of those that introduce them to it for ages! Yet, there are many such as myself, that swear by it. Even after my experiment, it made me realize how much I don't miss chemical hair dyes. Yes, as a life long brunette, sometimes it was fun to be a blonde for a little while here and there. However the benefits of not having to trim my hair excessively every month from brittle split ends, the added volume and shine to my hair, and the fact I know I'm taking a safer route for my body and the environment, more than makes up for it. Besides, the whole "cherry chocolate" shade I've been using looks pretty good on me!

You can visit Lisa Chambers' website at http://www.chambersessentials.com for more free information, recipes, and tips based on natural or "crafty" point of views.

Henna Hair Dye – Things To Consider First is a post from: Urban Henna - Temporary Tattoos

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

India is a country known for its vibrant colors, rich culture, and timeless traditions. What many don't know, is that India has been at the center of all-natural beauty techniques that have been used for 100's of years. Below is an account of 4 of these traditional beauty methods, and their benefits.

Threading is a centuries-old technique of hair removal practiced in India, and rapidly growing in popularity across the United States. Being that it is 100% natural, it is especially recommended for sensitive skin. The beautician removes individual or rows of unwanted hair by using string or "thread", and pulling out the hairs by the follicle. Threading is better than other methods of facial hair removal including waxing, tweezing, and razors. Waxing is not as precise; it burns, peels, and scars skin, and repeated waxing on the face (especially the eyebrow area) can cause premature wrinkles. Tweezing and razors often times cut the skin and cause ingrown hairs. Unlike all 3 of the mentioned methods, threading is precise, gentle on the skin, and is actually excellent for removing ingrown hairs.

Sugaring is an all-natural method of removing unwanted hair, much like waxing. The key ingredients in sugar wax are lemon and sugar, each of which have their own benefitting properties. Lemon is known for its naturally astringent qualities, and is an excellent cleansing agent. Sugar is a natural exfoliant in beauty, ridding the skin of dead cells. Most clients say that sugaring hurts less than traditional waxing, and redness if any, fades quickly. There are absolutely no chemicals in sugar wax and is therefore suitable for all skin types, and especially ideal for sensitive skin.

Henna, also a centuries-old tradition in India, is used to create intricate hand art designs. The paste of a ground plant, naturally in a reddish-brown dye, is used to create temporary "tattoos" which last between 1-3 weeks. In India, henna has traditionally been used on women before special ocassions, holidays, and weddings. In addition to using henna on the body (usually hands and feet), henna has also been used on the hair to color gray hairs to a reddish-brown, and to deeply condition non-gray hairs. It's an excellent alternate for pregnant women who would like to maintain their appearance, but cannot use the harsh chemicals found in mainstream hair coloring kits.

Turmeric is a yellow spice used in much of Indian cooking. It has also been used as a Ayurvedic beauty agent. Turmeric not only has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, but also corrects hyperpigmentation and softens the skin. For these reasons, many Indian brides use a turmeric treatment to prepare for their wedding day - it leaves skin even-toned, shiny, soft, and supple.

Praba Salon has received rave reviews from the media and clients alike. Rated as one of the best new day spas by TimeOut, sugaring spa by Seventeen, and the best henna artist in NYC by Shecky's Guide.

Anu Doddapaneni, Owner
Praba Salon
1794 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10029
(212) 996-1740
(212) 996-2029
http://www.indiantreasures.us

Benefits of All-Natural Indian Beauty Methods – Threading, Sugaring, Henna, Turmeric Treatment is a post from: Urban Henna - Temporary Tattoos

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Madonna, Sting, and Demi Moore have recently "discovered" what Hindu brides have known for centuries: henna paste decorates the body with temporary tattoos. Usually applied to the hands and feet, the body becomes a canvas for patterns of scrolls, vines, or flowers that last for a few weeks.

Henna paste, or mendhi, takes from a few minutes to a few hours to apply depending upon the bodily location and the desired detail of the design. After the drawing with cones or syringes is finished, the paste dries to allow the color to become absorbed by the skin. While this takes only 10-15 minutes, the paste should be left on the skin for another 6 hours to achieve the most lasting affect. A sugar and lemon mixture dabbed on the dried mendhi deepens the final color. When fully dry, the crust falls off on its own. Gentle toweling removes any last bits. The tattoo lasts longer with moisture but gradually lightens through natural exfoliation of the skin. Harsh soaps, chlorine and commercial exfoliation speeds the fading of the design.

Celebrations, such as childbirth and birthdays, may include mehndi, but it is Indian brides who traditionally display the most elaborate designs covering their feet and hands. Applying the paste is a celebratory pre-wedding ritual to bring love and good fortune to the couple but it has neither religious nor sacred meaning. Occasionally brides choose to mendhi much of their body and include the name of their groom amongst the designs. It is his right and duty to carefully search for it on the wedding night.
In the Middle East, mendhi days are spent getting to know women of the family as the designs are applied. Females gather to adorn skin with the more casual floral patterns inspired by Arabic art. It is a woman's day to put away household responsibilities and share a joyful activity with others of her gender.

Leaves are ground into a paste and may be mixed with other ingredients such as oil or tea. The resulting mash remains dark green or black even though the stain is consistently reddish brown. Recipes for henna mixtures are well-guarded family secrets for good reasons. Women want their family members to have a deep, rich tattoo as tradition proclaims the bride doesn't do housework as long as her design can be seen. In addition, how much your mother-in-law will love you correlates with the length of time the mendhi remains.

The paste that has adorned so many women comes from Lawsonia inermis, a small tree that grows in areas where the minimum temperature is usually greater than 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Lawsonia inermis is a thorny tree that needs about five years to mature and produce leaves with useful levels of tannin. It grows better in arid than in wet regions and tolerates extreme heat and long droughts. Its origins as a tattoo paste can be traced to areas of Northern Africa, the Middle East and India. Blossoms of the same tree have been used in perfumes since 1500 BCE.

The use of this abundant plant began in earnest when the desert people of India discovered its "cooling" properties. By dipping their hands and feet into the mud or paste made from the crushed leaves, they were able to keep their body temperatures low as long as some color remained. In the arid heat of their desert environment, this was indeed a fortuitous discovery!

From this general application came more specific ones. Women found that a large central dot in the palm cooled as well as staining the entire hand or foot. This rudimentary design was embellished with dots around the center which evolved into the use of increasingly pleasing designs.

In addition to being used to apply temporary tattoos, henna has been used to color wool, silk, animal skins and men's beards. Mummies dating to 1200 B.C. show evidence of henna use on hair and nails of pharaohs. Today the deep-colored paste is used by women to give luster to their hair as well as hide the grey.

When an Indian woman asks her husband if he has mendhi on his hands, it doesn't mean she really thinks he is decorated with reddish-brown body art below his wrists. She is referring to her bridal days when she wasn't expected to work while the mendhi could still be seen and is asking if this is also HIS reason for laziness.

Sandra Wilson is an author, teacher and international lecturer. While teaching in India she made several trips to the Taj Mahal, the focus of her historical novel, TAJ. For more information, visit her website at http://www.taj-womanandwonder.com

Henna Tattoos – No Pain, Just Stain is a post from: Urban Henna - Temporary Tattoos

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Henna tattoos are an ancient custom in India: girls and women are body painted before ceremonies, like marriage. They painted complicated patterns on their hands and feet to symbolize their fertility.

Henna (or 'Mehndi', the Indian name) is made from the henna plant (Lawsonia Inermis). The leaves of the plant are dried and ground. The powder gets mixed with water and you get a sort of green-brownish mud. If you put that mud on your skin, let it harden, and then peel it off, you will notice it has left an orange color.

You can get your henna at an eastern shop or a 'souk' in many different colors. There's orange, mahogany, brown and black. The orange one is the traditional henna. The black henna is synthetic. It contains PDD (P-phenylenediamene) and can cause allergic reactions. Even if it doesn't cause irritations, it's still unhealthy. Moreover, in the past, black henna at your wedding was considered a disgrace.

Henna Recipe

With one pack of henna, you'll have enough to body paint the entire football team. Put the henna in a bowl and gently pour some lemon juice and boiling water in the bowl. Don't use too much water, the mud has to resemble the thickness of sate sauce. The purpose of the lemon juice is to help the color hold better on your skin.

Your skin should be clean, dry and not fat. If you want to color your nails too, they shouldn't have nail polish on them. Make sure you really want this, because your nails will be orange for about 2 months. It doesn't come off! When the henna is cold, you can get to painting.

If you want to paint your foot soles, which is a traditional custom in Marokko, make sure you have a pillow of some kind to keep your feet off the floor, before you know it, the henna mud is everywhere! You can apply the henna with all sorts of instruments, what works best is a syringe (without the needle of course).

Symmetric and geometric shapes work best. Don't make the lines too thin, the color won't come on to your skin very well. The bigger the surface, the brighter the color will be.
Now: the annoying part: Waiting...

Let the henna dry in the sun, the warmth of the sun will get your color deeper into your skin. You can also use a hairdryer.

If you make a mistake in the picture your painting: ACT QUICKLY! If you wipe it off too late, the henna will leave a red spot.

After a while, the henna will start to burst. Don't peel it off yet! The henna has to stay on for at least two hours. Then you can start removing the crusts of mud.

DON'T remove the henna with water! Just scrape the crusts of your skin, you can do this with a bold knife. Don't let your body painting get in touch with water for the first couple of hours. Right after you scraped off all the crusts, rub your skin in with olive oil. It will make the color brighter and help keep the color on as long as possible. Your henna painting will survive for about a month or so.

Also nice to know: Swimming, body peeling, scrubbing your back, and bodyscrub products will make the henna tattoo deteriorate faster.

For more information, visit the authors website on body painting.

Body Painting: Henna Tattoo is a post from: Urban Henna - Temporary Tattoos

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.