Mehndi (you may see it written as mehandi, mehendi, mendhi, henna, al-henna) is the traditional art of henna painting in India and the Middle East. The dye, henna, is made from dried, ground henna leaves and various other ingredients. The word “henna” literally means “to become queen.” The Indian name “mehndi” designates the process, the dye, and the stain of mehndi. To make the dye, henna (mehndi) leaves are dried and finely ground. The powder that results is filtered two or more times through a fine nylon cloth. This process results in removing the coarse fibers from the powder, making what is left finer and easier to use. The artist then mixes this fine powder with an oil (such as eucalyptus, nilgiri, or mehndi oil) and other liquids (lemon, water, or tea), making a thick paste. This paste is applied to the wearer’s hand in various designs, which can range from large, thick patterns to Moroccan geometric patterns to traditional Indian paisleys and lace-like drawings.
All depends upon the skill of the artist and the style of designs used. A solution of lemon juice and sugar is then applied to the drying mehndi to allow it to remain stuck to the skin and to improve the dying process. After 2 – 12 hours, during which the mehndi dries, the wearer scrapes the paste off to reveal the designs, which resemble tattoos and last 1-3 weeks on the skin. While the color of the mehndi dye is a deep shade of green, once removed the dye leaves a color varying from light orange to a deep brownish- black.
HOW MANY HOURS SHOULD WE KEEP MEHNDI ON HANDS?
Usually, it is recommended to keep mehndi on your hands for at least 4-6 hours to achieve a good result. Some brides love the lighter tones , some would like to have darker mehndi. For darker tones and longer-lasting mehndi, you need to keep it on overnight for a darker and longer-lasting stain.
It is important that you don’t touch anything and you have friends and family around you to help you with random tasks ( phone calls, drinking and eating) you can’t do until the mehndi is dry. During the time that you have the mehndi on your hands, it is important to keep your hands warm and dry, as this will help to enhance the color. If you want, you can wrap your hands with plastic wrap or cloth to keep them warm. After the recommended time has passed, you can gently scrape off the dried mehndi paste and avoid washing your hands for a few hours. The color of the mehndi will continue to darken over the next 24-48 hours.
