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Mehndi body art, a traditional Indian and Middle Eastern art form, is applied to the skin using henna paste and can last from one to two weeks. It is often used for special occasions, such as weddings, and can be found in beauty salons and trade shows in the United States. However, it is important to avoid paste containing para-phenylenediamine (PPD), which can cause serious problems.
Mehndi body art, a tradition of India and other Middle Eastern nations, has gained worldwide popularity. Similar to intricate tattoos, mehndi body art is applied to the surface of the skin using a paint-like henna paste. The paste stays on the skin for several hours. When removed, it leaves a stain that darkens over the next 24 hours. Mehndi body art can last from one to two weeks or more.
In India, mehndi is a form of embellishment much like makeup or jewellery. While it can be worn on a routine basis, it plays an important role on special occasions, such as weddings. Two days before the wedding date, the bride usually attends a mehndi party hosted by friends. The bride’s hands are decorated from the fingertips to the elbows and her feet are also decorated up to the knees. Traditionally, the name of the groom is hidden somewhere within the mehndi body art and she has to find it before the marriage can take place. In some cases, the groom is also decorated with mehndi body art.
The duration of the mehndi body art on the skin depends on the quality of the henna paste, the amount of time it stays on the skin, the area of the body decorated with the mehndi body art and the skin type. Henna stains the upper layers of the skin, so as the skin exfoliates or sheds cells naturally, the mehndi body art fades away. Mehndi tends to last longer on the areas that generate the most heat, such as the hands and feet, although washing with harsh soaps will cause the mehndi body art to fade sooner.
Henna leaves are green and crushed into a powder to make henna paste. Once the green paste is removed from the body, an orange-red spot remains. Oils, other natural ingredients, and the application of heat can increase the depth of color to dark brown, deep coffee, or brownish black.
Darker spots are desirable, as they create more contrast and can last longer. However, so-called “black henna” is sometimes made with black hair dye containing para-phenylenediamine (PPD). PPD can cause blisters and other serious problems and is illegal to apply to the skin. When considering mehndi body art, make sure you avoid paste that contains PPD.
In the United States, mehndi body art is usually offered at trade shows and increasingly in beauty salons. Mehndi artists may also be available in your area and are sometimes referred to as “henna tattoo artists”. You don’t need a license to be a mehndi artist as no needles are used.
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