Henna Tattoos: The Ancient Art of Body Adornment
If you’ve ever considered getting a tattoo but don’t want to go under the needle, or love the look of traditional Indian tattoos, then a henna tattoo is for you!
What is a henna tattoo?
It is temporary body art that can last for three to four weeks fresh and can stay on the skin for up to one month and even longer.
It is made from the ground up leaves of the henna plant, which is found in North Africa, Australia and across Asia. The leaves are dried up and mashed to create a dye, paste or powder that is usually mixed with water or lemon juice and applied to the skin.
Why get this tattoo?
Many people not only in America but all around the world choose to get them for various reasons, one being that they are affordable. Henna tattoos are also very popular with teens because they can easily be removed and are environmentally safe.
They come in a variety of colours and styles, which means people can create their own personalised tattoo. Another benefit is that there is no pain associated with getting a henna tattoo compared to a regular tattoo, which can be quite a painful process.
Henna comes in a wide variety of skin tone hues such as white, red, orange, brown, and black, and it looks great on all skin tones. Beautiful and intricate designs are painted onto different parts of the body like the hands, palms, legs, arms, feet and ankles.
They are often used for celebrations such as weddings, engagements, parties and other ceremonial events. Some of the most popular designs include flowers, the sun, butterflies, dragons, vines, leaves, eyes, snakes and lizards.
Henna is a common wedding tradition throughout Asia and the Middle East. Countries like Singapore, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Morocco use henna as a pre-wedding ritual. Families will host a small party for the bride, groom, and their guests – similar in a way to a bachelorette or bachelor party in Western countries.
How do I make the tattoo last longer?
Once the tattoo’s applied to the skin, let it set and avoid touching it for about 30 minutes. Touching a fresh tattoo too soon will cause it to smudge and ruin the design.
Try to avoid getting water and chemicals on it. Cover it up while taking a shower, washing the dishes, etc, to keep it intact for a longer period.
Also, keep it well-moisturised to avoid it from fading quickly over time.
How do I remove it?
They are tricky to remove because the dye effectively stains your skin. You may need several applications of silicone-based make-up removers to lift the tattoo off of your skin, or you can try using micellar water or even hair conditioner, to remove the tattoo.
If you do this often enough, the tattoo will eventually fade on its own. You can also try using an exfoliator like a salt scrub to help fade the tattoo faster.
Are there any risks?
Be cautious when applying black henna. One of the dangers of black henna is that it often contains high levels of a chemical called paraphenylene diamine (PPD), which is a cosmetic ingredient that can be extremely unsafe to use. It can lead to allergic reactions and cause chemical burns on the skin.
If you experience any of these reactions, call a doctor immediately and explain what is happening. It’s probably safer to avoid the black ones altogether.
Summary
Henna tattoos are beautiful, eye-catching, intriguing and sexy designs that women have used to adorn their bodies and beautify themselves for centuries. Despite being an ancient form of art, it remains to this day a popular form of temporary body art.
It is, for the most part, a very safe practice that is affordable and looks striking on all skin tones.
