Henna belongs to the privet plant family. Henna has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties and cosmetic properties. Henna is used for coloring the hair and conditioning the hair as well. Today henna is used for body art as well. Henna is a Persian word and describes a small flowering shrub (Lawsonia inermis). The plant is found all over the world including Australia, the Mediterranean, Africa and in Southern United States. The variety of henna plant varies from region to region and different plants have different coloring properties and the color of the powder also varies. Henna powder in its pure and natural form is a bright or deep green, khaki or brown. The color produced by pure natural henna ranges from orange to red, to black cherry and near black color. Pure black color is not produced by natural henna powder.

Henna powder is made from the leaves of the henna bushes. When manufactured in large quantities, the leaves are taken to the factory and machine ground. Normally henna powder is made by blending different types of henna leaves from different parts of a country or from different countries. After the leaves are ground the powder is sifted. If the powder is not properly sifted the henna powder will contain pieces of leaf. Finely sifted henna powder is life talc and contains no leaves. Finely sifted henna powder is best for cosmetic use. Henna powder colors the skin, when the dye is released as a result of the henna powder being mixed with water or lemon juice and being applied on the skin.

ehndi body art has been practiced for centuries in the Middle East, India and in some parts of Africa. Though generally mehndi is thought of as a woman’s forte, men in all the countries have practiced it as well. Mehndi is the art of creating designs on the skin using henna paste. These designs can be applied in different parts of the body. Traditionally mehndi is applied on the hands and feet. Today as mehndi has become popular in the West mehndi is applied on the upper arms, back, around the belly button and on the hands and feet.

Initially henna was applied in these countries to cool the body in the hot summers. Dots are applied on the palm of the hands of both men and women to cool the body. As time passed the users of henna began drawing patterns, which over a period of time became intricate designs that are popular today. The different cultures gave rise to different style of mehndi and different methods of application. Intricate and fine line designs were developed in Pakistan and India. Geometric patterns and designs became the specialty of Morocco. In Africa bold geometric shapes and patterns became popular. Mehndi patterns are applied with the help of gold rods, plastic cones, plastic bottles with tips, syringes and toothpicks etc. Today mehndi art has become a means of expression for the Mehndi artists. 

Henna Paste

For henna powder to release the dye you will have to make a paste of the henna powder with water or lemon juice. There are a number of things that can be added to the henna powder to make a paste that will stain your skin or hair the color you desire. Most people follow a trial and error method and finally come up with a recipe that suits their needs. Given below is a basic henna paste recipe, you can try it out and add to it to suit your needs. To make henna paste or mehendi

• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons black tea or coffee
• 3 tablespoons of sifted henna powder (make sure you sift the powder before making a paste)
• 1 teaspoon eucalyptus oil

Lemon-Sugar Glaze

• Strained juice of ½ lemon
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Boil the water and add the tea or coffee powder and make a decoction. Let this decoction soak for a few hours. Strain the decoction to remove any particles of tea or coffee. Place the henna powder into a plastic or glass bowl and add eucalyptus oil. Now slowly add the tea/coffee decoction a little at a time and stir the mixture. Use the spoon to press the powder and water together. Make a smooth paste of the henna powder. Allow the paste to stand for 6 to 12 hours. The longer you allow the paste to stand the smoother the mixture will become. Now apply this paste in any design you want and wait till the mehndi is dry, but not cracking. Take a cotton ball and dab a little lemon-sugar glaze to keep the henna moist. Keep the henna on for as long as you want.

After you remove the henna paste design from your skin, try not to wet the area for as long as possible. It is best to leave henna overnight. Using lemon-sugar glaze will ensure that the mehndi stays overnight. The less you wash the colored area of your skin the longer the design will last. If the colored skin is constantly touching water then the color will fade quickly. Applying lotions or creams will cause the design to loose color. A henna tattoo cannot be removed; it will have to fade off on its own. The color may last on your skin for two or three weeks or longer.

Henna for Hair

Traditionally henna has been used for coloring hair for centuries in the Middle East and in India. Using henna for the hair is part of the normal beauty regime in these countries. Henna while coloring the hair conditions it as well. Henna is considered a very good natural conditioner for the hair. Henna strengthens the hair. It has anti fungal properties that help in the reduction of dandruff. Once you use henna on your hair it is easier to detangle and your hair is more manageable. Henna is a natural dye and henna dyes your hair a beautiful and natural red.

Henna is natural and therefore does not dye your hair like synthetic dyes. Henna coats the hair with a transparent red coloring. As you repeatedly apply henna on your hair, the color of your hair will get deeper. Henna cannot and does not lighten hair. On dark hair henna provides red and reddish highlights. When henna is applied on black or dark brown hair, the hair will be dyed auburn to burgundy with red highlights that will be visible in the sunlight. Henna will dye blond hair a natural red. Henna on red hair will make the hair a deeper red. Henna will dye white hair a natural red or a deep red. An advantage of using henna is that it is natural and therefore conditions and colors your hair in a natural and safe manner. Another great thing about using henna is that you can make a paste to suit your hair type. Some people who are concerned about their hair becoming dry add special essential oils to their henna paste. People add floral water, eggs and other natural dyes to their pastes in order to create the perfect paste.

Henna for Body Painting

The leaves of the henna plant have been used for centuries, in the Middle East and India, to create beautiful intricate temporary body art. Henna when applied on the surface of the skin, stains the outer skin an orange-brown and this color normally lasts for about a month. The color of the henna will wear off completely over a period of time. Today henna is increasingly being used for body painting. The duration for which the color of henna lasts depends on the skin type and the type of care you take. A body painting can last between four to six weeks. If you use lotions, swim and soak in the bathtub then the color will wear off quickly.

Traditionally henna is applied on the hair, hands and feet. But today modern henna art is done on any non-bending area of the skin. Artists today make henna tattoos on the arms as armbands; intricate henna art is done around the navel as well. Henna tattoos can be made on a person’s back. Henna tattoos or body art is a good option as they are not permanent and you can experiment, especially if you are unsure about how it will look. Using henna for body art is not painful, as it is applied on the surface on the skin and not injected into the skin. Some people have reactions to henna body art. This is normally because of the oils that are added to the henna paste and not to the henna per se. Some people have contact dermatitis that manifests in the form of an itchy rash. If the paste has been applied for a short while then it can be washed off and will leave a very pale stain. But if the henna paste has been worn for a long time or overnight it will take about 4 weeks for the orange-brown color to wash off.

• To harden soft nails soak them in warm olive oil for about 20 minutes on alternate days.
• For strong nails soak them in a mixture of horsetail.
• To remove stains from your nails, mix one tablespoon of lemon juice in a cup of water and soak your nails in this liquid for a few minutes.
• It is not a good idea to remove the cuticles from your nail, as it will make the nail susceptible to infection.
• If you use nail polish then do not use acetone polish removers.
• When you wear nail polish, give your nails a break from time to time. Leave them without polish for a few days.
• For natural nail polish rub petroleum jelly on your nails then buff with a soft cloth.

If you have brittle nails or split or dull nails then here are a few vitamins that will help you:

• Organic Silica: this will increase the growth of nails and prevent them from becoming brittle.
• Essential Fatty Acids: Found in most oils are good for healthy and strong nails.
• Vitamin B especially B5: Important for healthy skin and nails.
• MSM (Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane): important for healthy nails.

Ensure that you follow a hand care regime, even it means only applying moisturizer on your hands. Even if you do this regularly it will go a long way in making your hands look better.