Henna Tattoo Art
San Diego
About Henna
Henna is a small flowering shrub that has many uses. The leaves are dried and then turned into a fine powder that's used for dying the skin -- hence henna tattooing. Henna comes from the leaves of a shrub or small tree called Lawsonia interims and is usually sold in Asian markets in powdered form. For use, the powder is mixed into a paste, applied to the skin, and left to dry. When the dried paste is removed a brown stain is left behind on the skin.
Henna tattoos are temporary and
are the perfect way to show off
your personality and style
with any design you can imagine.
The exact origins of henna tattooing aren't clear, however the tradition dates back as far as Ancient Egypt. It was said that Cleopatra used henna to adorn her body. The art of applying henna to the hands and feet is known as Mehndi and is traditionally used for celebrations and rites of passage.
Every culture and region of the world uses henna tattoos in its own unique way. In Asian country weddings, henna is painted on the bride to symbolize joy, beauty, spiritual awakening and offering, while Moroccans often paint doors with henna to bring prosperity and chase away evil. Depending on where you get henna tattoos, they will look different. Indian tattoos feature fine lines and floral patterns, while Arabic henna designs tend to be larger in scale and African henna patterns are bolder and more geometric.
Designs can be applied freehand (for example, with small cones) or using stencils bought from the markets. The henna tattoo generally lasts somewhere between one and three weeks depending on a few factors like skin type, lifestyle, and body part.