Henna Tattooing

Henna tattooing is performed with ink made from the Henna plant, unique in its burgundy colour, which caused by the molecule lawsone. Lawsome bonds very easily with skin and hair proteins, sinking quickly into the top layers of the dermis – hence it’s adaptation and utilization as a body dye. It is currently grown in massive industrial & commercial quantities, a true piece of evidence to signify its’ popularity and use – humanity has used Henna as far back as the Bronze age, but recent developments in methods of cultivation and processing (combined with the rising western interest in a diversity of other cultures and practices besides their own) has meant that demand for it has gone through the roof. Many people will now get henna tattooing as a type of ‘half-way’ body modification, instead of getting a true, permanent tattoo, but it’s origins lay in religious ritual, festivals and rite-of-passage signifiers. There are records of its’ use during the Roman Empire, in ancient Indian courtrooms as a hair dye and in Egypt as a medicinal aid. Henna pigment is mixed into a paste (composed of Henna powder, lemon juice, eucalyptus oil and strong tea) and applied in patterns and with specific techniques (of which there are both ancient and modern versions) to skin, then left on the skin from anywhere between six to twelve hours. The resultant red-brown stain can last from just a few days up to a whole month, all depending on the application process. Henna has been associated with rites of passage specifically concerning women since the Bronze Age. It heralds connotations of health, vitality and fertility, integral to many Mediterranean and Indian marriage rituals. The aesthetic value of intricately applied henna across a girls’ hands is undeniable; a rough equivalent might be found in modern day weddings where the bride has her hair and make up specifically, painstakingly done. Henna patterned hands are evidenced on statuettes millennia old, ancient wall paintings and in many historical records. It bears connotations of luck in a multiplicity of cultures; it’s good properties of joy and happiness increasing with complexity and intricacy of a design. Brides in Yemen could undergo four-day henna patterning rites before their wedding day! It’s a versatile dye – it can be used to dye clothing and possesses anti-fungal properties, too. Modern technologies and creative innovations mean that the skill level for Henna application is ever-rising, and there is even now a type of ‘glitter infused’ Henna to wear…