Use of mehndi is a part of several cultures. It is more common in
Middle-East and South-Asia. Mehndi or henna is prepared from leaves of
a plant called henna. To prepare henna powder the leaves are first
dried and then ground. Grinding leaves ensures release of a substance
called “lawsone”. Lawsone has the ability to form bonds with skin and
stay there for a considerable time. Crushed leaves are then dried to
eliminate the moisture so that it is preserved for a longer time.
Leftover substance is the “henna powder”.
Before applying henna on skin, Henna powder is then mixed with water
to make a thick paste. In order to make it sticky, sometimes lemon
juice or sugar is added. More time the mehndi is allowed to stick to
your skin, better the results will be. Some essential oils are also
added in mehndi to obtain darker color e.g. tea tree or eucalyptus.
Essential oils are concentrated and should be used in small quantity.
Lavender is one of the mildest essential oils and it is safe for
children and people having sensitive skins. Color of mehndi varies from
dark brown to light orange. The color of mehndi fades out with time.
Its color lasts for about one week.
Henna or mehndi of different types and kinds is commonly available
in stores. Sometimes it is available in powder form and sometimes in
paste form. Paste form is usually packed in cones and expires earlier
than the powdered form. The mehndi available in paste form sometimes
contain certain chemicals. These chemicals are added to obtain darker
color, but sometimes these additives can cause certain harmful effects
on your skin. So you have to be very careful while choosing the brand
of mehndi. Before applying mehdi for any special occasion, make sure it
you are not allergic to its additives.
