The floral designs on palms with fine bracelet-like lines on\r\n the wrist and colour-coating on nails from red and orange or black henna in\r\n different parts of the world from Asia to the Middle East and North Africa are\r\n very common. Made from the shrub of the same, its leaves are ground and mixed\r\n with water to turn it into a paste, which is later applied on hands and feet.

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In past, the lack of sharp tools and techniques caused the\r\n arrival of simple designs that included coating whole palms with the paste or\r\n going for simple designs like making simple flowers that would cover the palm\r\n completely. Today, cones and needle-like tools help to make detailed flowers\r\n and lines. Yet, if we compare past and present, we will understand that henna\r\n is always a means of beautification for people around the globe in the regions\r\n mentioned.

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Henna and Marriage

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We think about marriage and weddings whenever our nose veins\r\n are bombarded with the smell of henna! Thanks to the legend of Baal and Anith\r\n that linked two things in 1600 BC in such a way that still people are living\r\n with the same concept.

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Henna in Egypt – the history unfolds

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The history of Henna is 5000 years old. It is considered to\r\n have been discovered in Egypt as Ramses II was found in his tomb with his hair\r\n coloured with natural temporary dye. It is famously said that Egyptians brought\r\n henna from Persia to their state. They used this natural paint to colour their\r\n hair and nails. Cleopatra and the military are known to use it for\r\n beautification. During those dyes, it was also considered a cooling agent, due\r\n to which people applied it to keep themselves less warm. It was their tradition\r\n 5400 years ago to paint the nails of the dead and hide their grey hair during\r\n mummification.

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North Africa – Henna as a beautification tool

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North Africa was believed to have the tradition of using\r\n henna through Phoenician Diasporas during Punic civilization. The Diasporas\r\n introduced it as art and adornment.

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During Roman civilization, henna was used on greying hair\r\n and as nail paint, following the footsteps of Egyptians.

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South Asia – The Reign of Henna Art

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South Asia was blessed with the tradition of celebrating\r\n henna days because of Egyptians, who were considered to become the source of\r\n bringing henna culture to South Asia by gifting them their beauty tool during\r\n the rule of Pharaohs. Since then, it has become part of their traditions.

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However, there are some speculations that the Mughals\r\n brought henna from their homeland to South Asia, which is opposed by some\r\n Indians in the light of evidence, consisting of thousands of years ago\r\n paintings in different parts of the land that had stains of henna.

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In South Asia, henna is known as Mehndi – a Sanskrit word.\r\n There, it was and is used by both men and women to hide their grey hair. Women\r\n are known to apply on their special days, leading to the development of whole henna\r\n art.

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Middle East – Henna is for men too

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Henna became part of Emirati culture during 600 AD when\r\n Prophets started to use it as hair dye, leading to cultural acceptance that men\r\n can enhance their feature as well.

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West

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The natural dye reached the West in the 19^th\r\n century when people saw men using it to colour their white and grey beard and\r\n realized how they could use it as a beautification tool to embody art and make\r\n tattoos. Therefore, today henna is in every part of the world, which is\r\n supplied as cones to beautify hands, and feet and make tattoos.

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Henna is a natural temporary red-orange dye that has a long\r\n history, dating 5400 years back when it originated in the Middle East and\r\n Northeast Africa, leading to its expansion of use gradually around the world.\r\n Today, it is not applied as much as it used to be in past, but still, it is\r\n considered source of beautification for brides. Therefore, henna or Mehndi Day\r\n is always celebrated before the wedding; the families hire henna artists to\r\n apply Mehdi tattoos and designs on the brides’ hands to prepare them for their\r\n big day.

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From Egypt To Asia – The Precise History Of Henna Designs

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