Mehendi is believed to be an ancient Indian body art. It is used in creating sophisticated ethnic or contemporary designs and striking patterns on various parts of the body. Conventionally, mehendi was applied on the hands and feet of Indian bride and women preparing for special festive ceremonies. Today both men and women are finding it a nice alternative to permanent tattoos.
The art of applying henna in this manner is called Mehendi, it is an ancient ritual and art form. No Indian wedding can be ever completed without the mehendi ceremony. The ritual of mehendi is followed in every part of India where the hands of the bride are adorned with the lovely reddish hue of the mehendi. Henna designs can be used as armlets, bracelets, anklets, and general designs on hands and feet; these are also done in beauty parlors these days.
Various kinds of designs can be made depending on the occasion, either marriage, parties or pujas. In wedding ceremonies mostly customary Indian designs are made on the hands of the bride. These traditional designs are elaborate and detail. Other than the ethnic and conventional designs for the bride you can opt for contemporary designs, which are glossy and fashionable. Today brides also opt for Arabic designs, ornamental designs and tattoo designs that are adorned with sparkles and shining elements. The mehendi can also be in form of necklace tattoos, anklet tattoos and navel tattoos.
Henna is a natural product that forms the mehendi. Its leaves are dried and grinded to make the henna powder. Since it is a natural product and not with a single side effect. It usually takes many hours to get a good henna stain on the skin, and that stain is harmless. The shade varies according to the quality of the henna powder used. The henna design should last at a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 4 weeks that depends on the thickness of the epidermis of your skin and on where the design is located.
To have the best result one should leave the henna paste for eight hours and more. The longer the paste is kept on, the darker the design will be. It is said that the darker the stain, more love will be showered on the bride in her in laws house. The less exposed to water, soap or rubbing, the longer the designs will stay. For the wedding day, it is better to go for simple and detailed designs on your hands and feet. The designs should not be overdone and mixed up only then will that should look pretty.
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