Henna Tattoo Designs

 

Henna Tattoo, is an ancient form of body art, which appears in murals dating to at least 1680 BCE. It enjoyed popularity from the Mediterranean and North Africa to Persia, India and South Asia. Henna body art transcends religious and cultural lines, with Jews, Christians, Muslims and Hindus using it in regions where the henna plant is native. It specializes in intricate designs of intertwining delicate lines, often with a floral motif. These classic ethnic designs form exotic patterns, and henna is an ancient form of non-permanent or temporary tattoo.

Often used on special occasions, henna tattoos last between one and four weeks, and were traditionally used on the hands and feet. In the US, true henna has not been approved by the FDA for body art purposes, however it is approved for use on hair. With a history of over 5000 years, there have been no tests which ever suggested henna poses a danger. Traditional henna designs are applied to the skin and left on for several hours to over night. While some otherwise healthy people have a mild allergic reaction to henna, this is not permanent or life-threatening (barring any pre-existing skin conditions), they should just avoid henna in the future.

Avoid so-called "black henna" or PPD, which is a chemical based dye that can cause severe chemical burns and allergic reactions. This is illegal in the US, but remains in use by some "henna" artists, typically the traveling type at fairs. It can also cause permanent sensitivity to the active chemicals in black henna, which could lead to life threatening reactions to even commercial hair dyes. You can identify true henna by its color, which can range from khaki green, or greenish brown, to very dark brownish green, and by a herb or pine smell. PPD is jet black and has no smell. If the "artist" says to leave the ink on for an hour, it's fast acting PPD. Real henna takes at least several hours to stain the skin.

Henna designs also offer inspiration for permanent tattoo artwork. The flowing lines are detailed and delicate, intricate but with a simple beauty. If you have had several temporary henna designs, you may find that you like the style so much that you have a permanent henna tattoo design done.