Henna

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

For the Bollywood film, see Henna (film).

Henna
Lawsonia inermis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Myrtales Family: Lythraceae Genus: Lawsonia Species: Lawsonia inermis L.

Henna (Lawsonia inermis, syn. L. alba) is a flowering plant, the sole species in the genus Lawsonia in the family Lythraceae. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, southern Asia and northern Australasia with an arid or at least seasonally dry climate.

It is a shrub growing to 6 m tall. The leaves are in opposite decussate pairs, oval, 2–4 cm long and 1.5–3 cm broad, with an entire margin and acute apex. The flowers are fragrant, produced in conical panicles 10–40 cm long, each flower 5 mm diameter, with four white petals. The fruit is a dry capsule 6–8 mm diameter, containing numerous 1–2.5 mm seeds.

Contents 1 Cultivation and uses 1.1 Preparation and Application of Paste 1.2 Chemistry and Allergic Reactions 1.3 Use of henna as body art 2 Black henna 3 See also 4 External references

[edit] Cultivation and uses

Henna is used as a temporary dye for hair colouring and temporary body art. Henna is also used to decorate lamps and bags. It is mainly known as Mehndi (or Mehendi/Mehandi) in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. In North Africa and the Middle East it is typically called Henna. The dye is extracted from the dried leaf and petioles of the plant.

In Tamil (South India, Singapore, Malaysia, Srilanka) it is called as 'Marudhaani', and used as ground fresh leaves rather than as dried powder.

The application of henna has many uses. For instance if you apply to goat skin bags, after they have been salt-cured, is supposed to "insect-proof" or "moth-proof" the bags, by making the skin poisoned or inedible. This has been observed with bagpipe bags from Tunisia such as the "Zukra" or "Mezoued" as well as Iran with the "Nay-anban" or "Habouneh".^{[citation needed]}

The United States Food and Drug Administration has not approved henna for direct application to the skin. It has been approved in order to add a deep red or brown tint and shine to hair. Most other cultures consider naturally-made henna to be harmless, though some products known as black henna with added paraphenylenediamine have been adulterated and can cause allergic reactions and permanent tissue damage. Black henna can be identified simply by its black color. However, all henna paste that is black is not necessarily "black henna".

[edit] Preparation and Application of Paste

To prepare henna for skin or hair, the leaves are dried and ground into a powder. Strong tea or coffee, lemon juice (or other acidic liquid) and essential oils (such as tea tree, eucalyptus, clove and lavender) can be used to release the dye. It is then mixed in order to produce a mud-like consistency that will adhere well to the skin. The paste is then allowed to oxidize for an amount of time ranging from a few hours to two days before use. After the paste has been applied, it should stay on the skin as long as possible, up to 12 hours to achieve a stain of darkest coloration.

When the paste is dried and ready to be removed, it should be treated with a mixture of sugar, water, and lemon juice in order to allow the color to penetrate the skin better. Afterwards the paste can be picked or scratched off and dabbed with olive oil in order to further darken the stain. Stain colour and quality will improve in the 1-3 days after paste removal- the stain oxidizes and darkens substantially.

[edit] Chemistry and Allergic Reactions

When used on skin, henna penetrates only the dead cells of the stratum corneum, a layer which is thickest on the hands and feet, especially for males. The depth of penetration depends on the time duration for which the paste is left on the body, and the stain will last longer when fully absorbed in thick skin. Individual exfoliation affects the quality of the stain, the darker the better.

Allergic reactions to natural henna are rare, and typically do not cause serious health problems. Symptoms are usually apparent within a few hours, and are generally limited to mild itching, shortness of breath, and/or tightness in the chest, usually a reaction to the essential oil chosen by the artist.

Young children, under age six, may have a G6PD deficiency, and have extremely adverse reactions to henna application. Children under 6 generally should not receive henna, unless it is known they do not have this deficiency. Henna has a peculiar, strong smell, occasionally 'lemony', or strongly earthy or herbal like hay or coriander.

[edit] Use of henna as body art

The application of henna is most popularly used on the body as a temporary tattoo. This usage is popular all over the world. It is usually drawn on the hands and feet, where the designs will last the longest.

Henna paste is usually applied to the skin using a plastic cone or a paint brush, but sometimes a small metal-tipped jacquard bottle used for silk painting (a jac bottle) is used. The affected area is then wrapped with tissue, thin cotton material, or plastic in order to lock in body heat, creating a more intense colour on the skin. The wrap is worn as long as possible and then removed. The final colour is reddish brown and can last anywhere from one week to four weeks depending on the quality of the paste.

The patterns of Mehndi are typically quite intricate, and predominantly applied to brides before wedding ceremonies in India. However, traditions in many parts of the world such as Bangladesh, India, and Sudan bridegrooms are to be painted as well. In Rajasthan (northwest India), where mehndi is a very ancient folk art, the grooms are given designs which are often as elaborate as those for brides. In Kerala (South India), Henna is known as Mylanchi and is commonly used by the Mappila (Muslim) community during weddings and festivals. In other countries, such as Morocco, it is done for any special occasion. It is done during the 7th month of pregnancy, after having the baby, weddings, engagements, family get-togethers, as well as many other reasons to simply celebrate an event.

Henna has lately become fashionable in the West as well, where they are sometimes called "henna tattoos". This colloquialism is misleading as tattoos are usually defined as the permanent surgical insertion of pigments underneath the skin.

[edit] Black henna

"Black henna" is the name given to an artificial product created by the addition of paraphenylenediamine (PPD) to natural henna to create a black stain. PPD is traditionally used in black hair dye but is a sensitizer, which means that it is something that the body is naturally allergic to or can become allergic to. Black henna can cause severe reactions that can take from 5–15 days to appear, which can cause permanent scarring and may even be life threatening. Reactions to black henna frequently necessitate immediate medical attention from a doctor or allergist.

However, other dyes exist which are sometimes called "black henna," which are usually composed of a mixture of henna and indigo. These generally do not contain PPD.

[edit] See also

• Mehndi

[edit] External references

General

• Henna Designs and Henna Designers Database
• Henna Tribe - A Nonprofit Community of Henna Artists around the World.
• Henna und Mehr - Information about Middle Eastern and North African Womens' Arts - in German
• The Henna Page (hennapage.com) – Devoted to the art, science, history and traditions of henna as body art.
• Plant Cultures: botany, history and uses of henna
• Comparing traditional and new ways of doing henna tattoos
• HennaHealing Articles Includes practice sheet, pattern sheet, cautions to consider, creating celebrations, visual art, and more.

Mehndi (body art)

• Superb Henna Work from a London based Artist.
• Indian, Arabic and other useful designs
• Henna Tribe's Henna Gallery from artists all over the globe
• Free Online Instructional Videos for DIY Henna Art Learn how to apply and care for henna designs on your skin and how to make homemade henna cone applicators
• The display of combination of ethical henna and glitter to add in today's fashion world
• HennaPage.net – a guide to henna body decoration
• Free instructional materials from HennaPage.com: E-Books and Powerpoint presentations.
• Henna tattoo designs.
• Patsy Terrell's photos and commentary of her henna tattoo from start to finish.

Hair

• Henna and other Herbs for Natural Hair Care
• HennaforHair.com – instructions, mixes, pictures, and discussion

Safety

• FDA report
• Hennapage.com: PPD "Black Henna" information, including links to medical papers and government reports.