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There is always bad press for black henna…lets be really clear...there is no such thing as black henna as any professional ethical henna artist will tell you.differnt nations mix thing with henna natural and unnatural to make the colour black, the most dangerous of them all a chemical called Para-phenylenediamine PPD
this is the sort of henna you may get offered on holiday and it is particularly dangerous to people with light skin as the lack of melanin which gives skin its colour makes it more resilient to this chemical although people with dark skin can also get bad reactions to “black henna” In mild cases the person can get a mild rash. In severe cases, blistering burns and can lead to permanent scars. PPD can pass into the bloodstream where it can cause liver and kidney damage, including cancer. Our advice is to keep away from it. Some henna artist will tell you what is in their henna paste and other will not
In morocco they put white spirit they call “doolio” or even gasoline inn the henna, you will be able to smell it, avoid these things, it may seem like a good idea a the time but will cause irratation and even scarring to sensitive skin
You have been warned!!! |
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The history of mehndi goes back 5000 years. It is said to have been used in ancient Egypt to colour the nails and hair of mummies. In the 12th century, the Mughals (Moguls) introduced it into India, where it was most popular with the Rajputs ot Mewar (Udaipur) in Rajasthan, who mixed it with aromatic oils and applied it to the hands and feet to beautify them. From then on mehndi has been regarded as essential to auspicious occasions, particularly weddings.
It was only after reaching India that mehndi gained real cultural importance, its use by the rich and royal making it popular with the people. Servants who had learnt the art of mehndi by painting the hands and feet of princes and princesses (with fine gold and silver sticks) were very much sought after in towns and villages for their skills. As the use of mehndi spread, recipes, application methods and designs grew in sophistication.
In Persian art - most notably in a famous series of miniatures dating from between the 13th and 15th centuries - women taking part in wedding processions and dancers are depicted with mehndi decoration on their hands. It has been suggested that in the scorching heat of Arabia, mehndi was often used on the skin for its coolant properties.
Hindu goddesses are often represented with mehndi tattoos on their hands and feet, and Muslims have used mehndi since the early days of Islam. It is said that the prophet Muhammed peace of Allah be upon him used it to colour his hair as well as, more traditionally, his beard. He also liked his wives to colour their nails with it. That Muhammed was and remains a model of perfection for Muslims has ensured the continuing popularity of mehndi as a decorative art within Islam. |
The henna powder you use should be as fine as talc or baby powder, and should not have any little sticks of bits or leave in it. Fresh henna
should smell like fresh herbs or fresh grass, and should have a vibrant green colour. Never use henna that appears too light green or gray.
Always store your henna powder in a cool, dark, airtight place free of light and moisture. You might also want to check with Islamic or
International shops on the web or in your town or shops that sell natural products. |
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Qayim Al Jawziya (1292-1350 C.E.)
Introduction
Henna is cold in the first degree and dry in the second. The medicinal properties and potency of the henna tree and its branches comprise:
* a dissolving factor of the flaccidity of an organ, which characteristic comes from a balancing moisture it contains; and
* It contains a costive characteristic of a cold earth substance. Some benefits of Henna include: treatment of burns, congruity with nerves when used in poultices(soft moist heated mass spread on cloth and applied to the sore), and is used for the treatment of ulcers of the mouth, stomach, burns, and hot swellings.
Applying a decoction of henna to cuts has the same medicinal effects as those of the dragon's-blood tree. (Dracaena draco, a native of the
Canery Islands; any of the genus Dracanea, of the algave family. Arabic: dam al-akhawain)
Imam Trimidi and Imam al Baihaqi reported in their sahih that Umm Salma said: "Allah's Messenger Peace and Blessings of Allah Be Upon Him, never suffered from a wound or a thorn without applying henna to it." Applying a decoction made of henna and rose balm mixed with melted candlelight wax also helps in the treatment of pleurisy.
Small Pox
Henna also helps in the treatment of small pox in its early stages. This is done by tinting the bottom of the child's feet with henna,
and this will prevent its progression to his eyes. This treatment is well known fact and a most common treatment in the case of small pox.
Henna Blossoms
When blossoms of henna are placed in a woollen garment, they perfume it and prevent moths. When Henna leaves are soaked in fresh water
then squeezed and the infusion is drunk, 20 drachms mixed with 10 drachms of sugar, taken daily for forty days, or cooking a lambs meat with it and using it in ones diet for such a period, it helps in the treatment of leprosy in its early stages.
Henna Balm and Paste
Henna Balm also benefits in the treatment of the cracking of nails. This is done by drinking the water of soaked henna leaves for ten days. Henna paste also helps in the upkeep of healthy nails and beautifies them.
Mixing henna powder with purified ghee (middle eastern butter) also helps hot swellings that produce yellow puss when used as poultice, and is a treatment for scabies, itch and manage.
Henna also helps hair growth, increases youthfulness, benefits one's vision, augments sexual drive, and is useful for the treatment of blisters, pimples, and skin pustules between the legs.
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Staining the nails, skin and hair with henna is the favourite way of enhancing beauty amongst women in the Middle East. It is used as both a hair treatment as well as a dye to make decorative designs on the skin. Henna cosmetics are made from the Egyptian evergreen plant, Lawsonia inermis, whose shoots and leaves yield an extract which is mixed with catechu, an astringent substance obtained from various trees and shrubs. Arabians crush dried berries from this plant to obtain a red powder.
Black henna (saumer) is reserved for the soles of the feet and hands while red henna is used for the tips of the fingers and toes. It involves
the additional use of another paste made from powdered lime (nura) and powdered crystal amoniac (shanadah). The orange markings then
turn black and then remain on the skin for about twenty or thirty days. Both red and black henna can commonly be purchased from
international grocery stores.
The application of henna is a ritual which may take up to 6 hours. After all ingredients are mixed and designs applied the person shouldn't
disturb painted areas for 6 hours or more, depending upon the richness of colour and how long you want the design to stay on. This recipe
was given by a Moroccan woman for henna application:(1) Purchase fresh red powder henna (Afshan or Sadaq brands boxed and wrapped. 2) one cup brewed black tea, allowed to sit overnight, 3) 1 tsp of fresh lemon juice from a lemon which sat in the sun 12 hours or more, 4) glass bowl,
not ceramic, 5) mixing spoon, 6) Rose and Orange water to wash hands and feet before application. For application, the traditional
N. African tool is a Mishwak pick, but you can also use cake decorators, stencils from craft shops (taped to body first).
There may also be available for purchase henna pens from Pakistan.
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* 2 cups henna
* 1 egg white
* 2 tsp coffee powder (Nescafe)
* 3 big lemons
* 3 tsp Tea water
* Mix ingredients with water until consistent.
* Apply to humid hair as a paste. Go to the roots first.
* Wrap a warm cloth around your head.
* Leave it from half an hour to three hours.
* Most people remove it when dry.
* Remember that hot water releases the red pigment of the henna.
* If you are blond, you might end up orange. Therefore use neutral henna. Other hair colour look nice with coloured henna: brown hair
might turn out to make you look like a natural dark red headed; dark hair usually only keep a shadow of red.
* It is preferable not to use henna before about the puberty age. For sinus or bronchopneumonia people, avoid lemon; use more
coffee and egg.
* Also use hot water.
Advantages:
* 1.Good for falling hair.
* 2.It is a good conditioner, give lustre to the hair.
* 3.It strengthens the roots of the hair.
* 4.It turns white pigment to brown.
* 5.Good for dandruff.
* 6.Good for high blood pressure, migraine.
* 7.For heart patients it gives cooling effect.
* 8.Good for heart strokes
* 9.Good for scanty or rough hair and premed hair, blithered hair.
* 10.It stimulate blood circulation
* 11.It removes tensions, worry, anxiety, fatigue, cornice, insomnia.
* 12.It has a sex appeal also.
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Applied on the body or just on the face, henna can give you a light tan.
This way, you can avoid the use of chemicals. Your skin will not be sunburned and no danger of cancer. Henna is a natural sunscreen.
Henna can also in some cases help with pimples or a skin condition.
Most generally, henna helps you maintaining a soft and clear skin.
Usage:
Mix a little of henna powder with water. The mixture should be much lighter than the paste obtained for the hair; it should be almost fluid.
Use hot water.
Then apply over skin. Let it dry (it usually takes10 minutes) and remove with water.
At first you might notice vivid red and uneven spots over the skin. This is normal; it will disappear after a few hours. With time the colour
will quickly turn a light shade of brown and will not stay red or orange.
You might notice that after application the blackheads that fill the pores of your nose are even more apparent. Not to worry, just use a
"clear pore strips" (From Pond's, Bioré industries or other).
Henna can also be used for creating designs on skin in the manner of a removable tattoo.
You can buy henna mehndi through the web from Life Art (http://www.hunza.com/), or Castle Art (http://www.castleart.com/),
they both have quality henna.
Heat 2-3 inches of water in a saucepan. Toss in a palm full of fresh whole and ground cloves, dried lemons, and 2 or 3 bags of dark tea or coffee singles. Simmer the mixture for about an hour. You can also add other ingredients to the mix, such as tamarind paste, granulated sugar, or pomegranate concentrate. Stir your brew with a wooden spoon. You should NEVER use metal utensils to mix it. After you have
sufficiently cooked your mixture fir an hour, remove it from heat and allow it to cool. Then you may begin mixing it into the henna powder.
Once the henna is mixed, let it sit for a couple hours, preferably overnight.
For application, put henna it into a small bottle with a long thin tip on it. You can find them at specialty stores, or in arts and craft stores. You can also use paper cones.When you mix the brew into the powder to make the paste, be careful not to add too much right away, so you don't accidentally make it
too thin. While mixing the paste, I add generous amounts of lemon juice and eucalyptus oil. The end mixture should have a very smooth texture, slightly thinner than toothpaste. Normally I can tell if a batch is good if it begins to stain my skin with a vibrant orange colour after
being on for only 5-10 minutes. TIP: If you mix up more paste than you need, you can freeze it for up to 6 months, and it will still work well.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR NEW DESIGN
Once the paste is applied, you'll need to cover the design in a lemon and sugar mixture, made from equal amounts of fresh squeezed lemons and granulated sugar. This substance creates a sticky coating that helps keep the design in place and the citric acid helps deepen the colour.
Be sure you do not have any pulp in the mixture. You will also need to heat the design. Use a candle when the mix is on hands, but a hair
dryer works good too. No matter what, be careful so you don't get burned. Alternate between dabbing the lemon sugar on with a real
cotton ball and then applying heat if possible.
Repeat this process 4-5 times. Then wrap the designs in unravelled cotton balls (use only real cotton) or large cotton first aid pads.
Leave the design on overnight and scrape it off in the morning. Rub some oil (such as vegetable oil) on the design and avoid washing
it for a day or so. It should last quite a while (about 3-4 weeks) if the henna paste was good and you care for the design a lot. If you ever
want to get it off, scrubbing daily and swimming on chlorinated water or getting sun on it will take it off much faster. Beware of getting
it in the sun too much. If you get burned with a new design on, your design will fade and you will have a white design where the design used to be. |
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