Mehndi is the applying of a temporary form of skin decoration that is also known as a henna tattoo. It is applied during special occasions such as weddings or festivals. Usually it is put on your hands or feet and can last for a couple weeks.

The History of Mehndi

If you have ever been to an Indian wedding you have probably seen brides wearing the “henna tattoos”. Mehndi is a timeless tradition that goes way back. In the Indian culture it is an important ritual that symbolizes beauty and is acquired for all ceremonial occasions, such as weddings. It is an essential part of the wedding ceremony and brings good luck in the couples years to come together. It shows glamor and adds mystery to the bride’s appearance on the wedding day.

Mehndi is made from the henna plant, or lawsonia inermis, the leaves from the henna plant are finely ground and is mixed with lemon juice and oil. The mehndi is only temporary and when washed off shows an orangish-brown color. It is completely safe and painless and has been used for over 5000 years. This art is now popular all around the world.

Importance and Designs

Henna or Mehndi has a deeper meaning than just a temporary tattoo. One of the celebratory nights of a South Asian wedding is the “Mehndi Party”.  All the relatives and friends of the bride come over to the bride’s house to get henna done on them, just small designs. As the bride gets intricate henna on her hands and feet she is informed of the marriage life and the mysteries of it. Not only does the Mehndi look gorgeous on a bride’s hands and feet, but it compliments the beautiful colors and shine that Indian Wedding & Bridal Outfits consist of.

In the design of the mehndi, the groom’s name is usually added upon the brides’ design where his name is to be found by the bride or couple. Each design is very intricate and usually covers up the entire hand. It takes a couple of hours for each mehndi to be completed depending on how detailed it is.

Tips for Brides:

-Plan your Henna Night two days before your wedding.  It takes around 24 hours for your mehndi to reach its best color.

-If you have a lot of guests arriving, make sure to start your mehndi 3 hours ahead of time.

-Get all your pre- bridal beauty work done before so that nothing will get ruined.

-It takes around 15 to 20 minutes for your mehndi to dry. Once dried, you need to apply lemon sugar solution to help enhance the color. It will start crusting off after a few hours leaving an orange stain to your hands. Keep it away from water for about 10 hours to help last longer and it should last around 2 to 3 weeks.

Mehndi is a great way to bring your relatives and family together a few days before the wedding to enjoy each other’s company and have fun while getting hennas. It is a very unique idea added into the wedding ceremony and can be used for any type of wedding.

Image 1 via Quazen

Image 2 via LSFashion

Image 3 via Mehendi

Image 4 via Funlahore

We would also like to thank Mehndi-Henna & Keyuris for their advice on Mehndi designs and best practices.