Mehendi on the body is on the wave of popularity. Such henna drawings have existed for more than 5 thousand years. And this type of decoration originated in ancient Egypt. Egyptian beauties painted their face, body and nails with henna for beauty, as well as to attract good luck and wealth. Drawn symbols, images and geometric figures were also considered a powerful protection against all impure things. Soon such painting spread all over the world. It is especially popular in India, North Africa, and Indonesia. More recently, this art has come to Europe. It is widely used by young girls in order to express themselves, as well as to make their image unique. What is the difference between such body painting and how it can be done at home - we will talk about this with you in the article.
The main features of mehendi on the body
Mehendi is often called a bio tattoo. And not by accident. After all, this is, in essence, an alternative to a real tattoo, since it has clear lines and a beautiful appearance in the same way. The only difference is that it is a temporary decoration. The pattern applied with henna stays on the body from 1 to 3 weeks. And it comes off after the top layer of the skin is renewed.
Unlike a real tattoo, which is stuffed with a needle, which causes pain and infections, applying a pattern with henna is painless, but also beneficial. After all, henna – it is a healing herb that relieves inflammation and promotes rapid healing of wounds.
Mehendi color can be completely different: brown, black, white. Indigo (blue) patterns are also very popular. The peculiarity of such body painting is that it can be either less or more saturated. It all depends on the type and color of the skin.
Where can mehendi be applied?
This bio-tattoo can be applied to almost any part of the body. It can be an arm, leg, neck, stomach, back. Such lace art looks especially beautiful on the hand, ankle, and also on the shoulder blade. As practice shows, the brightness of the pattern lasts the longest on the arms and legs. Also, beauties often paint the whole body, bringing individuality and originality to their style.
Mehendi is considered to be a summer pattern in most cases. Because it is at this time that you can show your arms, legs, stomach and shoulders in all their beauty.
Pattern style
The choice of patterns is so diverse that it is sometimes difficult to find what you need. But this process can be facilitated on the basis of your inner "I". and moods. In other words, it is easiest to choose what will help you express yourself as much as possible. The choice can be made among modern styles, or you can turn to antiquity for help. Some countries still use techniques that were actively used in the old days. These are styles like:
- Arabic – this mehendi is distinguished by the presence of a huge number of floral ornaments. And there are no strict rules for applying. The main thing is that the appearance of the pattern is refined and rich.
- African. Main “highlight” this style – it's geometry. Triangles, straight lines, rhombuses are very common in African drawings.
- Indian - the style cannot be called simple in execution. There is one very simple explanation for this: Indian patterns are quite voluminous. Very often, Indian women paint the whole body, starting from the neck and ending with the heels. Moreover, the drawings themselves from afar resemble gloves or bracelets. They can depict both flowers and animals, as well as religious motifs.
- Asian – it is a combination of Indian and Arabic techniques. Here, the whole body is predominantly painted, and various flowers and other plants serve as a pattern. The main feature of this technique is that the fingertips are completely painted here.
The European style of mehendi, which is considered relatively young – in Europe, he was born in the 90s of the XX century. European drawings do not have certain traditions and rules. After all, they combine elements of all traditional patterns, only they are richer and more diverse.
Meaning of pictures
The huge variety of patterns applied by henna does not cease to amaze. Flowers, diamonds, lace, intricate lines - all this and much more can be seen on the body of girls. Each drawing has its own meaning. So, the triangle is a reliable protection of the body from diseases, and the spirit from despondency. The circle symbolizes stability in life. The peacock attracts joy and happiness. And the lotus is considered a female symbol, because this flower symbolizes purity, love and fertility.
Application of mehendi on the body at home
In order to make any pattern, you can go to a salon or to a person who draws well and does this kind of painting for pleasure. And it is quite possible to paint your body at home. And for this it is not at all necessary to have artistic talent. With special stencils, such a procedure will be possible even for a beginner.
What is needed for the procedure
It doesn't take much time or money to apply a pattern. After all, all the components for such a procedure are quite affordable. And you can buy them in any shopping centers, as well as in the online store. All you need is:
- ready henna tube;
- special stencils;
- Essential eucalyptus oil (you can take another);
- lemon juice;
- cotton sponges.
It is better to buy natural henna than powders with synthetic dyes. You can recognize a natural product by its brown color and specific smell. And it is made from dried crushed leaves of the cinchona tree, which grows in Africa and eastern countries.
Preparing the skin
Don't start the procedure right away. First you need to carefully prepare the skin. And it is advisable to do this the day before applying a natural tattoo. If there are hairs in the place where you want to see mehendi, they should be removed. The fact is that the pattern on the skin is washed off faster than on the hair, and after a while, instead of a beautiful pattern, you can see only colored hairs. And, getting rid of minor vegetation immediately, the picture will be washed off evenly. You also need to thoroughly cleanse the skin with a scrub or hard washcloth. After all, henna is better absorbed into clean skin, and the pattern will last longer.
Let's get creative
It is very easy to apply a pattern with henna. First, take essential oil, then use a sponge to wipe the place of drawing. This tool will help the skin to remain beautiful and well-groomed. And for a good fixation, manifestation and brightness of the pattern, use lemon juice.
Next, take a special stencil, remove the film from it and stick it on your arm, leg, shoulder blade or other prepared place. After that, cut the edge in the tube and begin to slowly paint over the surface of the stencil with a thick layer of henna, filling the empty space. After 15-20 minutes, when the dye dries, all you have to do is remove the stencil and shake off the excess henna. Henna should not be wetted with water and touched until it is as dry as possible.
After the drawing is ready, you can again lubricate the skin with eucalyptus oil in order to moisturize it. Initially, the pattern will be light, but after 2-3 days it will darken. It is possible to extend its life as much as possible if the treated area is not moistened with water.
Mehendi on the body – an excellent bio-tattoo that will decorate any girl and bring true aesthetic pleasure.
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