Mehndi designs For Hands
Mehndi designs for hands are very popular and widely used in Pakistan and India on auspicious occasions like weddings, Eid and other religious ceremonies etc.
Mehndi Designs or henna is the art of painting the body in ornate designs with henna. It is a beautiful and mysterious art form that has been used for centuries to heal, to adorn and to bless. Mehndi paste is made from the crushed leaves of the henna plant mixed with other natural ingredient, such as eucalyptus oil, lemom juice and black tea. Mehndi paste is usually applied to the skin using a plastic cone or a paint brush, and when it is removed after few hours, it leaves beautiful marking that last one to three weeks.
Mehndi designs are usually drawn on hands and feet, where the colour will be darkest because the skin contains higher level of kelatin. Mehndi or henna has been used to adorn young women’s bodies as a part of social and holiday celebrations since the late Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean. Mehndi night is a ceremony during which mehndi is applied to the hands and feet of a bride and other members in the family. It is said that when a bride has mehndi done for her wedding, the darker the designs, the more her mother-in-law loves her. A good deeply coloured Mehndi design is a sign of good luck for martial couple. The mehndi designs for hands are typically quite intricate and predominantly applied to brides before wedding ceremonies. However, traditions in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sudan sometimes expect bridegrooms to be painted as well.
Mehndi designs for hands generally uses fine lines, lacy, floral and paisley patterns covering entire hands, forearms, feet and shins. It is a common custom in many countries to step into Mehndi, or simply apply the Mehndi paste without creating a pattern in order to cool, protect or treat the skin. Mehndi designs became fashionable in the west in 1990s, where they are sometimes called “henna tattoos”. Mehndi designs are known by name of Henna in western world where it is applied as form of skin decoration. Mehndi, as temporary, pain free body decoration alternative to tattooing, is worn as a fashion accessory by both men and women. Mehndi had been featured in number of western magazines.
The earliest cosmetic use of henna was in Egypt, where the people would dye their hair and nails, and Pharaoh’s fingers and toes would be dipped before mummification. Once the henna plant’s cooling properties were discovered, painting the skin and dying the hair with mehndi or henna became a way for the people in desert climate to cool their body temperature. The use of mehndi is not restricted to just colouring or tattooing. It’s benefits are widespread. Mehndi is a good conditioner for hair. It is made into a beverage to heal headaches and stomach pain. Mehndi is an magical art which is a very important part of Pakistan and Indian’s marriages. For centuries mehndi has been practiced in India, Pakistan, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and central Eurasia for various ceremonies and celebrations.
Here is a collection of beautiful Mehndi designs to inspire you;
