Henna Tattoos
For those looking for less permanent form of body art henna tattooing (also known as mendhi) is one option. It can be applied to most parts of the body though is most often seen on the hands, arms and feet. Traditionally it has been used by Asian brides.
The colour for mendhi is produced from the dried leaves of the henna plant that have been blended into a paste. Make sure the skin is washed and free of oils and cream before applying. After being applied the henna needs to be left on the skin for at least an hour or two and prefereably 6 - 8 hours before being brushed off - don't wash it off. This way you'll get a deep, long lasting colour.
The actual colour produced depends on the individual skin type and skin tone, but as a rule it produces a dark reddy brown colour which will begin to lighten after 3 - 4 days. The colour will continue to fade over the next couple of weeks until it disappears all together though on 'oilier' parts of the body like the face the tattoo may only last a few days.
You can get black henna but be warned that this is henna with PPD (Para-phenylenediamine) added to it to give a black colour. This can cause an allergic reaction in some people so if you opt for this always do a skin test first. An adverse reaction can lead to permanent scarring of the skin.
You can get your henna tattoo done professionally but you can also buy kits and do it yourself (if you're very dextrous) or get a friend to do it for you. If you go for a kit use it fairly promptly as the henna becomes less effective with age. You'll need to practise using the henna cone first as it can be tricky to apply a smooth line without creating unexpected blobs. A steady hand is a must.
You can embellishing your henna designs by careful placement of glitter mehndi and/or crystals to highlight and enhance the overall design.
There are many beautiful traditional designs out there but there is no reason not to use more modern tattoo designs. You can download stencils off the web and use these when applying your henna tattoo.