What is Henna?
Timeless, Unique ~ the beauty of henna
Henna is a plant dye for the skin,
hair, and nails. On skin the stain will last 1-3 weeks. The
young leaves of the henna shrub are
dried and ground to make a
fine powder. This is made into a paste and applied.
Traditional and contemporary designs are painted on the body with a hand rolled cone. Paste dries and remains on the skin for a minimum of 2 hours (preferably overnight) and is then removed. The paste stains the skin and as long as it is kept away from water for the first day, the colour deepens over 24-36 hours. This amazing process can be likened to a polaroid being developed only over a longer time-frame. Stain colour ranges from caramel to blackcurrant, depending on many factors such as skin chemistry, where on the body it is applied, and how long the paste is left on. Henna is traditionally applied to hands and feet, but can be used almost anywhere on the body, although with varying depth of colour.
Paste is always applied freehand at Henna Oasis. Designs can be selected from a number of quality design books by top henna artists or custom work is also available.
Paste is hand made by Henna Oasis using only natural high quality ingredients so you can be confident that it is safe. Paste contains ground henna leaves (lawsonia inermis), white vinegar, organic molasses and aromatherapy grade cajeput essential oil. Henna Oasis artist Elizabeth holds a current certifiation from the International Certification for Natural Henna Arts.
In India, henna (mehindi) is an essential part of weddings, symbolizing the strength of love in a marriage. The bride's henna is usually extremely intricate. The groom sometimes has henna also. Tradition has it that the darker the mehindi, the stronger and longer lasting the love. Significant symbols are often added to bless the union. A lovely tradition is the hiding of the groom's name or initials in the pattern, which must be found before the wedding night can commence! Henna is used in many cultures as part of the celebration of special events, festivals, and religious holidays.
