Henna

[4] The origins of the initial human uses of henna are uncertain; however, there are records that the plant was marketed in Babylonia,[5] and was used in Ancient Egypt on some mummies to dye their hair, skin, nails, or funeral wrappings.

The dry powder is mixed with one of a number of liquids, including water, lemon juice, strong tea, and other ingredients, depending on the tradition.

Essential oils with high levels of monoterpene alcohols, such as tea tree, cajuput, or lavender, will improve skin stain characteristics.

There are many adulterated henna pastes such as these, and others, for sale today that are erroneously marketed as "natural", "pure", or "organic", all containing potentially dangerous undisclosed additives.

The length of time a pre-manufactured paste takes to arrive in the hands of consumers is typically longer than the seven-day dye release window of henna, therefore one can reasonably expect that any pre-made mass-produced cone that is not shipped frozen is a potentially harmful adulterated chemical variety.

Powdered fresh henna, unlike pre-mixed paste, can be easily shipped all over the world and stored for many years in a well-sealed package.

[11] The other Pre-Raphaelites, including Evelyn De Morgan and Frederick Sandys, academic classicists such as Frederic Leighton, and French painters such as Gaston Bussière and the Impressionists, further popularized the association of henna-dyed hair and young bohemian women.

Parisian courtesan Cora Pearl was often referred to as La Lune Rousse (the red-haired moon) for dyeing her hair red.

Henna has been used to adorn young women's bodies as part of social and holiday celebrations since the late Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Across the henna-growing region, Purim,[17] Eid,[19] Diwali,[20] Karva Chauth, Passover, Mawlid, and most saints' days were celebrated with some henna.

The fashion of "Bridal Mehndi" in North Indian, Bangladesh, Northern Libya and in Pakistan is currently growing in complexity and elaboration, with new innovations in glitter, gilding, and fine-line work.

[22] Morocco, Mauritania,[23] Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, India and many other countries have thriving women's henna businesses.

Usually, the grandmothers or mothers of the groom and bride apply this henna, and a small decorative pillow with a satin ribbon is attached on their hands for a few hours.

[28] The tradition of hinadreq, painting the palms of a bride-to-be, is still practiced in parts of Armenia today as a sign of fertility and happiness in married life.

On December 3, 2024, the tradition of "Henna, rituals, aesthetic and social practices" was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

This recognition was a collaborative effort between 16 Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt, the UAE, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Palestine, Tunisia, Algeria, Bahrain, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Yemen, and Qatar.

In North Indian wedding ceremonies, there is one evening solely dedicated for adorning the bride and groom in Mehndi, also known as 'Mehndi ki raat.

[34] In Iran, Māzār (Persian: مازار) is indicating a job title for a person whose work is associated with the milling or grinding henna leaves and sell it in a powder form.

[40] On this day, typically an older woman applies henna to the bride after she dips in the mikveh to ward off evil spirits who may be jealous of the newlyweds.

In Sindh, henna is known as "Mehndi" and serves both as a decorative art on the hands, arms, feet, and legs, and as a natural dye for gray hair, used by both women and men in every ceremonial occasions, events and festivals.

It is used for practical purposes such as dyeing hair and also more extravagantly by coloring the fingers and toes of married women and creating intricate designs.

Sometimes also done by young school girls for several occasions [46] Henna was cultivated in the Nasrid kingdom of Granada and applied to the face and hair by both sexes.

[52] During the zavfa, the guests of the party sing traditional songs to the bride and bang on tin plates and drums to ward off evil.

[52] Initially, the singing and dancing was to ward off the Jinn with loud noises, but today these elements are associated with the mitzvah of entertaining the bride and groom on their wedding day.

[52] The mixture consists of rose water, eggs, cognac, salt, and shadab, believed to be a magical herb that repels evil.

[citation needed] Natural henna produces a rich red-brown stain which can darken in the days after it is first applied and last for several weeks.

It may also contain unlisted dyes and chemicals[61] such as para-phenylenediamine (PPD), which can stain skin black quickly, but can cause severe allergic reactions and permanent scarring if left on for more than 2–3 days.

[68] Because of the epidemic of PPD allergic reactions, chemical hair dye products now post warnings on the labels: "Temporary black henna tattoos may increase your risk of allergy.

[70] To assist the prosecution of vendors, government agencies encourage citizens to report injuries and illegal use of PPD black henna.

The high-profit margins of black henna and the demand for body art that emulates "tribal tattoos" further encourage artists to deny the dangers.