Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in

My Blog

View all entries from My Blog >

September 14, 2009

The henna tree, Lawsonia inermis, grows in hot, arid regions like North Africa and India. For centuries, people ground the foliage of the plant into a powder to dye cloth and skin. The strong pigment, lawsone, actually temporarily stains the skin. Lawsone is a tannin; tannins are also found in wine and tea. They infuse porous surfaces with a darker pigment, but do not chemically alter the surface permanently. Henna works because lawsone is absorbed into material like hair and skin. You mix the powdered henna into a mud, using hot water, lemon juice, vinegar, or other acidic additives. An acidic mixture strengthens the dyeing properties. Then you apply the henna mud to a surface like the palm of your hand, bottom of your feet, or anywhere on your body. Leave the mud on for as long as possible, up to 48 hours. When it dries and crumbles off, the skin will have darkened to auburn, orange, red, or brown. Depending on the fineness of the paste, you can apply henna with a tube, like icing a cake. With a lot of coordination and care, people can achieve intricate designs full of scrolls, swirls, paisley outlines, and dots. Henna tattoos create temporary bracelets, motifs, emblems, or words. In traditional Mehndi, Muslims and Hindus decorate the skin of those participating in special ceremonies, such as a wedding or circumcision, in places like Indonesia and India. Dying with henna is entirely temporary. Hair dye may last up to six weeks, but skin dye will probably not stay visible for more than a week. This is because the dye has only sunken into the uppermost layer of dead and dying skin. When your skin flakes off through natural exfoliation, it will be gradually replaced by fresh skin of your natural color. Henna hair dye will also slowly fade away to your hair's original color, but will not leave any lines or stripes like synthetic dye. you can visit my profile to see the pictures of Hinna.. thank you..

More entries: what is Hinna (1), whats Ramadan?,, (5)

View all entries from My Blog >

05:25 PM Sep 15 2009

Steve Man

Steve Man
United States

Very well written, Sara.  Did you write this yourself? 

Hinna is superior to tattoos, especially when one considers the millions who must either lock themselves into a particular mental view of themselves and their place in the world or experience "tattoo regret".