Light henna designs

One of the distinguishing features of modern life is the erasure of the boundaries between peoples and their cultures, the creation of a single inter-ethnic space. In the context of the desire of people of different nationalities to unite, mehendi occupies a special place.

Mehendi (biotatu) is a special type of body decoration by applying on the skin separate drawings and intricate patterns using henna. This tradition has its roots in ancient times, when almost everyone tried to paint on the skin symbolic figures, striving for self-expression. The mekhendi is considered to be the homeland of the East, where the art of mehendi was turned to in connection with various rituals. For example, in India, henna drawings traditionally used brides during the preparation for the wedding, and in Egypt they served as an obligatory decoration for dancers. Like many centuries ago, in our days, the fascination of mehendi youth is connected with the desire to find the most effective way of communication and self-affirmation. The magic of the undergarment is that it allows a person in an original way and at the same time understandable to others about his uniqueness.

Biotatu can be made in different styles. Today, world-renowned styles such as Arabic, Asian, African, Indian and Slavic. The Arabic style is based on floral images of varying degrees of complexity, the interweaving of which create a kind of coded semantic image. Asian mehendi, relying on traditional Indian scenes, glorifies the depth and sublimity of national values. African style is distinguished by a clear structured theme of mehendi, which finds a specific expression in each of its subspecies - Berber and Moroccan. The intricate patterns of African mehendi combine geometric shapes with the world of colors.

Indian henna painting as the main symbolic signs uses a variety of teardrop-shaped patterns with religious elements, the smallest flowers, which are connected by lines in a complex ornament pattern. The Slavic mehendi style draws attention to eclecticism uncharacteristic of other styles: in it folklore motifs typical of Slavic peoples are closely intertwined with oriental henna symbolism, reinterpreted in accordance with Slavic traditions.

Compared with the standard mehendi tattoos have several advantages. So, they:

• are completely natural and harmless;
• if necessary, easily removed;
• allow you to change the picture in accordance with fashion trends;
• protect the skin from sunburn;
• contribute to the cooling of the body in conditions of tropical heat;
• bring good luck, fame, happiness in love;
• attracted by the unusual style decisions.

Before you apply the first tattoo with henna to one or another part of the body, you should carefully study the semantic fullness of the drawings relating to a particular style. Beginners are usually recommended to use large-scale schemes, filled with bright sharp colors, interlaced with a set of geometric shapes. The degree of complexity of the mehendi patterns depends on the number of elements used in them, their heterogeneity, the variability of the connecting components of the pattern, the depth of the transmitted meaning. The most accessible places for applying mehendi on the body are the palm, forearm, wrist and hand. They are suitable for floral designs made in Indian style. Miniature drawings on a variety of floral themes can often be seen on the fingers.

Today, henna on the neck, which emphasizes the grace and sexuality of a woman, is considered fashionable. Among the most popular drawings applied to the neck are inscriptions that have a certain personality-colored meaning. Among lovers of mehendi in the neck, a truly trend status has acquired a bar code. The figure is a vertically arranged stripes, applied in accordance with a certain pattern, in which a certain meaning is encoded. Mehendi in the form of a crown, depicted on the neck of a woman, can symbolize her high position in society, career achievements, leadership qualities, lust for power and strong character. The image of the swallows on the neck is chosen by those girls who aspire to a brighter future, value loyalty, believe in beauty and good luck. Trendy is now located in the neck of the tattoo of the zodiac sign. He is credited with magical properties - the protection of its owner throughout the life path. Images of henna on the neck of a woman of someone from the class of the cat - a tiger, panther, jaguar or kitty - are designed to warn others about her hidden cunning, calculus and rigidity.

Many women believe that the most beautiful mehendi are various images of an elegant fluttering butterfly. This pattern can decorate and chest, and wrist, and ankle. The choice for him of a certain place on the body of a woman depends much more on the degree of her emancipation than on any individual interpretations of symbolic associations associated with the butterfly. Original henna drawings are often made on the legs. The most popular pattern today is the image of a dragon wrapping around a leg or occupying a small part of it. This mehendi is endowed with different meanings, in particular, the ability to protect the owner, protect him from the vicissitudes of fate, or confer supernatural power.

A pattern of poppies, lilies and roses is also often placed on the legs. Each flower has its own symbolic meaning. So, the rose with thorns is a symbol of martyrdom and sacrifice. Women who don’t hide their eroticism are addicted to drawings in the form of bows and bandages on their legs; therefore, these mehendi are mostly associated with the worlds of feelings, and not with religion and philosophy.

Depending on the ornaments applied by henna on the body, mehendi can be divided into several types:

1. floristic;
2. animalistic;
3. graphic;
4. combined.

Each type of pattern is endowed with its symbolic function. If, for example, you see your task in broadcasting to the outside world that you live in joy, and your heart sings with happiness, then a mehendi from a flowering plant and fruit will suit you. A special veneration of fans of henna drawings, made in Indian style, causes the image of a peacock, which, according to mythology, personifies the infinity of space and life. It is usually made the center of an intricate ornament that gives the bird a mysterious significance. It should be noted that for mehendi the bird is a typical symbol, it appears as a sign of good news, good deed, personal freedom. Therefore, in the symbolism of the tattoo is used not only peacock. It is also widely represented by images of other birds, for example, swallows, parrots, pheasants, owls.

Often not a holistic image of this or that bird is used, but its part is only wings. Such a fragmentary picture carries a double meaning.On the one hand, such mehendi reports on the eternal value of purity, closeness to God. On the other hand, the pattern asserts the priority of freedom over all sorts of norms and restrictions. The combination of sketches of the wings and the heart is always perceived as a symbol of an unrealistically happy fate, and the presence of a crack in such mehendi indicates frustration or severe suffering of its owner associated with the loss of people close to him. Often on the legs depict "Dream Catcher" - a drawing symbolizing protection from unpleasant thoughts. It is believed that this pattern protects the sleep of a person, clears his thoughts in a dream.

Ready-made kits for mehendi are sold in the store. But if you like to experiment, try making a paste for the pattern yourself. The most necessary material for mehendi is, of course, henna. On sale there are different types of dye, referred to in the place of its production: Pakistani, Indian, Iranian henna and others. If you want to give the picture a darker shade, you should add basma to the paste. Next you need thick paper. It is necessary to cut a triangle, roll a cone out of it. It is with this “tool” that you will draw mehendi. Inside the cone is placed henna paste. The paper cone can be replaced with a syringe or a wooden spatula.

If you are a professional artist and own the technique of drawing henna on the body, use a brush, not a cone. Its advantage is that the natural hair, from which it is made, penetrates better into the pores of the skin, and the pattern will look more effective and last longer. If you are a beginner, at first you will need stencils of your favorite patterns. If you draw well, but have never applied henna patterns, use a cosmetic pencil to pre-draw the pattern. You may need additional materials:

• sugar;
• water;
• cotton pads;
• food film (polyethylene).

Depending on what kind of henna is used in the cooking process, pastes are divided into ready-made compositions and pastes with natural henna. Ready-made pasta is more suitable for those who professionally draw and own mehendi equipment. In this case, the advantages of the finished compositions is that they:

• provide a quick manifestation of the pattern on the body - immediately after its application;
• allow you to create a pattern equally bright on different skin areas;
• save your time.

However, ready-made pastes are not without drawbacks, in particular:

• after drawing the drawing cannot be corrected;
• patterns remain on the skin no more than 7 days.

For beginners, it is more convenient to work with natural pasta. Cook it at home is easy. The advantages of self-prepared composition is that:

• the pattern will appear after a few hours, and the details of the picture can be changed if you are not very happy with them;
• the drawing will stay on the body for more than 20 days;
• self-cooked pasta is cheaper.

The only drawback of pasta with natural henna is that the pattern will be unequal in intensity on smooth and cornified skin areas. In the latter case (on the palms and feet) the color will be more vivid. For the pattern to be applied easily and last longer, the quality of the raw materials must be high. Henna for dyeing hair, which is sold in stores, is not always suitable for mehendi. The fact is that the powder should be very fine. Exit the situation in one simple way - grind the henna in a coffee grinder, so that it looks like fine dust.

There are several recipes for cooking pasta at home, the shelf life of which varies depending on the incoming components.

• Tea Based Recipe

This composition can be kept in the refrigerator for 2 days. It includes:

1. half a cup of strong freshly brewed tea;
2. juice of half a lemon;
3. 6 tsp. Sahara;
4. 8 tsp henna.

In a ceramic dish, mix the tea leaves and lemon juice. Add sugar, henna, mix well until smooth. After 20 minutes, pasta is ready.

• Coffee based recipe

To make this paste you need to take:

1. instant coffee (5 tsp);
2. warm water (1 tbsp.);
3. 2 regular packs of henna;
4. eucalyptus oil (5 drops);
5. clove oil (5 drops).

We put the coffee dissolved in water on the fire and evaporate to a third. Add henna oil. The paste should be infused for 2-3 hours and used immediately after the expiration of this time.

• Chifir based recipe

In half a cup of chifira (strong thick tea) add:

1. 2 regular packs of henna;
2. juice of half a lemon;
3. any vegetable oil (2 drops).

The mixture should be thoroughly stirred, leaving no lumps. Infused pasta 5 hours. This amount of paste should be enough for 2-3 patterns.

Before applying mehendi, the skin should be prepared: wash with warm water and soap, clean with a scrub. This procedure will help remove dead skin cells, and the pattern will stick better. Do not apply oil on the skin, as it clogs the pores and prevents henna penetrate the skin. Oil is used exclusively after washing off henna.

Immediately before painting, the skin should be steamed - take a hot shower, hold your hand or foot in hot water. Drink hot tea while applying mehendi to keep skin warm. Although henna practically does not cause irritation on the skin, apply, nevertheless, a little paste on the elbow bend and hold it for 3-4 minutes. If after washing off the red paste does not appear, you can safely proceed to painting.

After you have chosen a drawing and prepared your skin, evaluate your strengths. For professionals, the limit is only the surface of the skin. For beginners, drawing a pattern can be challenging. If you are doing mehendi for the first time, use stencils. You can buy them or cut them yourself from the picture or photo you like. The pattern is applied to any part of the body, but for the first time it makes sense to decorate the left palm. Presented step by step, the technique of applying patterns with henna is as follows:

• Circle the left palm on thin paper and cut out the stencil base.
• On it, apply a picture and nail scissors carefully cut through its contours.
• Warm the cone with the painting paste by holding a few minutes in your hands.
• Attach to the cleaned skin cut out stencil, secure it with tape.
• Apply the paste with a layer of at least 2 mm and cover with polyethylene or cling film so that the coloring pigments are better absorbed into the skin.
• Pasta need to keep 3-4 hours.
• If you want to speed up the process, hold this “compress” in the sun or dry with a hairdryer.
• Carefully remove the dried paste with a napkin soaked in sunflower oil.
• After removing the henna, lubricate the drawing with cosmetic (or ordinary vegetable) oil.
• It is advisable not to wet the skin-decorated area with water for 24 hours.

The color of the pattern immediately after application will be light orange. After a few days the pattern will darken and turn dark brown. If you want the pattern to last longer and not lose brightness, follow these rules:

1. before washing the skin area decorated with mehendi, lubricate the design with oil;
2. do not abuse the soap, do not rub the skin with a towel;
3. set aside a visit to the sauna or pool;
4. Do not peel at this time.

The complexity of the pattern is determined by the number and combination of elements forming the pattern. The most sophisticated mehendi organically fit features of the body - bends, moles. Also wearing rings, watches, beads can be played up. Starting to master the art of body painting, grasp the small drawings that include simple geometric figures - lines, circles, points.Small floral patterns characteristic of the Arabic style will also suit people who master the basics of henna design.

When you have learned to draw an ornament from geometric and floral elements, you will be able to create compositions in the African style. Very simple traditional shapes form an elegant lace pattern in Indian or Slavic style. For beginners, there is one recommendation - take on a feasible task, because your body is not a field for experimentation. No matter how safe the henna is, you will be reducing the bad pictures for quite a while. Chagrin after the first experience can be an obstacle for your further development as a designer yourself.

Mehendi, being one of the most ancient cosmetic procedures, does not lose its popularity today. Traditional patterns are filled with new meaning, improved technique of drawing. Moreover, this art has turned out to be an organic part of the modern trend in the fashion world - striving for naturalness and environmental friendliness. Indeed, natural dyes not only provide excellent results in terms of decoration, but also benefit the skin. The procedure of drawing a pattern is absolutely painless, and its result is able to amaze with its originality and refinement.

How to make a picture on the skin at home, see the following video.