Henna tatoo

Henna dyes just the dead skin cells - so it fades as those cells slough off. If you use your hands in activities such as gardening (without gloves), it wears off even faster. Henna is a plant, and there are usually no chemicals involved in production of the henna powder. It is skin-softening and nourishing. The henna powder is green, which is mixed with lime or lemon juice and a pinch of sugar, making a thickish paste which is applied through tiny cones or tips like very small cake decorating tips. It dries almost black, and looks rather like a clay mask product - cracking and flaking off at times. It is let dry completely, then the dye is reactivated by dabbing with more juice/sugar mix, and let dry again. I left mine on for about 16 hours (overnight; it doesn't stain cloth, incidentally) before peeling off the dried stuff.

While the natural rusty brown color is harmless, there is a black henna which is NOT good. There are also various grades of henna powder, so if you happen to get interested, do your homework and know what you are getting.

As an art form, henna tatoos can be intricate as lace, such as the Indian wedding tatoos done on the bridal party. Or geometric and more "modern". I like the traditional designs; they have meaning attatched to each one. You can practice on yourself, or find friends who like to play! Kim has developed a small "dorm room business", doing the henna designs! The henna itself is very cheap, Kim gets hers for $2 a box (which she says will last her a year) at a tiny Indian shop in Green Bay. The applicators range from homemade to about $10. It is certainly one of the cheaper art forms to get started!

I'm enjoying my viney design, it sort of keeps my plant friends close to me when I can't be outdoors. I'll be doing some henna art again, I'm sure.