Simple henna drawings on the hands of the bracelets. How to draw henna on your hand correctly and beautifully? Why do they paint with henna on their hands? After applying mehendi: important points

03.08.2020

This art form is very popular in India. Mehendi is the application of a pattern with henna dye for temporary body decoration. It is used on parts of the body such as legs, arms, back and shoulders.

Mehendi has many different names, such as mehndi (India), henna drawings, henna (Hindi), henna tattoos (Europe), the word itself is derived from Sanskrit mendhika.

History of origin

The history of drawings on the body goes back to the distant past. In different countries, henna designs have been used for different purposes. For example, mummies with colored hair and nails were found in Egypt more than 5,000 years ago. In Arab countries, henna painting was used to cool the body. In the 13-14 century, Persian dancers decorated their hands with henna drawings before performing.

In ancient India, mehndi appeared in the 12th century during the reign of the Mughals. Drawings first caused only by rich families, but soon became available to all social strata of the population.

The use of henna dye has been described in Vedic ritual books to symbolically represent external and internal content. Henna drawings come from the idea of \u200b\u200bawakening inner light. Therefore, traditional Indian designs include floral designs, images of peacocks and various versions of the sun in the form of circles.

When are henna drawings applied?

Henna painting on the body in modern India is a ritual act for the wedding ceremony... They are applied to women who are preparing for the wedding. The color used is red.

It is believed that the darker and brighter the drawing, the stronger the love will be. The longer the drawing is kept, the longer a happy family life will last.

But here's the paradox, the darker the henna, the less it lasts, since the ash of local trees is added to it.

After marriage, an Indian woman is freed from homeworkuntil the drawing is visible on her hands. This is perhaps the only time when indian woman resting after wedding.

But often Indian women apply henna drawings in everyday life, just for decorationeg during the holidays.

In classical Indian dance hands take a leading role. And, as a rule, hands are decorated with henna patterns. They use various ornaments and patterns. They have their own characteristics in each direction.

Traditionally, the hands of Indian women are painted from the tips of the nails to the wrist, and sometimes much higher. The drawing is applied on both sides of the hand, that is, on the palm and outside... The nail part of the phalanx, as a rule, is painted over completely. And then the skill and scope of the artist's creative thought.

Indian henna tube for applying patterns on the body

Henna application is used for:

body jewelry,
to protect from the evil eye and evil spirits,
cooling the body in the scorching sun,
disinfection of the skin,
for performing various rituals,
holidays.

Mehendi symbols and designations

Flowers - the joy and happiness of today.
Liana - persistence, perseverance.
Fruits - eternity, immortality, happiness, joy.
Lotus symbol has many meanings, the main of which is life and happiness.
Sink - a symbol of protection from troubles and suffering.
Fish - love, desire.
Pips (points) symbolize fertility, life itself and its beginning.
Whip - a symbol of self-esteem, self-control.
Bow and arrow - victory over difficulties, happy marriage.
Chariot - developed mind, wisdom, knowledge.
The sun personifies divine power, the gate of knowledge and immortality through which life comes to our world.
Moon (crescent) denotes the unearthly beauty of a woman.
Star - hope, divinity.
Trident - a symbol of energy, dedication.
A circle - a symbol of integrity.
Square - stability.
Triangle - protection from disease, anxiety and natural disasters.
Disc (Vishnu symbol) - for women it means chastity, for men - masculinity, courage.
Cross symbolizes the connection between heaven and earth.
Octagon or octagon - if drawn using two squares, it is a symbol of protection. In Hinduism, there are eight doors, eight parts of the day.

In modern times, hand henna designs are carried in the most intricate designs using a variety of styles such as Arabic, Indian, Pakistani, Middle Eastern, North African, Indonesian, and South Asian.

In drawings sometimes multi-colored rhinestones are added, which looks very impressive, especially in a combination of outfits using shisha embroidery. Henna is used in different colors: white, with different shades of red, black, etc., both in combination and separately.

In India there is a rule that children with mehndi and jewelry are not allowed to go to school.
And there are also special courses where they teach the art of henna painting. This allows graduates to acquire a profession and make money on it.
There are specialized salons where henna drawings are applied to clients starting from 3-4 years old.

Henna painting today

Currently, henna painting is popular not only in East Asian countries, but also in Europe. In Russia, this art is also called temporary tattoo or biotattoo. This becomes especially popular in the summer when girls decorate their arms, legs and other exposed parts of the body.

Photos mehendi

Henna drawing at home (video)

This article will focus on mehendi for beginners. Today the online magazine "Korolevnam.ru" will tell you how to make such beauty on your own without spending a lot of money and time on the desired biotata.

It's time to change your image a little and do something that you did not dare to do for so long, or that was prohibited by a strict office dress code.

Mehendi at home

As we remember from, mehendi is a very ancient art. Moreover, it was originally intended only for the rich and powerful of this world.
So what prevents us from plunging into the magical world of Indian and Turkish fairy tales? Why not dare and make a couple of breathtaking patterns on your body? How to paint with henna on hands, legs, neck, chest and whatever else you want to decorate?

Yes, very simple, in fact: a bag of henna and a couple of nights - and here you are the guru of the ancient art.

How long will mehendi last

We have already told you that the lifespan of such a stylish and sexy jewelry is from one to three weeks.
Several factors affect the duration of the drawing:
- At first, leather... More precisely, the place that you are going to paint. Best of all, this biotat is kept on dry areas of the skin, namely on the palms and feet. So they sweat - you will be indignant and you will be right. But everything is relative.

Yes, they sweat, but sebum in such areas of our body is produced in much smaller quantities than, say, on the stomach or back. Therefore, henna drawings will stay there many times longer. Unless, of course, you run barefoot on pebbles and sand and rub dirty dishes in the kitchen with your palms every hour ...
- Thus, the second factor that affects the lifespan of the henna pattern emerges: care... Accordingly, the biotat will "live" on your body longer, if you wash with soap and washcloths you will be less frequent. In any case, this information applies only to the painted area of \u200b\u200byour skin. Therefore, lazy individuals should not flatter themselves. Read on for a detailed report on how to make mehendi.

How to paint with henna at home?

Of course, you can decorate your body in any salon in your city that offers such services. You can also do this while on holiday. By the way, abroad it will cost you less. Have you wondered why mehendi is so popular on the warm shores?

First, the profit from tourists;
Secondly, the drawings look beautiful and sexy on the beach;
Thirdly, the warm southern sun promotes excellent penetration of paint into the upper layers of the epidermis, as a result of which the drawing becomes brighter and more saturated ...

True, if you splash in the sea indefinitely, then your drawing will remain only in the memory of your camera Actually, this is not the worst option: anyway, in an office with a strict business style, painted pens will fail the entire dress code * victory *
But what if you really want to save money? Well, then, welcome to the community of anonymous emerging artists. Although, if you are an experienced artist, then for you this is a piece of cake.
In other words, the online magazine "Korolevnam.ru" invites you to learn how to paint with henna at home. How? Now we will tell you everything in detail!

What you need to paint with henna: a mini-overview for beginners

Initially, you need to be puzzled by the acquisition drawing pastes.

Where to find mehendi paste

Such a paste is sold in salons where mehendi is applied. It can also be found in Indian shops and at Indian exhibitions, which are held annually in all major cities.

The composition of the paste for henna drawings

If you decide to buy such a paste, then pay attention to the composition. Except henna and lemon juice there there should be no other dyes or preservatives!!!

It is most often sold in small, tapered sachets. Shelf life should not exceed three months... Otherwise, you are guaranteed a bad mood, and a rash that appears instead of the desired pattern ... With which, by the way, you also run the risk of passing from one to three weeks ...

However, in order to correctly paint with henna on your hand, it is not at all necessary to buy ready-made paste. You can cook it yourself. There are several effective (environmentally friendly and safe !!!) recipes that we will now share with you.

Why several? Because the classic process of making a coloring paste is quite long. Designed for at least 24 hours. And there is a simplified recipe that is ideal for all impatient and in a hurry girls, girls, women ... Everyone, in short

Making henna paste

Mehendi pasta recipe # 1: classic

The classic recipe is designed for the output of 100 grams of ready-made henna paste. This amount should be enough for you to paint two arms to the elbows. So for classic recipe making henna paste you will need:

henna itself (packaged powder 20 g - or 1 heaped tablespoon)
squeezed and strained juice of two lemons
1 tsp Sahara
essential oil (tea tree \\ orange \\ sandalwood \\ eucalyptus \\ lavender)
a small container made of glass or plastic (no metal containers)
24 hours operational time

Immediately, we note that before starting to prepare the paste, test the essential oil that you will add for an allergic reaction the night before this event. To do this, apply a couple of drops of oil to the elbow fold as standard.

If any reaction occurs, be it irritation, rash, swelling, cough, runny nose, etc., exclude it from the paste or replace it with something else. You can also test henna. Masters say that henna practically does not cause allergies, but your health is only in your hands.
We also warn you that the finished pasta according to both recipes can be frozen, but it is better to use it within three months from the date of preparation. And it is better to use unfrozen fresh pasta within two to three days.

Cooking instructions:

Actually, cooking. Recall that according to this recipe, the pasta is prepared for 24 hours.

Take a spoonful of henna (see how much above) and a quarter of a glass of lemon juice (henna is not diluted with water, it is an acidic environment that is needed to develop the coloring pigment). Mix the gruel until smooth. By the way, pre-sift the henna several times and remove all large particles.

Or wipe the gruel through a sieve again several times to remove lumps. This is necessary so that thin lines can be drawn without difficulty and blots. The mixture should resemble a thick puree.

Now close the bowl tightly, wrap it with cellophane (cling film is good - it will reliably block all access to oxygen) and put in a warm place for 12 hours. Or even heat it a little in a water bath or at minimum (!) Power in the microwave.
As soon as 12 hours have passed, take out the coveted bowl. Add sugar and essential oil (1 tsp each) and stir. Thanks to these ingredients, the appearance of the paint on the skin will be brighter and more saturated. Now it's time for lemon juice again. Add it to the mixture in a teaspoon to the desired consistency.

And the consistency should resemble toothpaste or thick sour cream. Why is there not an exact dosage of the right amount of lemon juice? Because it all depends on the individual absorbent abilities of the henna you choose.
Pay close attention to the consistency: if the paste is too liquid, the pattern will blur and flow (in this case, add quite a bit of henna and stir), and if the paste is very thick, it will be difficult to squeeze out and apply to the skin.
As soon as the mixture has acquired the required consistency, close the bowl tightly, wrap it in plastic wrap and again "send" to a warm place for 12 hours. And that's all - you can paint with henna on your hands at home. Here is a video tutorial of the recipe:

Making henna paste. Recipe number 2

a couple of teaspoons with a slide of black tea
the same amount of ground coffee
a couple of teaspoons of squeezed and strained lemon juice
500 ml boiling water
2 rounded tablespoons of sifted henna powder (40 g)
4-6 hours (if there is more time - your advantage)

Tea and coffee in this recipe act as accelerators for the development of paint on the skin, and also add additional brightness and juiciness to the shade. It's still an express method
Pour tea, coffee into boiling water and cook the whole thing over medium heat for one hour. Henna can be sieved in advance or while you cook our "coffee". As soon as the "coffee" is cooked, mix it with henna until the consistency of thick sour cream. Do not forget to stir and rub the lumps as they spoil the quality of the pattern when you apply the mixture to the skin.
Add lemon juice to the finished "potion" (how much is indicated above). Well, now it's just a small matter: let the mixture brew. That's how much free time you have - insist so much.

The longer you insist, the brighter the pattern will appear on the skin. Well, if you are completely unbearable, let the paste at least cool down so as not to burn yourself when applying ...

How to paint with henna on your hands?

Well, and not only on the hands, of course. For such purposes, a syringe (without a needle, for we dare to assume that the paste is too thick for a needle; well, in general, so as not to prick ...), wooden sticks, toothpicks, brushes or a homemade bag made of polyethylene (pour the mixture into a cellophane bag, a little cut off a corner (or just pierce it) and - voila! - the bag is ready).
Do not forget to prepare in advance and a cotton swab (a toothpick will also come down) in order to quickly and quickly remove paint from unwanted places (or correct the drawing).

Let's say a few words about the manifestation of paint: that is, expectation and reality. Freshly applied henna is quite dark and bright. After removing henna in the first 10 hours, the paint is pale, slightly orange. You should not be scared and redrawn: the paint on the skin gains intensity within 48 hours from the moment of application.
For the first 24 hours, it is better not to wet the area with the pattern at all, so as not to lose the color brightness. The pattern remains for a fairly long period of time on the palms and feet, as well as on the ankles and forearms - up to three weeks. But on the back, stomach, neck, face - only from 4 to 9 days maximum. And only one memories remain of the former beauty (for the most enterprising ones, there are also photographs)

We draw henna on the hands at home: step by step instructions

Well, and again, not only on the hands. Before applying a drawing, it is important to choose a place for it on the body. We repeat that it is better to do this on the palms or feet. But if you want to paint yourself all from top to toe, then we dare not dissuade Still, creative impulses are dear.

If you decide to draw a hand above the wrist or ankle (as, indeed, any other part of the body), then be sure to prepare the skin for the procedure in advance! It is important to peel the skin (you can do it in the salon or on your own at home), as a last resort, use a scrub and / or a hard washcloth.
Thoroughly rinse the area with soap (do this with special care, until it squeaks, otherwise bath procedures in this area will be prohibited for a long time ) and be sure to epilate. Here you decide for yourself what is better to use: wax, epilator, shugaring ...

It is undesirable to use only a razor. During epilation, you pull out the hairs completely, and with a razor you only cut off the visible upper part. What are we for? And besides, along with the skin you will dye the hairs on the body, so when the shaved hair grows back, it will wear the colors of your "biotat" for a long time, much longer than the drawing itself. This is one of the important principles of how to properly paint with henna on the hands and body at home.

After all the manipulations, the skin should be degreased. This can be done with alcohol (sold in a pharmacy), or vodka (art gurus say that alcohol lotions and wipes are also suitable, but in a very last resort ...).

The skin can then be treated with eucalyptus oil. You can, but if you have allergies, then it is not necessary. And without fanaticism. A couple or three drops will be enough for the zone ... Still, if not an allergy, then hypersensitivity can easily manifest itself. And there can be a rash, scratching, nail scratches ...
And drawing will have to be postponed until the skin is completely healed in the selected area.

Actually, why do you need oil at this stage? It is said to significantly increase the color of the skin by increasing the drying time of the paint (i.e. the coloring pigment absorbs into the skin longer) and opening the pores.

Henna drawing

Before preparing the skin, it is important to be puzzled about how to properly make mehendi at home on your own. If you are a skilled artist with correctly growing hands, then the drawing process will not be difficult for you. But what if you know how to draw, but are afraid that at the crucial moment your hand will tremble?

There is a way out: after preparing the skin for biotat, draw the desired pattern on it with a cosmetic pencil (for eyebrows, eyes, lips - any, but not waterproof) or a water-based felt-tip pen (as you understand, a permanent marker will not work unless you have no henna * rofl * at all). Thus, you can confidently move through the drawing, eliminating errors, blots and other troubles.

And if you can't draw at all? No, do not despair: there is a way out for you too, and you, as well as everyone, can flaunt in boho style. Or any friend. Just for you, there are detailed videos on how to paint with henna on your arm, leg, and wherever you want. Or a miracle invention: stencils. You can buy them in the salons of mehendi masters, on specialized Internet sites, the same Indian exhibitions, or even make your own (though this is quite time consuming and requires some skill).

Here are some step-by-step video instructions:

The stencil can be attached to the skin with adhesive plaster or tape. Avoid "sinking" the stencil on the folds of the skin: the pattern will spread and lose its shape. Also, make sure that too much paint does not accumulate along the borders of the stencil, as "overabundance" can disrupt the drawing, the smoothness of the lines and their thickness. If this happens, quickly erase the defect with a cotton swab or a thin match.
The pattern is laid out with a paste a couple of millimeters thick (2-3).

So it turns out to be more subtle and delicate. However, if applied thicker, then the durability and intensity of the pattern increases significantly. It's up to you to decide what is more important: the grace of the lines or the lifespan of the drawing.

Where to start if you can't draw?

The most successful option in mehendi for beginners is the use of simple, uncomplicated forms. Geometric shapes (drop, rhombus, cross, circle, arc, point, parallel lines, zigzags), floral ornament (flowers, vines, curls, leaves, wavy lines) are quite simple and attractive.

If you want to draw henna patterns on a large area (for example, shins), then mentally (or even with a pencil) divide it into several parts and draw each part separately.
Subsequently, you will connect all the parts with adjacent drawings or lines.

From you remember what each pattern means. Draw what you like and what you would like to show to the whole world or attract into your life. The sacred meaning of patterns will bring meaning to your creative process.
Always start the drawing process with the narrowest lines, smoothly moving to straight lines. There are drawings that are easier to draw from their central part. Finish the process with rounded elements, without sharp corners and lines.
To learn how to paint with henna on your hands, you can watch not only videos, but also practice on a piece of paper. Thus, you will be able not only to learn how to confidently move the brush over your hand, but also to work out the basic elements and ornaments. You may even come up with many creative and original patterns.
Remember, it is always better to practice and get a little "fill your hand" than then try to fix the irreparable. Mastery doesn't come immediately, so it's important to be patient. The more confident you hold the brush, the better your drawings will be.

By the way, it is absolutely not necessary to apply Indian and Turkish symbols. You may well draw and a temporary version of the tattoo that you would like to "try on" yourself.

Original, non-standard and safe. If you do not like the "sample" of your tattoo, you can always "try on" another. If you want, draw on yourself chanterelles, cats, birds, dragons, hieroglyphs, inscriptions, numbers, and even a check from McDonalds, as one young Norwegian did ...

Let it be pretentious, but individually. Even if you do not like the result, it is not eternal, it will do, you will not even notice how.

After applying mehendi: important points

As for removing the paste after finishing the "decoration work" ... You cannot remove the paste. The drawing should dry out. And he will do this from 6 hours. If it is possible not to touch the pasta for a day, do not touch it. The longer, the brighter and more durable.

The paint that has dried in the heat is treated with a special "lemonade" several times: lemon juice + sugar diluted in juice (in a ratio of 1: 1). Drying is best in the sun.

Some make mehendi at night. And how not to smear all this beauty? -you ask. And there is one secret here. A dried pattern can be wrapped with a film, only very carefully, avoiding smearing the pattern and pulling the skin. Or sprinkle the drawing with a strong hold hairspray (of course, not containing alcohol).
Repeat 2-3 times, each time waiting for the paste to dry. It is strictly forbidden to wet the drawing (especially with paste) with water during the first 4 hours (this is at least). And this rule also applies to how to properly paint henna on your hand at home.

After you've dried the paint thoroughly, it's time to remove it from your skin. Of course, if you had the opportunity not to touch it for 24 hours, then the paste will fall off by itself. But if there was no such possibility, and the drying time was limited, then you should scrape off the paste with the blunt side of the knife (the magazine "Korolevnam.ru" strongly recommends that you follow the rules of safe use of the knife, do not direct the sharp end towards yourself, near standing people and animals in order to avoid causing all sorts of injuries), a special scraper or a fingernail.

You can wipe off the paste with a cotton cloth, while it is not recommended to rub the skin too much. Do not remove any remaining paste with water. For these purposes, it is better to use a tampon soaked in lemon juice.

Then the masters offer to lubricate the skin with oil (almond, peach, sesame, eucalyptus) to add shine and fix the effect. You can wash the drawing after four hours, but it is better to abstain altogether for the next day from "bath-washing" activities.

Mehendi masters also recommend refraining from sports, since intense sweating reduces the lifespan of the pattern. Watch what you wear: in the places where the pattern touches clothes / hair / shoes, the paint can fade faster. Do not rub, wash, or steam your drawings; this will significantly reduce their durability.

For the same reasons, refrain from taking hot baths, going to the sauna. If you frequent the pool or the sea, you will get the same results. Stop epilating and shaving the patterned area until it disappears completely.

These simple rules will help you keep the tattoo for a longer period. Well, if the drawing failed, then boldly go against all the rules, and the "piece of creative shame" will quickly leave your body. As you can see, drawing with henna at home is not at all difficult.

Do not be afraid to experiment and create your own individual style: this way you will overcome the dullness of everyday life, decorate your life and bring positive emotions not only to yourself, but to all the people around you! Be healthy!

If you dream of getting a tattoo but are afraid to get one, try getting a temporary tattoo with a pen. Applying a tattoo on the body with a pen will not harm the skin and will wash off on its own over time. Such options for body art are used so that a person understands how the symbol or drawing applied to the body affects him, and makes the final decision for himself whether to get a permanent tattoo or postpone this procedure to decorate his body in a long box.

How to draw a tattoo with a pen

Before you start creating a tattoo with a pen, think carefully about what exactly you would like to see on your body. Since the applied drawing will last for several days, you should like it first of all.

Before you start sketching directly on the body, try sketching on any draft. This will allow you to correct the drawing and, if you cannot complete it accurately, change the sketch in time or choose another simpler option.
To create a tattoo, in addition to a pen, you will also need a piece of paper on which you need to place a sketch of the future tattoo, a piece of fabric, and warm water. Also, the sketch must be carefully painted so that the ink does not flow.
You can apply a tattoo anywhere, so decide in advance on a place for a tattoo. If you have chosen an area of \u200b\u200bthe body that you cannot reach on your own, ask someone to help you.
Soak a piece of cloth in warm water. Place the paper with the picture down and attach to the chosen place. Apply a piece of wet cloth on top, hold for 35 seconds.
Without removing the fabric, carefully peel off the edge of the paper and make sure that the design is completely transferred to the body. If this does not happen, hold the wet cloth for a few more seconds. Next, remove the paper and fabric.
Wait for the tattoo to dry and spray some hairspray on it. It will save attractive view tattoo for a few days.

How to draw a tattoo on the arm, in detail

If you are going to get your first tattoo, and your artistic ability is far from ideal, try choosing a simple and simple drawing, then draw it several times on a piece of paper and only then start applying it to the body. Once the pattern has been selected, degrease the area of \u200b\u200bthe skin you plan to apply it to.
Step by step draw the contours of the future drawing. Draw not all at once, but element by element. Next, color in the fragment.

Then draw out the outlines of the next fragment and sketch in the same way. Wait for the ink to dry.

How to draw a tattoo in stages

If you want a multi-colored tattoo, then prepare several colored pens at once.

Gel Pen Tattoos

With blue and black gel pens, you can draw a tattoo that is not easy to distinguish from a real one at first glance. There are 2 ways to apply a tattoo with a gel pen yourself: with shallow punctures with a needle and without them. The latter will last only a few days. If you make a temporary tattoo with punctures, it can last for several months. Drawings with gel pens are applied both through a stencil and are drawn by hand, giving preference to clear fragments.

Non-puncture method:

prepare your skin for a temporary tattoo by disinfecting it;
draw a sketch on tracing paper with a pencil;
shade the sketch with a gel pen, without going beyond the boundaries;
apply tracing paper to the skin with the pattern down, apply a wet sponge on top for 3 minutes;
remove the tracing paper;
draw a tattoo with a gel pen directly on the skin.

Puncture method.

This option is painful and implies the observance of sterility.

Contour the drawing with eyeliner or tracing paper over the body.
When making shallow punctures with the needle on the skin, immediately apply the gel line, leading it directly behind the needle. Move the picture several times in this way.
After 2 minutes, wipe off excess gel paste with rubbing alcohol.
Disinfect the tattoo site with alcohol.

How to draw a tattoo with a pen simple drawings

Simple drawings are those where you do not need to detail the fragments, carefully drawing them. These can be geometric fragments, flowers, leaves, birds, insects, etc. Below we will show you how to make simple drawings using an example of a cardiogram.

Wipe the place for tattooing with hydrogen peroxide, then draw the outline of the future drawing.

Draw the contours. The tattoo is ready.

If you have chosen the method of tattooing using paper or tracing paper, but you have dark skin, then the wet cloth or a dampened sponge should be kept longer, from time to time spying on the translation process.
Remove tracing paper or paper slowly and carefully so as not to smear the drawing.
If you decide to choose an inscription as a tattoo and translate it with paper, then write it first with a pencil, then turn the sheet over and move it with a pen. This will help your lettering to read correctly.
If you sketched the sketch incorrectly, missed words, or something went wrong, moisten a cotton pad with alcohol and wipe off the excess.

Sketches of tattoo pen, photo

Unlike tattoos, hand mehendi (also called mehndi) is a great way to beautify your body for a short time. The process of drawing a picture does not cause painful sensations, there is no risk of catching a dangerous infection, if desired, you can change the style of painting. The most is for girls who do not want to spoil the beauty of the body with durable tattoos.

Why do I need henna painting

Body painting is used in European countries as a way of self-expression, giving a special chic and sexuality to a person. In Muslim countries and in India, fantasy patterns have a special magical meaning, like hundreds of years ago. By decorating the body, the inhabitants of distant countries attract wealth, love, respect of others to life, and also scare away evil spirits and evil spirits.

Indian brides are painted with henna on their wedding day. Why is this needed? This ritual is performed by the wise married womenwho have learned a lot of secret knowledge about happy life... While drawing, these ladies devote an inexperienced virgin to the intimate details of the upcoming marriage. The ceremony sometimes lasts for hours. It is believed that the more patterns cover the bride's body, the more knowledgeable she will be at the time of marriage. In addition, the newly-made wife is freed from household duties until the last drawing is washed off. This ritual is also performed in many countries with the Muslim faith.

In Ancient Egypt, the bodies of deceased pharaohs during mummification were also covered with ornate drawings so that they could find eternal peace. And in Morocco today, pregnant women leave them on their ankles to protect themselves and the baby from the evil eye and evil spirits.

Despite the extensive geography of formation, mehendi has several styles that are easy to distinguish between themselves:

Moroccan or African. Here floral or geometric motifs appear in the chapter. People living in the desert, as a sign of denial of elevation, and to prove earthiness, dipped their palms and feet into a solution of henna, receiving a continuous coating.
Arab. Differs in intricacy and ornateness. The embodiment of oriental motives.
Indian or Pakistani. It resembles lace from which stylistic compositions are drawn. Often the artist in the process of creating a masterpiece does not adhere to any scheme, he simply embodies his fantasy.
Asiatic. A combination of Indian and Arabic motives. The only difference is that the masters fill the free space with colored paints, thanks to which their masterpieces acquire unprecedented brightness and originality.
European. It's a cross between everyone existing styles... It all depends on the preferences of the client and the skill of the master. If only the primary application technique is observed, everything else is nuanced.

Key trends 2018

Having decided to plunge into the enchanting world of mehndi, remember that in Eastern culture, it is important not only the content of the image itself, but also the place where it is located.

Hands are considered the most popular place for painting for a reason, here it looks the most attractive, and a wide selection of sketches allows you to choose a suitable drawing of the most sophisticated person. 2018 trends suggest several zones for painting in the mehndi style:

The back of the hand. A good place, especially if there is a strict dress code in life. This area is easy to cover up at a meeting or an important deal, while the rest of the time you can fully enjoy the enchanting creativity.
Wrist. Small thematic compositions, hieroglyphs, hearts, stars, short quotes look harmonious on this graceful part of the body. The peaks of popularity are occupied by painted bracelets.
Shoulder. Brave personalities will decide to paint this place, in whose character there are steel notes inherent in men. Although biotattoos in this place are not entirely customary to see on beautiful ladies, they sometimes choose sexy or gentle, flirty or defiant pictures that instantly attract the attention of others.
Forearm. The pattern in this area can be hidden under elongated sleeves and delight only a loved one with beauty, or you can flaunt it by wearing a tank top or other outfit with short sleeves. The design on this part of the body can be combined with the painting on the shoulder, creating a holistic composition in the form of a fashionable sleeve.

Now let's consider what the specific symbolism, most often found on women's hands, means.

Name	Designation
Scattering of stars	The heptagonal figure symbolizes development, if there are eight angles, the person has received everything he dreamed of and now fully enjoys life. Nine-pointed - the individual dreams of stability and confidence in the future. Starfish bestow moral satisfaction on the owner, peace of mind and harmony in life.
Birds	Most likely, you have a romantic and creative nature. Perhaps she is in search of a muse, inspiration. A popular option - a bird with spread wings - is a sign of lightness, easy perception of pressing problems.
Bracelet	The curls surrounding the brush are a powerful talisman against the evil eye and the influence of otherworldly forces. The symbol of the vicious circle resembles infinity, it has a powerful force in the culture of mehndi. You can decorate the bracelet with bows, stars, neat flowers.
Inscription	They are chosen by girls who want to translate into reality a certain motto, credo, a statement or aphorism close in spirit. If you choose a statement in a foreign language, be 100% sure of its translation and correct spelling.
Crown	Promises the owner a luxurious life and wealth. Such a symbol is chosen by powerful natures, true leaders who are used to on their own achieve meaningful results.
Flowers	The embodiment of the feminine principle. The bearer of flower arrangements without words says that she is happy and spiritualized. Beauties who have chosen such a composition, on a subconscious level, become fragile and defenseless, and this is what has always attracted the stronger sex.
Turkish cucumber	Several hundred years ago, only representatives of noble families allowed themselves such a pattern, since it signifies fertility and prosperity in everything. In Indian culture, during the preparatory rituals before the wedding, it means the bride's immense love for her future husband.
Lotus	It can be called the most gentle symbol, symbolizing purity, innocence, harmonious fusion of masculine and feminine principles. Women in position sometimes draw a lotus on their rounded tummies to protect the baby from the evil eye and so that it develops harmoniously in the womb.
Elephant	Indicates wisdom, regularity of judgment, sobriety of reason. A very noble symbol.

Forearm Drawings

Body painting called mehendi knows no boundaries. Although this work is already at least 5 thousand years old, however, only in this century it became popular and people not only fell in love with it, but also began to study oriental culture.

Here are some ideas for the elbow to wrist section:

Feathers. This option has come from ancient times. It symbolizes spirituality, lightness in thinking, love of freedom, the relentless flight of fantasy and strong will... If the pen shaft is split into two parts, it means destroyed hopes and dreams, defeat in any undertaking. A feather floating in the air - spiritual sadness and parting.
Peacock. Identification of eternal life, rebirth.
The Dragon. Came from Asian countries, where the mystical animal is often found on religious and festive symbols. A fire-breathing creature speaks of the owner's power, and sometimes magical abilities. Impresses a strong-willed woman.
Owl. The nocturnal bird of prey is famous for its quietness and keen hearing. Many centuries ago, it was considered a link between our world and the other world. Today, the owl is endowed with the greatest wisdom, enviable intelligence and inexplicable intuition.

Advice!Unfortunately, or fortunately, henna tattoos don't last too long. This is due to the effect of water. Therefore, even if you wash your pens very carefully, do not expect the artful decoration to last more than a week. Conversely, if you want to wash it off as soon as possible, use soap, lemon juice and other aggressive products.

A beginner's guide: how to create a masterpiece at home

First of all, you need henna, which is sold in shops specializing in oriental goods. The coloring material is in the form of a paste or powder, which must be prepared in a special way for work. When choosing the latter, consider a few points:

for a quality result, check the tightness of the package, since exposure to air negatively affects the coloring ability of the powder;
henna for hair dyeing is not suitable for biotat;
there is synthetic henna on the market, but only natural will protect you from allergies.

Now that the material is at hand, it's time to prepare it. Take half a liter of water, add 4 teaspoons of black tea there and boil for 10 minutes, then strain. Pour 40 grams of henna into the strained dark liquid, stirring constantly. Add juice from half a lemon and 2-3 drops of eucalyptus oil to the composition. If there is none, any other will do (olive, almond, etc.). After stirring, leave the mixture in the refrigerator for 4 hours. After this time, the paste can be put into operation. In a cool place, it is stored for several days and a couple of months in a frozen state.

Advice! To make the resulting shade darker and more intense, add a little ground coffee to the mixture. You need a higher plasticity - a couple of tablespoons of sugar will help.

Next, we proceed to the preparation of the application site. Initially wash the area with soap, then exfoliate gently with a scrub. For better adhesion, wipe the area with a sponge moistened with vegetable oil. That's all, now feel free to start drawing.

The first thing that novice artists need to remember is to move from more to less. Having drawn the central element, gradually supplement it with small details, increase the details. If the line goes wrong, erase it with a cotton pad and draw again. Do not spare the paste, you need the layers to be thick. The less material you put, the lighter the pattern will be.

Easy sketches for beginners

Simple drawings are based on simple, repetitive elements. Even from a combination of circles, squares, rhombuses and curls, you can create a full-fledged composition that resembles a charming bird, a voluminous heart, a flower scatter.

To create a masterpiece, you can use the finished paste in a special cone-shaped tube with a tiny hole. If you prepared the material yourself, use wooden sticks or thin brushes with long bristles for work.

To help beginners, special water-soluble stencils are sold, which are moistened with water and applied to the selected area of \u200b\u200bthe body. The light silhouette will remain on the skin, after which it remains only to cover it with henna. This technique with the use of additional sketches is a real salvation for craftsmen whose hand is not yet full.

In the process of creating a masterpiece, do not touch the accessories to the skin, try to ensure that the composition falls easily, like a cream on a cake.

Do not be discouraged if at first the lines are crooked. Only practice can achieve significant results.

More ideas:

Decorate your body beautiful pattern many of us are not averse, but not everyone can decide on a permanent tattoo. It is for lovers of temporary patterns on the body that there is a henna tattoo, which is applied to the skin without painful sensations and disappears after a week or two. Such a drawn image is called a mehendi tattoo, and it came to us from Ancient Egypt, although many mistakenly consider India to be its homeland.

Mehendi is a painting with henna on the body, mainly with brown and black paints (sometimes white), and the peculiarity of such a pattern is that it does not spread or print on clothes.

In addition, if desired, you can easily make mehendi at home. How to paint with henna on the skin? How to properly dilute the plant composition? How long does mehendi last? We will consider these and other questions in the article.

If you want to make mehendi at home, then you first need to prepare a paste for which you need henna powder, two tablespoons of granulated sugar, half a lemon and 130ml of tea leaves. How to breed henna and how to properly make mehendi paste at home? Here is the simplest and most accessible recipe for everyone:

It is important to note that ready-made henna for mehendi cannot be stored for a long time - no more than two days in the refrigerator, after this period, it is no longer desirable to use such a coloring agent.

Therefore, if you are not sure about the time for drawing on the body, you should not prepare the paste in advance - it is better just before application.

How to apply henna tattoo

After you have chosen the image for the tattoo, you can start painting with henna at home. To make the temporary tattoo lasting, it is important to apply the henna correctly. How to make mehendi? Follow these step-by-step instructions:

Useful advice: do not touch the tip of the cone to the skin, keep it suspended. And if there are very thin lines in the image, then they can be easily applied with a toothpick. Just dip it in paint and immediately transfer it to the drawing.

How to make a tattoo stencil

If you want to get an original image, then you can make henna tattoo stencils yourself. To do this, use adhesive film - just cut out the ornament you need in it, stick the resulting sketch tightly on the body and draw your exclusive pattern on the skin, which you will definitely not find anywhere else.

If the role of an artist is not for you, then just purchase ready-made pictures with henna tattoos at home. Using them is easy: fix the template on the skin with tape and apply paint on top, making sure that all slots are filled.

Then carefully remove the stencil, rinse it with water, but do not throw it away, you can use it more than once.

What color of the picture can you achieve

Henna drawings on the body can turn out in different shades - it depends on three nuances: the holding time of the paste, the reaction of the skin to the dye, and the place on which the image is applied.

Immediately after removing the paint, the ornament will turn out to be a pale orange color, after 4-5 hours it will darken and turn bright orange, and then after 2-3 days its shade will smoothly turn into a red-beige color.

Depending on the skin type, the end result of mehendi at home can be either deep red or dark brown. The brightest images come out on dense areas of the body (arms and legs).

How long does a henna tattoo last? It also depends on the reaction of the skin and where you decide to draw the pattern. If we talk about the average period of time, then a henna tattoo on the stomach, on the back and under the chest lasts from three to seven days, and on the arms and legs - from one week to two. Then the paint gradually fades and disappears without marks on the skin.

What complications can there be?

Natural henna cannot do any harm to healthy skin, since it is a vegetable raw material.

But in some cases (here we are talking about purchased paint), side effects.

Complications arise if foreign dyes are added to a natural product, and then this is fraught with allergic reactions. To avoid this, you must carefully study the composition before using the purchased paste.

Also, complications can make themselves felt if you paint mehendi on the skin affected by psoriasis, eczema, seborrhea and other identical diseases.

In addition, side effects in the form of redness, peeling and even inflammation will sooner or later appear if you often apply a temporary henna tattoo on the same place - this is absolutely impossible to do, the skin should rest.

Painting mehendi on the hand

Temporary henna tattoos on the hand are popular, mainly among the weaker sex, since henna painting on the hands looks very gentle and feminine. Also, the beautiful half of humanity often prefers to draw henna tattoos on the palm and make mehendi on the wrist.

Moreover, special attention is paid to the value of the applied image. What kind of henna tattoos on the arm are popular today? Let's select 4 of them.

Patterns. They mean luck on the personal front, love, or romance.
Lotus. The flower of this beautiful plant is applied by those who need good luck in business.
Owl. A symbol of wisdom, she indicates the mental qualities of her owner.
Dream Catcher. It is believed that it protects from evil spirits and protects from damage and the evil eye.

Mehendi with white henna looks especially stylish; such ornaments often attract girls and young ladies. Today it is very fashionable for girls to make drawings with white henna on their hands, it symbolizes purity, therefore, such patterns are often used by brides.

Painted mehendi on the leg

Henna tattoos on the leg are done not only by women, but also by men. Moreover, despite the fact that such drawings are often hidden under clothing, special attention is also paid to the meaning of the applied ornaments.

In this case, it is not even the pattern itself that is important, but the part of the leg on which it is applied, since this carries a certain meaning.

What do these places mean?

Left leg. The ornament on the left leg indicates that a person is looking for his place in life.
Right leg. The drawing on the right leg indicates confidence and determination.
Left foot. The pattern in this place indicates that the person lacks attention.
Right foot. The image on this site means selfish inclinations.

Painting mehendi on the body

You can draw mehendi not only on the arms and legs, henna inscriptions look beautiful on other parts of the body. For example, a henna tattoo on the neck looks very elegant, especially if these are not specific patterns, but simple and at the same time stylish patterns.

Girls often choose small tattoos in Arabic or Indian styles, where the emphasis is on floral motifs and flowing patterns. Sometimes white henna for mehendi is used for these purposes, but mainly for special occasions.

Also, the back, abdomen and chest area are often painted, which looks very elegant. On the net you can find a large number of photos and videos with all kinds of sketches for temporary tattoos.

Painting mehendi for men

Representatives of the stronger sex are also not averse to decorating their bodies with original patterns and making mehendi at home. And if it is not difficult to choose a pattern for boys, then it is not so easy for a guy to choose a suitable ornament.

Male henna designs should not be floral-sentimental - these are female options. For example, if you need to draw a sleeve with henna, then it is better to choose an abstract composition with clear lines.

It is the hands that men most often choose to get a henna tattoo. Less commonly, legs, back, shoulders and forearms. Also, the stronger sex prefers to avoid small patterns, rightly believing that a man's tattoo should be large.

We have considered how to make mehendi, but in order for the drawing to remain clear and bright longer, it is necessary to properly care for it. And in order to prolong the life of a temporary tattoo, it is important to follow certain rules.

Our tips will help you with this.

And finally: If you do not want to make a paste for a temporary tattoo with your own hands or for some reason could not buy dry henna powder - just order a ready-made paint on the Internet. One tube will be enough for you several patterns.