Mehndi:Henna Tattooing

Crafts Class with Mrs. Hurd

Take Notes in Sketchbook

What's IN THE NAME?

Henna tattooing is just the slang term for a process called Mehndi. This art has become increasingly popular with western culture and is now commonly referred to using only the term henna.

Repeating Circles

Paisley Print

Checkerboard

Curvy Lines

What is henna?

• Henna is a plant that grows in the tropical and subtropical regions of Australia, Southern Asia (Including India), and northern Africa.

• It requires a good amount of rain and lots of humidity.

• It is a green, leafy plant that grows from about 6.5 ft to 20 ft at full maturity.

Egyptian Origins

Henna Tattooing started in Egypt with origins dating back almost 5,000 years! Egyptians used to decorate the bodies of their deceased pharaohs with henna.

There were many tattoos

they used, and each had a

different meaning. Some

tattoos gave the pharaohs

courage in the afterlife while

others gave them guidance.

Polynesian Origins

• Polynesian tattooing was intricate and skillful tattooing. This is the only form of Polynesian art that has been widely adopted and imitated by westerners.

Characterized by

elaborate geometrical

designs which were often

renewed, and embellished

throughout the life of the

individual until they covered

the entire body

Polynesian Origins Cont.

• Traditional tattooing tools consist of a comb with needles carved from bone or tortoise shell, fixed to a wooden handle.

• The needles are dipped into a pigment made from the soot of burnt candlenut mixed with water or oil.

• The needles are then placed on the skin and the handle is tapped with a second wooden stick, causing the comb to pierce the skin and insert the pigment.

History of Henna

• Henna tattoos, or the more traditional term, Mehndi, has been used for over 5,000 years.

• It started in Egypt, but evolved and became popular all over the Middle East.

• It was used mainly for ceremonies or life changing events such as marriages or childbirth.

• Henna has always been very popular in India.

Different Patterns

There are many, many different designs for henna tattoos. They differ in many ways including color, size, and difficulty. Here are two examples of the ranging difficulty of the tattoos.

Henna safety tips

Black henna can be very dangerous. It can infect and eat away at your skin. Henna is not black! Black henna contains PPD, a dangerous chemical that is illegal if used on the skin. If you are interested in getting a henna tattoo, be careful where you get your supplies. You want to research the supplier thoroughly and make sure they are reliable.

Videos

• Anthony Bourdane: No Reservations

• How its made

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNIKgrbsnog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th1Va8pE6KQ