CHERISHED IMAGES

Henna and the couple

Tiffany showcases beautiful henna (mehandi) designs on her big day.

Henna or Mehandi (Lawsonia inermis)is a shrub that grows in the tropical climates of Africa, northern Australia and southern Asia, and finds a mention in many ancient texts. In the Bible, this herb is referred to as camphire. Mehandi is derived from the Sanskrit word mendhikā, while henna owes its origin to the Arabic name for Lawsonia inermis, Hina. The leaves of the henna plant contain a red-orange molecule, lawsone, which has the ability to temporarily stain the skin, hair and nails. Traditionally henna leaves were dried and ground into a powder, mixed into a paste and applied using a variety of techniques. Various shades are obtainable by mixing this plant with the leaves of other plants, such as indigo. Depending on the location and availability, different ingredients such as tea, coffee, cloves, tamarind, lemon, sugar and various oils have been used to enhance the color and longevity of design.
Henna has reportedly been used for body art for at least 5,000 years and has a long history of migration and cultural interaction.

Location: Belews Lake, North Carolina.