The Rebirth Of The Henna Tattoo
The Henna tattoo has undergone a revival in recent years with the explosion of culture influencing from India to Asia. Once found only in certain cultures, Henna has become very popular with individuals wishing to use a more natural form of tattoo that is not permanent.
Most associations with henna tattoo’s are from those found on Indian brides. The soon to be married girl would be brought into a room where her family and friends would begin designing her temporary tattoo. The body would be decorated with a series of lines and symbols telling a story. Anyone not aware of the subtle meaning would simple find the designs beautiful. The significance of tattooing the bride is such that as long as she is still wearing the dye, she is still honeymooning and is not expected to perform chores.
One of the benefits of Henna is that it is a natural product. As such there is a great leeway for experimentation in design. Traditional designs do not have to be used and there are many kits available that include design patterns. The henna tattoo removal is simply the skin replenishing the cells and forcing the dye out of the body. There are tattoo studios that do offer permanent designs that resemble the henna tattoo. These tattoos are put into place with the typical tattoo machines but use a red dye that will remain permanent.
A note of caution concerning henna is the use of a product labeled as “black henna” or an indigo. Natural henna does not come in dark shades. The dark colors are actually made by combining henna with a chemical. There can be very harsh side effects such as skin blistering. As with any product, even a natural one such as henna, there can be allergic reactions. This is particularly true if the individual has a rare genetic condition called a G6PD deficiency. In large doses the dye molecule in henna can be fatal. If it is unknown whether or not henna will cause an allergic reaction it is best to do a small skin test.
A henna tattoo can be incredibly beautiful if applied properly. Much like the mainstream tattooist, a henna artist must pay attention to each stroke to ensure its proper place. The upside is that it will wear off. The downside is that it will wear off as well no matter how much the person loves the design. With proper care the henna artwork can last for weeks and can always be reapplied.
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