The art of Henna which is commonly known as Mehndi in Pakistan and India has been practiced over 9000 years ago. Even The Holy Prophet's daughter Bibi Fatima Zehra (S.A) used to apply Henna on nails of hands and feet, in this way it has a religious impact also. Henna is traditionally used for many occasions and feasts specially on Eids, weddings, milad, cosmetic treatment, hair dying, and tattoo making etc.

The Henna Plant: Basically Henna is a shrub that is grown in hot climate. The leaves of the henna plant are dried, to make henna paste; crush leaves into a fine powder and made into a creamy paste using oils and lemon juice. It has an ability to stain for about 8 – 10 days, the color varies from pale orange, brown, dark brown, black depending upon the quality of henna or type of skin. This paste is then filled in cones for application.

Medical Benefits: Henna has natural cooling properties, people of the desert, for centuries, have been using henna to cool down their bodies. They make a paste of henna and soak their palms and soles of the feet in it to get an air conditioning affect. They feel it's cooling sensation throughout the body for as long as the henna stain remains on their skin.

Hair Dying and Protection: By applying Henna paste, your hair dyes in a striking reddish brown color. Henna also helps protect hair from sun damage. As a matter of fact, Henna has gained more value then commercial hair conditioners, it stimulates hair growth, seals the oil into your hair, leaving it super conditioned.

Henna Tattoos: Today people from western world have also started adopting this art of henna in form of tattoos. It became a very popular form of temporary body decoration and has become a growing trend ever since. Celebrities proudly adorn their bodies with henna tattoos for movies, videos and photo sessions.

Henna on Feasts and Occasions: Henna experts have introduced very exclusive and artistic designs and patterns of henna application, which are cherished by ladies, girls and women in festivals and occasions. Specially on the night before Eid (chand raat) all beauty salons have special extended portions for application of henna. One of the most popular of the traditions is the mehndi night where the bride, her family, relatives and friends get together to celebrate the wedding to come. Brides prefer to have their henna done prior to the mehndi night so that they can enjoy the festivities and also have a deeper stain by the wedding day.

Tips to Darken Henna

1. Apply juice of lemon mixed with sugar on your hands when your henna dries.
2. Once the mehndi starts to fall off, apply vicks on your hands.
3. Heat a few cloves on a pan, warm your palms before you wash off henna.

Popular Henna BrandsThere are several popular henna brands based on personal preferences but a few stand out. For example Jamila Henna is probably arguably world's famous natural henna product. Receiving glowing reviews from it's users makes it even more of a natural first choice for several new henna users. Amongst other know brands of Henna we would be unfair if we didn't mention Karishma Henna an extremely popular all natural herbal henna product of India. Reshma Henna is another one that has gained popularity among the masses of Henna users from around the world. Last one but not least, probably the best upcoming product that is very popular with the beauty salons and beauticians around the USA is the Zubeda Henna because of it's natural in nature and repeated great results.