3. 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
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Videos
• Anthony Bourdane: No
Reservations
• How its made
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=dNIKgrbsnog
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=th1Va8pE6KQ
