What IS Henna?
Is it religious?
No! Henna is not inherently religious. It is used in religious contexts, but is also used outside of this.. for a Western comparison, think of wine. Wine is used in the Catholic and Protestant churches in the sacred rite of communion. But wine is also used outside of religion, and used freely by religious and non-religious people. The same thing applies to henna. You are not being sacrilegious if you use henna and are not of a traditionally henna-using culture.
What is henna made from?
Henna is a plant dye for the skin, hair, and nails. On skin the stain will last 1-3 weeks. The young leaves of the henna shrub (botanical name is lawsonisa Inermis) are dried and ground to make a fine powder. This is made into a paste and applied. You can purchase quality safe henna supplies through our online shop.
How is henna applied?
Traditional and contemporary designs are painted on the body with a hand rolled cone, bottle, or syringe. You can purchase henna applicators here. Paste dries and remains on the skin for a minimum of 2 hours (preferably overnight) and is then removed. The paste stains the skin and as long as it is kept away from water for the first day, the colour deepens over 24-36 hours. This amazing process can be likened to a polaroid being developed only over a longer time-frame. Stain colour ranges from caramel to blackcurrant, depending on many factors such as skin chemistry, where on the body it is applied, and how long the paste is left on. Henna is traditionally applied to hands and feet, but can be used almost anywhere on the body, although with varying depth of colour.
Paste is always applied freehand at Henna Oasis. Custom freestyle designs are our specialty. Your henna artwork will be one of a kind! But if you have a design you've found that you love, we can do that too. Find out our rates for private appointments and party/event bookings here.
Do you use factory made henna cones?
Definitely not! Henna paste is perishable so must be made fresh and kept frozen. Henna cones that sit on a shelf must contain something questionable at best. Paste is hand made by Henna Oasis using only natural high quality ingredients so you can be confident that it is safe. Paste contains ground henna leaves (lawsonia inermis), filtered water, dextrose (a sugar) and aromatherapy grade cajeput essential oil. We believe in transparancy, so our recipe is here for you to see! Henna Oasis artist Elizabeth holds a current certification from the International Certification for Natural Henna Arts.
Why do Indian brides use henna?
In India, henna (mehindi) is an essential part of weddings, symbolizing the strength of love in a marriage. The bride's henna is usually extremely intricate. The groom sometimes has henna also. Tradition has it that the darker the mehindi, the stronger and longer lasting the love. Significant symbols are often added to bless the union. A lovely tradition is the hiding of the groom's name or initials in the pattern, which must be found before the wedding night can commence! Henna is used in many cultures as part of the celebration of special events, festivals, and religious holidays. It is not inherently religious or sacred. Find out more about booking wedding mehndi.