Hello Gatewood! We hope Multicultural Day is full of new cultures and connections for each and every one of you. Thank you for inviting Minneapolis Mehndi & Henna to join the festivities! Read on to learn more about natural henna body art and the practice of mehndi.
From Namibia to Nepal to India to Indonesia, henna can be found as a part of cultural traditions all around the world.
Brief Overview of Henna
The ancient art of Henna, known as mehndi in Hindi and Urdu, has been a cherished tradition in Pakistan, India, Africa, and the Middle East for over 5000 years. Originally employed for its natural cooling properties in hot desert climates, a paste was created and applied to the palms of hands and soles of feet. Beyond its cooling effect, Henna was also utilized for medicinal purposes, providing relief for ailments such as stomach aches, burns, headaches, and open wounds.
Upon the realization that the paste left a temporary stain on the skin, thanks to the presence of lawsone—a reddish-orange dye that binds to the skin’s keratin—Henna’s usage evolved into a form of decoration accessible to people from all walks of life.
In contemporary times, Henna is used to commemorate special occasions like weddings and birthdays, where people gather joyously. Or just because!
The Henna paste represents good health and prosperity in marriage, and in certain cultures, a darker Henna stain symbolizes a deeper love between two individuals.
It is important to note that Henna designs are distinct from tattoos, as tattoos involve permanent ink that penetrates the skin, while Henna utilizes temporary dye that rests on the skin’s surface. Additionally, Henna is also safely used to dye hair, nails, and various fabrics such as silk, wool, and leather.
Natural. Cultural. Creative.
Henna
What actually is henna?
It’s a plant!
The henna plant is a green leafy plant. Those leaves are harvested and dried then ground into a powder. We purchase that powder and mix it into a paste that is applied to your skin- that’s it!
Check out our quick guide below:
Who we are
Minneapolis Mehndi & Henna is a North Minneapolis based henna service. We’re veteran owned and Woman of Color led. We provide all natural henna service for cultural, entertainment and connection events like weddings, birthdays, school events, corporate events and more!
Visit our about page to learn more.
Complete our contact form to learn more about booking your own appointment/party.
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FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions are below:
How long does it typically last on the skin?
Usually a week or two. It depends on the preparation and aftercare. Also, how long you leave the paste on determines how much your skin was able to soak in. The more it soaks in, the longer it will last and the deeper the color.
Check out prep and aftercare here: https://minneapolismehndi.com/beforeaftercare/
Are there multiple colors to choose from?
With natural henna, there is only one color. Henna is a plant and can only yield one color (deepness of it can vary depending on how fresh the henna powder and henna paste is at the time of application).
Check out our brief overview here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqedUMpsm_R/
If you see a thing called black “henna” or red “henna”, that is just hair dye applied like henna.
You can learn more here: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/skin/henna.html
(sometimes natural henna can be referred to as “red henna” because it’s a naturally brownish-red stain)
*there is a natural black “henna” alternative called jagua- it’s a fruit
you can learn more here: https://www.freshjagua.com/pages/jagua-what-is-it
If you see something called white “henna”, it’s just white paint that sits on top of your skin and does not soak in. They are typically a one day thing because they can wipe right off. You can imagine it to basically be something like acrylic paint you’d get from Michael’s mixed with Elmer’s glue.
This method can be used with any kind of paint- like glow in the dark paint. That’s how you get fun designs like this:
Also, about how long do you anticipate the appointment?
I would estimate the application would take less than 1 hr. However the dry time may take an additional 30 mins after we finish, possibly longer depending on how large the design is.
Minneapolis Mehndi & Henna 
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