Henna Tattoo --- Great tattoo design

Henna (Lawsonia inermis, also known as hina, the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet) is a flowering plant and the sole species of the Lawsonia genus. The English name "henna" comes from the Arabic or, colloquially, loosely pronounced as /ħinna/.

The name henna also refers to the dye prepared from the plant and the art of temporary tattooing based on those dyes. Henna has been used since antiquity to dye skin, hair, and fingernails, as well as fabrics including silk, wool, and leather. The name is mistakenly used in other skin and hair dyes, such as black henna and neutral henna, neither of which are derived from the henna plant.

Henna tattoos, also known as Mehndi, is one form of temporary tattoos. Coming from a south Asian tradition, henna uses a paste made from the powdered leaves of the Henna plant, Lawsonia inermis. Its active dye, Lawsone, binds with the keratin in skin, fingernails, and hair. Traditional henna is drawn in delicate patterns on the hands and feet, but modern henna is applied in all sorts of designs anywhere on the body. Unlike other forms of temporary tattoos, henna does not allow for a full range of colors but only shades of reds, browns, and near-blacks. The paste is applied and left on the skin for several hours to stain. The stain will gradually fade away as the skin sheds. Henna tattoos can last days to over a month depending on application and tattoo aftercare.

Henna tattoos now are the newest trend. They allow the user to enjoy a beautiful temporary henna tattoo without the needle pain and the permanence of a "real" tattoo. They are also relatively inexpensive to get. For instance, some henna tattoo ink can do up to 25 medium size designs.

It will last anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks depending on your body temperature level, where the henna is applied, and how often you wash the hennaed area. The more you wash your henna tattoo the faster it will fade away. You can redo-it over to make it darker. However, the henna tattoo area won't take more than 4 to 5 times over. Nature's way to say enough!

However, caution should be taken as many products labeled henna are misleading. Fast-staining "black henna" can contain para-phenylenediamine (PPD) which can cause allergic reactions and scarring. So be careful about henna tattoo.