Mehendi is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Mendhika’. Hindu Vedic texts reveal that it was a custom to use Mehendi before an important religious ritual. It is the symbolic representation of the inner and outer sun. Vedic customs are based on the idea ‘awakening the inner light.’ Check out the latest arabic mehndi designs, some classic round mehndi designs, and peacock mehndi designs. Also, make your skin glow with these monsoon skin care tips and fruit packs to look bright this festive season.
Mehendi is the local name for henna designs in the Indian subcontinent since the idea of using henna to decorate hands originated in Arabia. Though the whole concept of mehndi is borrowed from other countries, it still has the Indian touch to it.
Mehendi represents Indian culture, it is extensively used in decorating hands and feet during weddings and every other auspicious occasion you can think of!
How to Make Henna Paste?
The henna tree is also called the Egyptian Privet or Mignonette tree. It is a flowering plant that belongs to the species of Lawsonia Genus. The name ‘henna’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘Hinna’. Henna is a tall shrub that is indigenous to North Africa, Western and Southern Asia, Northern Australasia, semi-arid zones and tropical countries. The plant produces the maximum dye when cultivated in temperatures within 35 to 45-degree centigrade and also during monsoons.
The compound Lawsone present in the henna leaf is the actual dye. If you use the whole henna leaves you will not get any color. When fresh henna leaves are mashed along with some mild acidic liquid then the Lawsone molecules are released. The molecules bind the proteins in the skin thus leaving behind the beautiful red color.
Henna is usually sold as a dry powder made by drying, milling and sifting the leaves. The henna powder has to be blended with lemon juice and strong tea and other liquids with acidic content to get the silky smooth consistency. It is best to leave the henna paste to rest for six to 24 hours to release the dye. Essential oils with high levels of monoterpene alcohol like tea tree, lavender, Cajeput, and Eucalyptus if added to the henna paste will give you a dark color. Now the paste is ready to be applied to your palms and feet to create intricate designs. When the paste has dried off, dab it with sugar and lemon juice solution to increase the intensity of the color. Slowly, you will see the dried henna falling off from your hands leaving behind the orange hue, which will gradually become reddish-brown. You can also scrape off the dried paste from the hand with a blunt edge of the knife. Be careful not to hurt yourself!
Avoid using soaps and chlorinated water as it hinders the darkening of the color. Steaming or warming your hands, post-application helps to darken the color. Always make the henna paste at home to create your tattoos and Mehendi. This will prevent you from harsh chemicals that are used in the readymade cones sold in the market.
Historical use of Mehendi:
A detailed study of history reveals that henna was used in the Arab world for more than five thousand years. The woman not only use henna to decorate their hands and feet with intricate designs, but they also use it to ward off evil, bring good luck and prosperity to their homes.
There is a controversy regarding the origin of henna or Mehendi as a dyeing agent. Botanist believes that henna plant or Lawsonia Inermis originated in Egypt and was used in the mummification of pharaohs. Henna was used to dye the hair and nails of the dead pharaohs and was believed that this would bring them good fortune in their next life. Evidence shows that henna was passed on to India by Egypt as early as 700 A.D. and it was used to decorate hands and feet. Henna was also used for medicinal purposes and to dye hair, cloth, leather and manes of horses and furs of other animals.
Did you know that henna was used as a hair dye for almost 6,000 years? The daughters of pharaohs used henna to dye their hair red. It is said that opera singer Adelina Patti popularized the use of henna as a hair dye in Europe in the 1800s. You can also apply the time-tested henna paste on your hair instead of the hair colors that have ammonia in it. Separate your hair strands and apply the paste with a brush while standing in front of the mirror. Make sure you don’t miss a single strand of hair. This will give you the desired color and at the same time leave your hair velvety soft.
Muslim tradition and religion make the use of henna compulsory. The Sunnah (tradition of Prophet Mohammad) and Hadith (narration of the prophet) allows both men and women to use henna. Men use it to dye their hair and beards red. Women use henna to paint their fingernails and toenails red. Henna in Muslim culture depicts feminity. Mehendi is done during joyous celebrations like Eid when the family gathers for a feast. The use of henna is prohibited during mourning in Islamic religious literature. In fact, the whole idea of Mehendi originated in Muslim dominated Arabian countries and was gradually passed on to other cultures. The arrival of Islam in India popularized the henna culture among other communities and it also revived the use of henna that was popular in the Vedic ages with a new gusto!
Here are Some Beautiful Indian Mehandi Designs that You Can Create at Home:
1. Here is a beautiful Indian mehndi design with intricate details and floral motifs; this design is a combination of peacock and floral motifs, the fingers have heavy details while there is some gap left on the palm which is filled with tiny flowers. The patterns and motifs make the design unorthodox and completely different. Nevertheless, this Mehendi design is very unique and contemporary and looks lovely on the hands.
2. Now from a modern design, we move on to traditional Indian Bridal mehndi designs for hands. This design is apt for the bride to be and it can also be worn by close family members of the bride on the joyous occasion. This design has intricate traditional motifs like peacock, lace, bangles, and flowers that cover the full arms of the bride making her look glamorous. It is best to use dark Mehendi to make the design more bold and prominent.
3. Who said Mehendi is just for the hands? Feet are also a great canvas for this natural art, and this design is a perfect example. It is very apt for auspicious occasions like weddings and engagement. The design is very beautiful for its delicate details that cover both the ankles and feet. The design embraces the ankles like an anklet or a ‘Payel’. The lace and floral motifs make the design look so beautiful.
4. This is a very traditional Mehendi design and at the same time, it is unique, unlike traditional Indian Mehendi design that covers the tips. In this pattern, the tips are left without any design. The motifs are also different on both hands making the design very unique. This intricate Indian Mehendi design fills up the hands, thus making it ideal for a bride to be.
5. This design is very traditional and fills up the hands, without making it look messy. The slight gaps left in the design make it look simple and appealing. This Mehendi design is apt for anyone. Even a bride’s mother also can opt for this design easily.
6. This Indian Mehendi design is totally different from the traditional Mehendi designs and is a fun option to try if you are bored with traditional motifs. It contains intricate designs and various shapes; you can easily create this funky design at home. The hands also don’t look messy with this design, young college-goers will simply like to flaunt it.
7. For those who want minimal Mehendi designs on their hands, this is a great option. The floral motifs at the center are drawn diagonally with designs on the individual fingers. The colorful stones are added to glam up the look.
8. Are you bored with the same old mehndi designs? If yes, then add some uniqueness to your Mehendi with the use of different colored stones. These stones are available in different sizes and shapes and will make the designs look more colorful and vibrant. The big stones are placed in the middle of the circular designs and other tiny stones are placed all over the design to make it look bright and trendy. Use different shapes and colors to get the desired effect. Make sure the adhesive you use to stick these stones are skin-friendly yet long-lasting.
9. For those who love Mehendi on their feet, here’s an intricate Indian Mehendi design you can try on your feet. The design covers a good amount of space on your feet, thus making it ideal for brides to be. You can also do this design for your sister or a close friend’s wedding.Make sure to wear a good shade of nail paint too.
10. If you love Indian mehndi designs full hands with intricate designs and details, then this one is well suited to your taste. The designs are very beautiful and they will fill up your entire hands. However, unlike traditional Mehendi designs, the top of the fingers are left open for that unique touch. This is a great choice for the modern bride who loves a great mix of traditional and contemporary Mehendi designs.
11. This is one of those simple Indian Mehendi designs for hands that would suit a bride quite well. The designs and the choice of red Mehendi make the designs pop out very well on the fair hands of the bride, while the floral motifs and other designs on the fingers make it look modern.
12. This Mehendi design for the feet looks very apt for a bride since there are a lot of details and intricate designs. The whole feet are decorated with detailed motifs to make this Mehendi design look really beautiful. It is the front chequered patterns with tiny flowers in the middle that instantly grabs the attention! It also makes this design look very unique.
13. Mehendi designs can be extremely elaborate on the top of the hands too. Here is an example of it. This one has unique styles, with each finger showing different patterns.It covers the back of the hands and reaches up to a little above the wrist. The design on the wrist looks like a bangle with beautiful paisley and floral motifs.
14. Another design with colorful beads can be seen here. This one is apt for a modern bride or for anyone attending a social function. The stones and modern motifs make this simple Indian mehndi designs for hands very attractive and fun. It is the accessories that enhance this look.
15. If you want to create some mehndi designs on the feet, then try this one on the occasion of a wedding. It is a beautiful design and has a nice mixture of traditional and modern patterns.
16. A very simple Mehendi design, this looks great on anyone and can be done for any type of occasions like weddings and festivals. There is also the use of darker mehndi in this pattern to make the motifs more prominent and beautiful.
17. For those looking for medium patterns and unique style, this one is apt. It includes the use of two types of mehndi like red and black mehndi. The black mehndi is used to do the borders while the red one is used to fill in. Designs like oval and heart shapes are done on the fingers to add a touch of uniqueness to this design. The use of beads in different colors is also included to add bling.
18. This design is unique for its distinct patterns and the dominant pattern of paisley is repeated on all sides. The big circular pattern in the middle makes the design really different. This design will make everyone go ‘Wow’ for its uniqueness.
19. This mehndi design has medium intricate motifs and all of these motifs are filled with glitters using glitter tubes. Different colors are used like red and blue. Colorful stones are used here to make the design more attractive to youngsters.
20. This is a very simple looking yet intricately done design. The circular designs in the middle of the palm have microscopic details and are done finely. The patterns are delicately done in such a way that it doesn’t look messy.The tips of the fingers are darkened and the use of tiny flower motifs makes it different and attractive. Using a dark henna paste for this mehndi design makes it look really prominent on your fair hands.
21. This mehndi design is a great option for those who want simple and colorful designs. It includes glitters as well as colorful beads to decorate the hands. It’s a simple yet gorgeous mehndi design you can wear for evening parties.
Mehendi is meant to accentuate your beautiful hands, fingers, and feet. Choose the design you like best and start creating them. If you are calling a professional to do the designs for you, discuss the design you would like to do with him or her in advance. These designs are a great combination of traditional and modern motifs, it will surely make you the center of attraction. All eyes will be glued to your well-decorated hands!
I hope you enjoy trying these Indian mehndi designs for hands and feet. Don’t forget to share your pictures.
