Mehendi or mehndi is a natural cosmetic coloring agent that can be used to dye one’s hair or create designs on one’s hands and feet. Mehendi is originally from India but it has been gaining worldwide recognition as a natural coloring agent. The use of mehendi for hair has proven to be very beneficial. Mehendi is often used instead of hair dyes as it not only helps to give one’s hair a rich and lustrous natural color but also conditions the hair and leaves it soft and silky. There are several home remedies for grey hair that require Mehendi and can be made with a few simple ingredients. It can also be used to trace designs on the skin of a person’s hands and feet. These mehendi designs are called mehendi tattoos but unlike conventional tattooing, it does not require needles and is merely applied to the skin.

Mehendi

Designs for Hands and Feet
Henna or Mehndi designs for the skin have become very popular as they are not permanent but can remain on the skin for several weeks. The Mehendi is mixed with several other ingredients to form a thick paste and this paste is then artfully applied on the skin and allowed to dry. The skin that is directly in contact with the paste is stained a rich dark brown color while the rest of the skin retains its original color. Once the paste has dried it is scraped off and the design it leaves behind would last for a few weeks. It is important to decide on a design in advance and make sure that you have everything you need within reach. You can draw the design on your hand with a pen so that you can then apply the Mehendi paste over it.

This would be advisable if you have never used Mehendi before as it is quite tough to make these designs freehand. You can choose to go with a more traditional mehndi hand designs or you can opt for a modern design. There are several online sources for Mehendi or henna designs that cover various different types of designs, ranging from extremely simple designs to immensely complicated ones. Traditionally, these mehendi designs are part of wedding celebrations and so Mehndi bridal designs are very common and generally very intricate as well. It would be best to get a professional Mehendi artist to create these designs as this will ensure that the design is unique and without flaws.

Hair Coloring and Conditioning
Mehndi hair care products are now quite common as they have been recognized to be natural and gentle options for dying hair. Mehendi is made from the leaves of the henna plant which is why the names are used interchangeably. The leaves are dried thoroughly and then ground until it is reduced to a fine powder. This powder can then be mixed with a little lemon juice or dilute apple cider vinegar and kept aside for a few hours. The acid content of these liquids reacts with the compounds in the leaves and this is what causes the staining. It is therefore important to allow the mixture to stand for a minimum of 8 hours before it can be used. Some people suggest that a mixture of freshly brewed black tea, a few spoons of tomato juice and diluted apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of fresh lemon juice should be added to the powder to make a Mehendi hair dye paste. All these juices are acidic in nature and will help to ensure that the color obtained is rich and dark. Many stores now offer readymade mehendi paste that can be used right away. Mehendi is often a suitable option for those with sensitive skin as these people normally suffer from skin reactions when they use most cosmetic hair dyes.

The paste made from the powdered leaves and lemon juice is acidic in nature. While it is natural to think that acidic products will damage the hair strand, hair products need to have a higher acidic content as this helps to smooth the hair cuticles and avoid the problem of dry and frizzy hair. lemon juice also contains several vitamins that help to nourish the roots of the hair which helps to prevent excessive hair fall. In order to make a Mehendi conditioner, you can mix the powdered leaves along with the lemon juice before you go to bed so that it can remain undisturbed throughout the night. In the morning you can add an egg yolk along with a few spoons of fresh yogurt to the paste and apply it carefully to your hair. Make sure that you use gloves and other protective clothing as this paste can stain your skin if it comes in contact with it. The egg yolk will help to provide your hair and scalp with amino acids and fatty acids that help to keep your hair well nourished while the yogurt contains several acids that help to promote scalp health and prevent itching and flaking.