Hiiii guys lately me and some of my friends have been doing henna on each other and it’s super fun so for my story this week I thought I’d educate myself and you on the history of henna!!!(the pic is henna I did on my friend).

Henna has been around for over 5000 years mainly in Egypt, India, Pakistan, Africa, and the Middle East. The paste is derived from the Lawsonia inermis plant. From the plant it’s then turned into a cool paste that ranges from many different shades of red and brown. In many cultures henna is used to dye hair, skin, nails, and fabrics like wool and leather. Henna could also be used in healing remedies because long ago it was used as a cooling agent for people in deserts and even used for burns and cuts. In Ancient Egypt women would adorn their skin and nails with henna and even used henna in mummification rituals. Today we know how old henna is because we have found henna on mummy’s nails that are over 5000 years old. In India it is mainly used to beautify the bride in wedding ceremonies but is also widely used in important Indian ceremonies/holidays. In India this practice is known as mehndi which symbolizes joy, beauty, and spiritual awakening. In the Middle East henna is used in festivals, in North Africa henna is used for special occasion, and in Pakistan henna is used for both reasons. Somehow henna traveled to Europe and America and in these countries people just use henna for fun as temporary tattoos (like me) but it’s still important to respect it’s origin and the culture it comes from!