On the wedding day, while the wedding dress and jewelry are only for the day, the design for the mehendi stays with you for a week. The wedding attire, jewelry, makeup, and all the extras construct a costume you wear to act as a bride. During the mehendi application, the bride and the artist are together when she gets to sit still to get it dried. It is just about being in the moment and forgetting the rest of the world. As this opportunity comes once in a lifetime for a woman, she wants the mehendi design to be unique and darker.
Mehendi designs in different cultures
Henna was traditionally applied on the hands in the form of blobs rather than elaborate designs of mehendi by the mother-in-law of the bride. Indian and Arabic designs are the most popular types of henna art. Arabic or Khaleeji style is characterized by fanciful floral designs with a lot of negative space, unconventional layouts, and thicker lines. The fact that the leaves, veins, and flowers are left vacant and that applying these designs usually takes less time is another characteristic that sets Arabic mehendi designs apart. Often, the groom’s name or initials are concealed within the mehendi designs. Because it was regarded as a romantic gesture, other civilizations also embraced this practice.
Tips to get a darker Mehendi stain
Following are the tips to make your mehendi darker and last longer:
- Starting with clean skin: Just make sure that your hands are clean and free from any oil and lotions. This can form a barrier and can stop the Mehendi from absorbing into the skin.
- Using a slurry of lemon and sugar: Add some sugar to boiling water and then add lemon drops. Once your mehendi has dried, add this mixture to it three times or more. Initially, apply your mehendi as it is. While lemon juice acts as a catalyst for dye release and intense color penetration, the sugar maintains the mehendi in contact with the skin for deeper penetration. Using this mixture greatly aids in keeping the henna’s darker color.
- Using fumes of cloves: Take a pan and put some cloves on it over medium heat. After giving the cloves some time to warm up, rub your hands over the pan to absorb the clove vapors. Stay as close to the pan as we can with our hands. For a longer-lasting design, the cloves’ vapors help keep the henna’s color locked in. When combined with the sugar and lemon concoction, the fumes are quite effective.
- Using balms: Apply balms like Vicks Vapour Rub or Tiger Blam all over your hands, exactly like you would hand lotion, after scraping off all of the henna. Ensure that the entire design of your henna gets covered. If you leave it overnight, the henna design will be gorgeous and dark when you wake up. It is said that the active ingredients in these balms aid in promoting the development of color and henna’s penetration into the skin.
- Leaving henna for a longer duration: Rinse off your henna around 6-7 hours later. Before adding any water to your design, leave it on for at least 12 hours, if you can afford to leave it on a little longer. The henna begins to lose color as it comes into touch with water.
- Wrapping up henna: Henna is best served by being wrapped in cling film, which traps heat and helps to darken the color of the henna.
- Stay hydrated: Keep your body moisturized by drinking lots of water; this will help your mehendi stain to be darker. To maintain the color’s intensity, frequently moisturize your hands with natural oils like coconut or almond oil.
- Scraping gently: After the henna paste has had time to dry, carefully scrape it off without using any water. Refrain from washing it straight immediately.
- Choosing fresh henna: For optimal effects, use freshly made henna powder, since it tends to create a darker shade. Make a smooth paste. Combine the henna powder, lemon juice, and a small amount of sugar to form a thick, homogeneous paste.
- Applying Eucalyptus oil: Before starting off the henna application, make sure you rub your hands after applying little drops of Eucalyptus oil. This will let the oil absorb well before the application.
Conclusion
Bridal mehendi is a cherished ritual in many cultures. It gives a complete look to the bride on her big day. The deep rich colour of the design shines through the occasion and stays for a week. It is the dream of every bride to get a darker stain which she can even cherish later. Being a leading name in the makeup industry today, Pallavi Kadale also works to provide best designs for mehendi in Pune.
FAQS
Q1. How can I remove Mehendi from my hand?
Ans. If you truly dislike the subtle stains that Mehendi leaves behind after the wedding, you can use lemon juice to get rid of the color of the stain. Because it contains bleach, lemon juice can aid in lightening the color.
Q2. What if the hands are been washed by mistake, after the application of mehendi?
Ans. You can try all the methods given above to get a darker stain of design for Mehendi.
Q3. Can mehendi cause any skin irritations?
Ans. No, generally Mehendi doesn’t cause any such irritations. But if you are experiencing any problem after the application of mehendi, you can wash your hands in cold water.