Mehndi

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Mehndi (or mehendi or mehandi or mylanji) is the application of henna (Hindustani: हेना حنا) as a temporary form of skin decoration, most popular in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa as well as expatriate communities from these areas. It is typically employed for special occasions, particularly weddings. It is usually drawn on the hands and feet, where the designs will last the longest due to the fact that it only penetrates the dead cells of the stratum corneum.

Henna paste is usually applied to the skin using a plastic cone or a paint brush, but sometimes a small metal-tipped jacquard bottle used for silk painting (a jac bottle) is used. The affected area is then wrapped with tissue, plastic, or medical tape to lock in body heat, creating a more intense colour on the skin. The wrap is worn overnight and then removed. The final colour is reddish brown and can last anywhere from two weeks to several months depending on the quality of the paste.

The patterns of mehndi are typically quite intricate, and predominantly applied to brides before wedding ceremonies. However, traditions in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sudan sometimes expect bridegrooms to be painted as well. In Rajasthan (northwest India), where mehndi is a very ancient folkart, the grooms are given designs which are often as elaborate as those for brides.In Kerala (South India), Henna is known as Mylanchi and is commonly used by the Mappila (Muslim) community during weddings and festivals. In other countries, such as Morocco, it is done for any special occasion. It is done during the 7th month of pregnancy, after having the baby, weddings, engagements, family get-togethers, as well as many other reasons to simply celebrate an event.

Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, where they are sometimes called "henna tattoos". This term isn't accurate, because tattoos are defined as permanent surgical insertion of pigments underneath the skin, as opposed to pigments resting on the surface.