The word "henna" comes from the Arabic name for the botanical plant Lawsonia inermis. The leaves of Lawsonia contain red-orange pigments called lawsone, that stain the skin. The leaves of this plant are dried, powdered, shifted, and mixed with water and either eucalyptus oil, clove oil or lemon juice depending on each individual artist. This mixture is kept in an air tight container for about 15-20 hours. It is then put in a plastic cone and applied on the body just like the way you would do icing on the cake.
After applying henna be careful while its wet so that it does not smear. Henna paste will start drying in 20-30mins and start flaking off. Remove anything left back after 2-3 hours. DO NOT put water on the henna area for next 24hours. Apply any oil on the henna area. Initially the stain will be light orange, but gradually it gets darker (redish or maroonish brown) over a period of a day. Henna stain lasts anywhere from 1-3 weeks. Do not exfoliate or use bleach and other chemicals on the henna area for the stain to last longer.
The art of henna has been well-known for centuries all around the world. Henna is also called as mehendi, mehandi or mehndi. Henna is known for fertility and henceforth used during marriages and other joyful occasions like