Our Henna is Better Than Body Art Quality (BTBAQ)
Henna, or Lawsonia Inermis, is a tall shrub (or a small tree), growing 2 - 6 meters high in its natural form. Part of the Lythraceae family, it is found mostly in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia, northern Africa, and even America. The plant carries small, fragrant white and red flowers.
The henna or mehndi plant contains a burgundy dye molecule - Lawsone (hence the name Lawsonia) - concentrated in the leaves. This molecule easily bonds with protein, and has been used to dye hair, skin, finger-nails and more.
Henna has a multitude of uses and applications, although most of these are not well known in the West. However, the knowledge has been spreading along with the emigration of people from areas where the Lawsonia Inermis naturally abounds.
The most well known application of henna is mehndi, also known as mehendi, and mehandi. It is a form of temporary tattoo or body art which originates from the Bronze Age. Its application is painless, and the resulting artwork stays visible for anything from a few days to a month - depending on the strength of the application, and the time it was left on the skin. Recent improvements in the cultivation and processing methods of the henna plants and leaves (and of course the emigration factor) have led to a surge in its popularity.
The henna leafes have also been used successfully to treat a number of ailments. It has been used to coagulate blood in open wounds, treat headaches, and more. The sedative qualities of Lawsonia inermis have also made it a popular for of treatment for burns and eczema. Additionally, it is used as a treatment for nail fungus.
Other uses of henna include being used to dye and preserve cloth, as well as to dye hair and leather. The flowers of the Lawsonia Inermis are used to make perfume. It is even used to repel insects.
Products sold as "black henna", or "neutral henna", are actually not really Henna products at all. What is sold as "black Henna" is actually partly fermented, dried indigo or has PPD added to it - used in conjunction with real Henna to dye hair. The "black" variety, although quite popular among tourists to the Middle East, can actually cause harm to your skin if you have an allergic reaction. If applied to the skin for too long, it causes blistering - but only after 3 to 12 days afterwards and scars can be permanent.
Neutral henna is not really henna either - it is actually a herb called Cassia Obovata - also used to dye hair. However, it has no relation to Lawsonia inermis - barring the misleading name.
The Lawsonia, or mehndi plant has thus been the source of much joy (tattoos and body art), pain relief (medicinal uses), and practical uses (used to dye hair, leather and cloth, as well as repel insects) for the people from the regions where it is grown in abundance. The henna plant thus provides (by itself) alternatives to a number of other products and applications.