Never mind that mehndi art (or henna painting) has been part of rituals in India, Africa and the Middle East for thousands of years. It's been a fashion trend across the United States the past year.
So it is no surprise to find kits (available at some beauty supply stores) and how-to books such as Mehndi: The Art of Henna Body Painting (Three Rivers Press, $11) by Carine Fabius.
A native of Haiti, Fabius is a co-owner with her husband of a Los Angeles art gallery and mehndi studio. She received so many requests for information, she writes, she was driven to produce the book that offers a history of the art and facts such as: In India, widows are forbidden from wearing henna because they are never supposed to have fun again.
Henna, which grows on bush or shrub with bright green leaves, is seen in some cultures as a lucky charm, with the power to protect and ward off evil spirits. Fabius says it's magical. The high interest now comes at a time when tattooing and body piercing among the cutting edgers are getting, well, old. And in the fashion arena, austere minimalism is being nudged aside by more elaborate, decorative embellishment.
Fabius provides a recipe for the paste using powdered and sifted henna, black tea and eucalyptus oil. Once the design is applied and dried, the paste should be left on 12 to 20 hours during which time you apply powdered sugar and lemon and stay warm in the sun or by drinking hot tea. She also adds illustrations to consider.
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