[Update appears at end of op] Henna, or Mehndi, has become a popular alternative to the more common form of tattooing, thanks to big names such as Madonna having designs applied for videos and public appearances, but not many people know just where to buy it or how to use it. I was introduced to henna a few years ago by a friend, and I've been doing my own designs ever since, and decorating people when I've had the chance. I'm not claiming to be an expert by any means, but the following, I suppose, is a guide to what I believe is everything the beginner needs to know before starting to apply their own designs. What is henna? ...  Read the complete review

I’ve always wanted a tattoo, partly because it would drive my Mum insane, but mostly because I think they can look pretty cool. Ever since my elder sister got a gorgeous blue dolphin tattooed onto her stomach, I’ve been riddled with envy and desperate for one of my own. However, as I am only sixteen, I’m going to have to wait a few years before a decent tattoo artist will touch me with a needle. Still, it’s not the end of the world. Until I am old enough to get a real tattoo, I can have great fun experimenting with Henna. Henna is a traditional herbal cosmetic and has been used by women from South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa ...  Read the complete review

Last summer, my friend and I had another one of our ‘great’ ideas. Her being a fashion/ trend worshiper, this was how the plan went: We’d go for our last minute holiday shop in London, and finish it off with going to Oxford Street’s famous Selfridges, where we’d heard that they did ‘really good’ henna tattoos. So, all set with our shopping lists (that’s not really, true, I don’t do shopping lists, I can’t cope with lists…too organised for my liking, but it sounds good) we caught the train to Oxford Circus, and let the shopping commence. When everything in sight was bought, we trundled down the ...  Read the complete review

My dissertation for university was actually on henna tattoo's. Here are a few pointers. Henna goes back centuries, however, it is not known for sure where henna originated from. There is evidence which suggests that henna was used in many different parts of the world at different times. Henna was used in Spain, Africa, Asia, The Arab countries. I had to do some intense research to find information on this topic as there was very little available. I found that there were very few books available and therefore I had to make use of the internet greatly. Those of you interested in the history of henna, I would recommend that you ...  Read the complete review

Henna is actually a plant usually found in Africa, southern Asia, and northern Australasia in semi-arid zones. I wouldn't call it tattoo; it's more like a dye. The application is simple; you just add water to the henna powder, make a paste, apply it, wait till it dries up and then wash it off, leaving the pattern. Nowadays, it has turned into a big market, with companies making henna cones, which are ready to use and easy to use for making patterns on hands and feet. Henna can be used on any part of the body as it's totally harmless. Most of the times, it is used on hands and feet. But it rural areas, it is used on hair ...  Read the complete review