Types of Mehndi : Designs from Different Regions

                                     

             Types of Mehndi : Designs from Different Regions

According to different cultural background mehndi (henna) can be divided into several types. Most famous types of mehndi designs are Arabic, Indian, Pakistani and African. Designs from these diverse regions can easily be differentiated. Here are their individual features that will help you in identifying the type of design.

Indian Mehndi Designs

Indian mehndi are the most popular designs are very diverse. They range from simple designs to complex. Simple designs have a big dot or a figure in back of hand (dorsal) or in the center of palm. Finger tips are also covered by henna. This design is very easy and can easily be mastered by armatures. After some practice this design won’t take you more than a couple of minutes. Below images have been taken from Paheli (Left)and  Devdas (Right) showing Rani Mukherjee and Aishwarya Rai wearing this simple Indian mehndi design.

Moving towards complex mehndi patterns we see highly detailed and fine designs. Such designs are sketched on important occasions like wedding, nikka etc. Such designs are hard to master and they can take hours just to finish one hands design. Mostly such mehndi designs are worn by Indian brides.

Arabic Mehndi Designs

Compared with the complex Indian mehndi designs, Arabic designs are much simpler. Arabic designs mostly consist of leaves, veins, flowers etc. These designs are perfect candidate if you want to extend the design from hand to arm or from foot to leg

Another distinguishing feature of Arabic designs is that the shapes are not filled, they are just outlines. These designs also partially cover your hands or feet. These designs consume less amount of mehndi and are easily dried which means that you don’t have to wait!

African Mehndi Designs

just like the Arabic counterparts these mehndi designs are also not filled. These designs are simple geometric shapes, consisting on lines, squares and dots.  The space between the lines is not as much as that of Arabic designs. These designs cover your hands, arms like a fine mesh.

Pakistani Mehndi Designs

Pakistani mehndi designs are a merger of complex versions of Arabic and Indian mehndi designs. These designs are also much detailed and are worn by brides on mehndi, wedding. Even children wear simple version of these mehndi designs on Eid festival.

Making Your Own Henna Cones

Applying mehndi or henna on different occasions like weddings and eid celebration is a part of South Asian culture. There are several methods of applying henna. Some people use pointed things and apply henna by dipping it in the paste. Some people use henna tubes but the most popular and best method of applying mehndi is by using henna cones. Henna cones are easier and convenient to use and they are also less messy so they are preferred most of the times.

Henna/Mehndi cones are easily available in the market but it’s less expensive and a lot easier to make them at home.

One can easily make henna cones by using a cello sheet (it should be thick so it retains its shape after you put henna paste in it), a plum bob a spoon (or something with the help of which you can easily pour mehndi into the cone); scotch tape and a pair of scissors.

Cut the cello sheet in rectangular shape. Start folding it in the shape of cone from one corner. Slowly fold it in the shape of a cone, leaving one side open and other completely closed (a funnel shape). Another easy way of making a funnel shape is to place a plum bob on the cello sheet. Roll the paper over it in a round shape and a conic shape with a perfect tip will be ready within seconds. Put a piece of scotch tape so it won’t move, or slip from its place.

Once you have made the cone, now you can start pouring henna into it with spoon or anything that you are using.

Now gradually fold the cone toward its closed end. When you reach the point where the henna paste starts, put a small piece of scotch tape on it so it will permanently stay there and will not move.

This is your required henna cone. You have to cut the end before using it so you can apply it or you can also pierce a hole by using a pin or needle. Your henna cone is now ready. It won’t take much time and is very economical!