Each time I get a henna tattoo, which is on special occasions in my life, many ask if it is permanent, others wonder if I have recently travelled to Morocco and many other want to get a henna tattoo or learn how to create one. I really believe that using our skin to express creativity is a form of art. Our bodies become like a canvas for creative self-expression and individualism when decorated with tattoos, piercings and jewels. I have always been fascinated by tattoos and, although I don’t wear any, I love getting my hands temporarily tattooed with henna.
But what is henna? Henna is a powder of dried Lawsonia Inermes leaves.
The dried leaves powder is mixed with water and other ingredients and is used to dye both hair and skin. It is an all-natural product and is also considered as a medicinal herb for therapeutic uses. The origins of the use of henna are difficult to trace back, but it has been used in many cultures for centuries. Nowadays, doing Henna is part of rituals across several cultures, like in African or Hindu traditional ceremonies. I first got a henna tattoo eight years ago, when I was in India to celebrate the beginning of a new year.
I feel a deep connection with the Indian culture, its rituals and the sacred ceremonies. To me, getting a henna tattoo is a way to connect with the sacred and celebrate important moments in my life, leaving a temporary mark that allows us to create it over and over.
