A New Era Of Mehndi

Apr 19, 2011 by Magic Of Mehndi    No Comments    Posted under: Guest Authors, Mehndi & 21st Century

Guest Author: Parveen Khwaja

Mehndi has broken free of the traditional wedding, Teej or Karva Chauth days and is being applied for a Valentine’s Day bash, a formal party or even an evening at a disco. In its new avatar, mehndi has been elevated to the status of body art and a fashion accessory for the fashion-conscious youngsters

In recent popular culture, mehndi has enjoyed a renewal. Western musicians and Hollywood personalities have adopted  mehndi as a temporary, pain-free body ornamentation alternative to tattooing, which is now the hottest new trend among women and men. As the trend grows in popularity, so grows the list of personalities that have been seen sporting mehndi patterns. Actress Demi Moore was among the first celebrities to be seen wearing mehndi. From Madonna and Naomi Campbell to Drew Barrymore the list of famous names smitten with mehndi magic is ever increasing.

The art of decorating hands and feet with henna has been in vogue for the past 5,000 years and even though the designs fade the art has withstood the impact of change.

Now it is not just hands and feet that are adorned, but also arms , neck, back and navel.

Also in vogue is shaded mehndi which plays with contrasts of black, red and maroon. This has not only caught the fancy of several brides who prefer it for the D-day, but is also a favourite with party lovers. The black coloured outlining is done with a chemical dye and later on the design is filled up with regular henna. Addition of clove oil to the dark shade reduces the chance of allergy to a great extent in this form.

Glitter mehndi is another variation quite popular with young generation these days. In this, the traditional designs are highlighted with the use of gold, silver or copper coloured glitters which give a shimmering effect. This goes very well with formal dresses.

Tiny crystal granules are also used to embellish henna designs giving a rich effect.

Mehndi tattoos are infact quite popular among college-going girls. Sanjana, a first year student at a local college, and her friends had mehndi tattoos on back and arms for a hostel party. These are trendy and something different, says Sanjana and adds that these go well with western outfits. Sneha, however prefers to experiment with new styles for that different look.‘‘At a wedding I would like to wear a different style design from the bride’’,she says. Earlier there were no options but things have changed in the past 2-3 years!

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