"White Henna": An Unique Alternative to Traditional Mehndi

Acrylic adhesive piped onto the skin. By Amy Miller for Blue Lotus Mehndi.

Perhaps the hottest trend to come along in temporary body art, "white henna" has everyone talking!

White henna is undoubtedly beautiful, looks amazing on most skin tones, and is a unique alternative to traditional henna. It's removable (no stain that must fade away), and would complement Western-style white bridal attire.

But what exactly is "white henna"? First, let's talk about what it is not.

"White Henna" vs. True Henna

Real henna—first and foremost— is a plant: lawsonia inermis. The leaf of the henna plant contains a natural red dye that stains hair, fingernails and skin. Henna also refers to the paste made from powdered henna leaf used to stain (dye) the body.

So ... "white henna" is not true henna in the sense that henna comes in only one color: red.

However, "henna" also can refer to the art of applying henna, including traditional design motifs: paisleys, flowers, swirls, vines, etc. So, it is correct to say that you can do henna-like designs in any color.

By the way ... no such thing as a white "stain." You make things white by removing color, not adding it. In other words, bleaching. DO NOT BLEACH YOUR SKIN. There are better, safer ways to get white designs. Read on!

"White henna" on fingers (done with
acrylic adhesive) compared with
natural red henna on palm.

Ways to Do White Henna-style Art Safely

• Cosmetic or prosthetic adhesive: These adhesives can be piped onto the skin and will stick for up to a week. The design looks 3D, like puff-paint. It can be peeled or scrubbed off.
• Adhesive plus cosmetic glitter or powder for extra shine or sparkle. Looks spectacular!
• Water-based gel: This has a consistency like aloe vera. Pipes on easily and will wash off with water. Great for children.
• Theatrical or airbrush tattoo paint: Available in matte and pearlescent formulas. Can last up to a week with proper care.
• Cosmetics: For delicate areas, such as around the eyes, a white eyeliner pencil can do the trick.
• Foil transfer tattoos: My favorite is the Zardozi collection by Henna Guru, available in white/gold and white/silver.

What Should NEVER Be Used on the Skin

• Bleach of any variety, including laundry bleach and so-called "skin bleach." That stuff is awful. Google it.
• Acrylic paint, tempera paint or any other paint designed for home decor or crafts.
• Nail polish.
• Any other product not approved for human skin.

What do you say? If you're having a traditional white wedding, would you go for white henna?

This blog post adapted from "'White henna': What is it?" published on the Blue Lotus Mehndi website.

Six Reasons to Get Wedding Henna (Even If You're Not Indian)

Model: Hannah Alibrahim

Henna—or mehndi—is the art of applying a paste made from the powdered leaf of the henna plant to create a temporary design on the skin.

With its origins deep in ancient Egypt, Sumeria and other cultures in that region, henna evolved and developed over the years. It's now a staple of celebrations ... especially weddings! ... in Southeast Asia, Northern Africa and the Middle East.

But you don't have to necessarily be from these cultures to enjoy it.

Henna is becoming extremely popular among brides who are Indiaphiles or otherwise enamored of the cultures that developed mehndi traditions.

Others are looking for a touch of something special to complement both traditional Western and non-traditional wedding styles.

Regardless, henna is FUN and beautiful and relaxing and ... well ... here's why you should consider some wedding henna for yourself:

If you really want to go nuts,
try "ghost henna": invisible in
regular light, glows bright white
under UV/blacklight.

1. It's a part of your wedding attire that will last through the honeymoon. Everything else you wear on your wedding day (except your ring!) winds up in the closet. Henna stays on the skin for up to two weeks, gradually fading as new skin cells replace the stained ones. If hennaed hands or feet aren't your style, think about getting henna on your thigh (in place of a garter!) or on your back. 
2. A henna session is a prime opportunity to deeply relax. Mehndi is best applied two to three days before your wedding. Some cultures incorporate henna application into a pre-wedding party, but you can treat your henna session like a spa appointment. I always tell my brides to do whatever they want to while I apply the mehndi: watch a movie, listen to music, read, chat with close friends ... whatever! As long as you sit still.
3. Henna is aromatherapy. Most artists use essential oils in henna paste to deepen the stain. One of my favorites is lavender—renowned for its ability to create a relaxed, calm state. Another fave is frankincense, which has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety. If you have a favorite fragrance, ask your henna artist if it's safe to include it in the paste.
4. Henna protects your skin. Heading to the tropics for your honeymoon? Believe it or not, a henna stain is a 100-percent sunblock.
5. Henna keeps you cool—literally. Henna paste pulls heat out of the body, so if your summer wedding is proving too hot to handle, a mehndi application could figuratively and literally give you back your cool.
6. You can match your "henna" to your outfit. Technically, true henna (made from the actual henna plant) comes in only one color: red/brown. However, artists are using a variety of cosmetic body paints, powders and glitters to create henna-like designs in any color you can imagine—including white. 

Cessie and Rohan: One Day, Two Celebrations

Photo courtesy Sweet Julep Photograhpy

During my henna career, I've noticed a distinct trend: Many people from cultures with a mehndi tradition are marrying outside of their cultures, which creates unique opportunities to blend traditions, ceremonies and celebrations!

The May wedding of Cessie and Rohan was no exception.

Cessie, of Filipino descent adopted into a Caucasian family, celebrated her May nuptials to Rohan, whose family is from a district of southern India called Coorg. One distinct aspect of Coorgy culture is the unique way women wrap their saris. (Check the ladies out below!)

Cessie's wedding day called for a Catholic ceremony in the evening preceded by a Hindu ceremony in the morning, so full-tilt bridal mehndi was a must! Cessie wanted fairly traditional designs on hands and feet, so I recruited my friend and fellow artist, Adrianne Hogan of Birmingham Henna, to assist.

One side of one hand done!

With the two of us working together, the entire process took about four hours. Cessie was a true sport. We whiled away the time chatting about her life and the unique love story of her and Rohan. The two met at Grissom High School in Huntsville, Alabama. But the romance didn't ignite until eight years later when both were in East Africa: Cessie in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Rohan in Lusaka, Zambia.

Then eventually met up in Dar es Salaam and, well, the two Huntsville natives began their romance on the other side of the world.

I'd like to thank Sweet Julep Photography for sharing the wedding day photographs! Scroll down to view.

Adrianne hard at work on Cessie's foot

Hands and tops of feet done. Yay!

These two are destined to have gorgeous children. Am I right?

Cessie looks radiant in a hot pink sari with gold jewelry.