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.