The Henna Tradition
The Henna Tradition
Before Cleopatra, henna was already world famous as a plant the
substances of which can be used to color, condition and protect the
hair, skin and nails. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics depict queens with
painted nails and skin. The early peoples of the Middle East believed that
henna represented the fire and blood of the earth. North African brides-
to-be had their traditional henna ritual.
There are three species of the henna plant, each of which represent a
color: red, neutral and black. The plant is an ornamental shrub, about six
feet in height. It is indigenous to Arabia, Persia, India, Egypt and
Australia. It is also cultivated throughout North Africa, Pakistan and
China.
The henna plant produces a small, fragrant flower which varies in color
from white to red. To harness the plant's dyes and other substances, it
needs to be harvested before the plant blooms. The leaves are gathered,
the veins removed, and the remaining material pulverized into a very fine
greenish powder. The main extracts are fats, resin, oils, natural
pigments, and hennatannic acid.
Believe it or not, the early discovery of henna had to do with the need
for air-conditioning in the desert. Prior to beauty, the henna shrub was
known for its ability to cool down the human body!