Beauty Lines: Eid's A Time For Henna

Henna, the signature body decoration of ancient Middle Eastern and Asian fashion, is crossing over to the West right here in Dubai.

Its popularity is growing as westerners are using it as an alternative to permanent tattoos.

As Dubai is filling with henna tents, and salons tool up for the latest designs for Eid, many find henna hard to resist.

Fathiya Ahmad, manager of the Henna for Heritage shop, which has 38 branches across the UAE, said they are preparing for a busy weekend.

"Eid has always been our busiest time. We now get people from all nationalities. It's amazing to see how it has caught on and become an international practice everyone enjoys," said Fathiya. "We also get children, young adults and elders."

Prices for henna range from Dh60 to Dh300, depending on design intricacy.

Most salons and tents take walk-in customers. However, as Eid draws near, it is best to book an appointment. Henna tents are also scattered in malls across the Emirates.

Tracy, 27, an American mother of two who lives in Dubai, said: "It looks great and makes me feel good. I don't really worry about the hazards, because I do henna only occasionally. But around Eid, there are so many henna tents around, it's really tempting and I make sure it's natural."

Claire, 20, a British tourist, said: "Henna is very pretty, I love the designs and they do it so well here."

Sandra, 21, a French cabin crew, said she gets henna done on every visit to Dubai.

"The prices are reasonable and it's a beautiful art, I just wish it would stay on longer."

Now, henna is not just limited to women.

Celebrities, said Fathiya, have also boosted henna's popularity – famous figures like Madonna, Sting, Gwen Stefani, Liv Tyler, P!NK and even Elijah Wood sported henna designs on various parts of their bodies.

In Australia, demand for henna art has spawned henna studios such as Henna Magic in Perth and Henna Moon in Fremantle.

"Men are also using henna instead of tattoos, as it's less painful than the tattoo and not as permanent. We have many designs catering especially for men" said Fathiya.

Joseph, 22, who owns a business in Dubai, said: "I like getting black henna done across my arm instead of a tattoo.

"There are some really nice designs, it goes away real quick and you can just change the shape every time. Getting a tattoo doesn't give you that option."

Traditionally, henna was used to give hair strength, shine and a reddish sheen.

It also cures itchy and irritated skin. When put on the skin it should stain to a rust-brown or red-brown.

Tracing Its Roots

Henna is the Arabic name of a 10-foot tall bush named Lawsonia inermis, and has been used in the Middle East, India and North Africa for 9,000 years.

Other names include henne, mehndi, Al Khanna, Al Henna, Jamaica Mignonette, Egyptian Privet and Smooth Lawsoniea. It is mostly found in hot climates. The leaves are picked, dried and crushed into powder and then made into a paste.

Each part of the world has a specific design and belief about henna. In the Middle East and Asia it is generally brides who are painted. In Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Turkey, henna also symbolises good luck. In Morocco, secret designs are passed through generations and painted on the ankles to protect women during pregnancy and birth.