Henna Tattoo Kit, Temporary: K

Safe, natural body paint - lasts 1 to 3 weeks - kit contains Eucayptus Oil, Ground Henna Leaves, Hawaiian Estate Coffee & Tea, Lemon-Sugar Solution, Squeeze Bottle with Precision Metal Tip, and Color Instruction Book with Sample Artwork. For other Henna products, including pure Henna powder, just punch the word 'Henna' into our Search Catalog function. Henna leaves are finely ground and made into a paste with lemon juice. The paste is put on the skin in desired pattern. It is often sealed with a lemon-sugar glaze or a wrap to keep the design intact and deepen the color. This paste is left on the skin for several hours, or overnight if possible. When the paste is removed, the skin is stained with a red-orange pattern. This stain becomes darker over the next few days, and then gradually fades out in one to eight weeks. Henna will stain hair when mixed with shampoo. Referred to as Camphire in the bible, this plant's religious significance is derived from its symbolization of fire and earth. One of the earliest documented uses of henna is found in the archeological evidence of Egyptian tombs in the valley of Nile. Mummies of Egyptian rulers and their families were prepared to enter the next world with henna-tinted fingernails. Hieroglyphics names henna as pouquer. During the reign of Augustus, Emperor of Rome (27 B.C.-A.D. 14), Egypt became an important trade hub for commerce between Rome and India. There are ancient murals in the Ajanta- Ellora caves near Mumabi (old Bombay) dated before A.D. 350 that, remarkably, show a princess of Patliputra reclining under a tree, half asleep, having her hands and feet painted with flowery henna designs. Historians mention that henna may have been brought to India along with Persian horses around A.D 712. What is known is that henna has been cultivated in Rajasthan since around 1476. The use of Mehndi (also called Mehandi) or henna became a significant part of Indian folk art. The orange-red Mehndi color was often painted on new brides. The women were painted with intricate designs on order to distinguish them from unmarried young virgins. Mehndi flourished as decorative art in India. Hindus consider Mehndi as very dear to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and fortune. Henna was introduced to Europe in the 19th century. Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'Since 1890 it has been widely used in Europe for tinting the hair, usually in the form of a shampoo, many shades being obtainable by mixing with the leaves of other plants, such as indigo.' 'As a dye for the skin or nails the powder may be mixed with catechu [betel nut] or lucerne [alfalfa], made into a paste with hot water, and spread on the part to be dyed, being allowed to remain for one night.' 'The Egyptians are said to have prepared both an oil and an ointment from the flowers for making the limbs supple.' Here's one good recipe for henna body art paste, from a good Mehndi learning site: http://www.rupalpinto.com/Mehndi/f