Mehndi or Henna designs have been a part of Indian and Arabic cultures since time immemorial. Henna leaf paste is used to draw beautiful and intricate designs on the bodies of women, sometimes men. It is an essential part of wedding rituals. Often the groom’s name or initials are drawn, cleverly hidden within the pattern. Mehndi is a symbol of good energy, luck and sensuality.

In India, it is commonly believed that the Mehndi shadow on the bride’s palm is a reflection of her husband’s love for her. The darker the shade of Mehndi, the more she will love her husband for her. As a result, there is a demand for darker shades of Mehndi. This has led to the use of artificial colors and pigments. These pigments often contain chemicals that can be harmful to the skin. It can cause severe allergies and blisters. Therefore, one should avoid buying ready-made cones, as they often contain chemicals. It is best to prepare the Henna paste at home.

There are several natural methods to get a darker color from Mehndi.

1) Apply lemon and sugar syrup on the freshly dried Mehndi

A syrup made from sugar and lemon does not directly help to increase the color of the Mehndi, but it helps to keep the Mehndi on the skin for a longer time. It keeps the henna paste moist and prevents it from cracking. Therefore, it stays longer on the skin and the possibility of obtaining a darker color is greater. Generally Indian women apply Mehndi at night and let it work its magic overnight. This gives you a richer, darker color when you remove it the next morning.

2) Scrape to remove

After keeping the Mehndi for at least 12 hours, it is advisable to scrape it off with a spoon or blunt spatula. It will get dark in the next few hours. Rub both hands together for faster removal. Any contact with water will lighten the color and therefore it is better not to wash the Mehndi. Less contact with water ensures not only a darker shade but also a longer lasting Mehndi.

3) Apply bread salves

At bedtime, applying pain balms like Vicks, Amrutanjan balm, etc., helps to darken the color overnight. Balm can also be applied before applying the Mehndi for better result.

4) Warm hands up:

The warmer body temperature gives a richer color to the Mehendi. One can rub one’s hands together or warm them over the fire or gas stove. You can also heat a pan and put some cloves or granulated clove powder and take the steam in your hands.

5) Lastly, apply shea butter oils or paste.

After removing the Mehndi paste, apply oil. It can be a hair oil, a body oil, or even a cooking oil. This will lead to oxidation and give a dark color. At first it would be orange, gradually becoming maroon and finally maroon brown and even dark brown-black, which is the desirable color.

Note: Applying soaps and shampoos after the Mehndi reduces the chances of getting a darker color. Therefore, brides are advised not to wet their hands unnecessarily or use surfactants after applying the Henna paste, so that they can get a better shade of Mehndi.

Ready-made Mehndi cones promise a good dark color, but at the cost of safety. These often contain chemicals unsuitable for application to human skin. Great care should also be taken while buying Mehndi powder. Read the label carefully to check the list of ingredients contained in the container.

There are a number of healing and therapeutic benefits of henna. It has antiseptic and refreshing properties. It relieves stress and calms the mind, hence its widespread use at weddings. Due to its antiseptic property, it is believed that it protects the couple from viral diseases. Henna is also extremely useful in aromatherapy. Improves blood circulation and soothes. It also aids in healing minor accidental cuts or burns that may occur during wedding rituals. So now go ahead and select some nice bridal mehndi designs for the bride and beautiful mehndi designs for your friends and enjoy the wedding.