How to Apply Henna Mehndi Designs – Step by Step Tutorial

  

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Henna hand designs art lesson

 This Henna Hand Designs Art Lesson shows you how to create a unique and unusual self-portrait of your hands! It's a great art project for kids, because it allows them to learn about:

• other cultures

• the role of pattern in abstract art

• how to create abstract patterns

• how to express themselves in a symbolic way

It's also a fun art project for adults for the exact same reasons!

First I'll give you a bit of background info about henna, and then launch into the art project.

What is henna?

Henna is a plant that has been used as a dye since the Bronze Ages, primarily in the Eastern Mediterranean region encompassing Northern Africa, Italy, Spain, and the Middle East. It was also widely used in India, where it is still a popular form of temporary body art to this day.

How is henna used?

To create a dye for the skin, the henna plant is grounded into a paste with a few other ingredients, which is then applied to the body using a cone-shaped funnel. The henna must stay undisturbed on the skin for several hours to properly stain the skin, and then it is washed off. Henna designs can last for days or months.
In India, henna designs on skin are called mehndi.  

Henna being applied to a tourist in Rishikesh, India. Photo Credit:Israfil Raeen

Why do people decorate their skin with henna?

 In many cultures, women have henna decorations applied to their hands and feet for festivals and celebrations. Before a wedding, a bride will have elaborate henna designs drawn onto her hands, arms and sometimes feet. In some regions, the groom will be decorated as well.

Henna on the hands of a bride. Photo Credit: Israfil Raeen

Henna decorations have also become popular in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, where it takes the form of a "temporary tattoo".

Henna Hand Designs Art Project

In this art project, you'll trace an outline of your hand(s) onto paper and then decorate them with henna designs! This is less messy than trying to apply actual henna on your (or your students') hands, and it allows you to create something that you can keep forever.

How to Apply Henna Mehndi Designs – Step by Step Tutorial-

Henna (mehndi) is basically an herbal dye that is powdered and when applied on skin 

gives cooling effect. Simple mehendi designs are worn by women and young girls during 

auspicious festivals and occasions such as Diwali, Karva Chauth, and so on in the 

Northern states of India. And, those who love elaborate ones, generally prefer wearing 

these for family weddings or as a bridal mehendi for themselves.

What used to seem as a very difficult task, to make the mehndi paste, fill a cone and then
 apply, has become much easy and simple with the ready-made mehndi cones available
in the market these days. Now women enjoy applying mehndi on their own hands and
 others for either festivals, get-together or just has become a part of their hobby.

For those who have always wanted to learn this how to apply mehndi step by step, we have
 some good news for you. After reading this article on how to apply mehndi designs for beginners
, you will look for an empty hand to try and practice this mehndi design.

How to Start?

Always begin with small designs. Simple mehndi designs such as making leaves, veils, flowers
 need to be practiced and mastered before going into the elaborate and beautiful mehndi designs
 including peacocks, dulha – dulhan, lord Ganesh, and so on.

In this post on how to apply henna designs step by step, we will cover the easy yet impressive

 henna design tutorial. Go through the tutorial and get some cues to unleash your creativity.

To learn the step by step mehndi designs, you need:

• Henna mehendi cone
• A printed copy of Henna design
• A clear plastic sheet
• Tissue paper
• Glitter cone (optional)
• A4 sheet or plain piece of paper
• Pencil

Source: Israfil Raeen

Beginners should first go through the simple basic shapes that are used in the simple henna
 designs by following step by step mehendi designs tutorial, like we have just suggested. Once
 they are aware of these basic patterns, they can make use of them in intricate bridal mehndi
 designs and for other functions as well.

Whether it’s a simple curved branch with leaves, bud designs or the gota patterns, you should
 remember these easy designs. While it takes time to obtain a fair hand in intricate designs, you
 can always start with the simple henna or mehndi patterns and with practice later on you can go
 for intricate Arabic henna designs.

Source:Israfil Raeen

In order to start with any kind of mehndi design, you have to learn the art of drawing leaves and
 vines. The below collage of patterns can give you some basic ideas to learn from.

How to draw peacock design using mehndi

After you have practiced the leaf and vine designs, now you should start working on the peacock
 design, which is essential in the art of henna. Follow this peacock henna step by step tutorial to
 learn how to do henna.

Peacocks are one of the most beautiful henna designs which add elegance and charm to the
 body art. Go through these image tutorials to easily learn how to draw the outlines and also
 the elaborate patterns within.

With basic henna designs mentioned earlier in the post, you can fill in the body of the peacock.
 However, always make sure to carefully draw peacock’s eye and beak to create natural effect.
 For fingers, you can either go for checkered designs, floral patterns or simple vines. You can
 make bigger or smaller peacock designs with mehndi. Fill it up according to your wish. You can
 make small flowers or add checks to fill the peacock.

Source:Israfil Raeen

How to apply henna design – step by step tutorial

Some tips to follow:

• In order to check if your skin is allergic to your skin, you can apply a small amount on your
•  hand before starting with the step by step henna design
• If you’ve done waxing on your hands, then wait for a day or two before applying henna. 
• As pores are opened and the chemicals present in henna might enter through open pores
• The color of the henna is different on palm and on skin. While it is darkest on palm,
•  it appears to be lighter on hands. It only get darker after one or two days

Here are some more images of simple henna designs. Use the above mentioned techniques on
 step by step henna application, and keep practising different shapes and sizes of motifs that you
 love.

Hope this post on how to apply henna mehndi designs step by step tutorial helps you in becoming
 a pro! Once you have mastered the designs mentioned in this post, do not forget to read our
article on 20 mehendi designs for beginners. This will be the next big step for you.

Next Article

          

 Easy Henna Mehndi Designs that you can Draw yourself

1.Curvilinear Swirls-

If you wish to move away from the traditional mehndi designs then this pattern will take your heart away. The beautiful curvy swirls helps to give you the unique and classy look which enhances your personality. This is best suited for the younger generation.

2.Speaking Hands-

Our hands speak a lot about us especially when they are clad with henna. This design is good for those who are learning to apply mehndi. It is cool and stylish and works like a tattoo. For those of you who want to sport a tattoo without going through the actual pain of it try this design with the help of henna.

3.Beauty at its best-

Beautiful hands are all that a woman craves for and there is nothing more beautiful than applying henna to your hands. This is another simple and yet elegant mehndi art. The back of your hands will look absolutely gorgeous with some circular and starry shapes.

4.Intricacy Matters-

Intricate works provide a rich and ornamental look and are best suited for brides. It adds to the beauty and is considered difficult but this design is best and simple to draw. Most of the mehndi lovers prefer intricate designs only so try this out.

5.Floral Rangoli-

Rangolis are an integral part of the Indian tradition and using the rangoli designs in mehndi art is an innovative method. Simple patterns like this can be further extended into full fledged designs. Rangoli designs are simple and the must try ones.

6.Leafy lines-

This design is very popular among young girls. The best thing about this design it you can easily create this on your hand or palm. For those of you who love to apply henna but don’t like to wait till it dries, this one’s for you.

7.Zig Zag-

This Zig- zag pattern is totally a new design in the field of mehndi art. It is very stylish and fresh. You can flaunt it on small occasions like ring ceremonies and various festivals. This accentuates the beauty of your hands and requires less effort.

8.Star Attraction-

This is the most basic mehndi design one can draw. We all grew up admiring stars and using it in your mehndi art will lighten and brighten your hands. The design is accompanied by various dots and circles.

9.Flowers in focus-

The floral motif looks amazingly beautiful and the fineness of this pattern is magnificent. This design does not fill your entire hand and leaves gap which looks artistic. This design will surely put your glamour quotient a few notches up.

10.The laced diamond-

Lacework has been an inspiration for all the mehndi artists since a very long time. Lacework can be difficult to copy on hands but this pattern is the easiest and looks mesmerising when drawn on your beautiful hands.

11.An all-time favourite-

This design covers your hand with flowers and various patterns of swirls. The fingers look extremely pretty because of the tiny leaves and the outlining of the nails. This design suits every type of occasion and you will surely impress everyone.

12.Floracacy- Flora+Intricacy-

The flower patterns are very well represented in Mehndi designs. The usage of flowers signifies joy and happiness. This simple design is crafted with the help of circles and semi-circles along with dots. The design is artistic and ethnic.

13.Ornamental-

This design looks more like an ornament than a mehndi pattern. It looks creative and when you don’t want to overload your hands with all the jewelleries this is a perfect option. It looks graceful and is favoured by those who have a traditional outlook.

14.Finger art-

Just like nail art, finger art has also gained popularity in the recent years. Most of the people these days prefer to apply mehndi just on the fingers which adds an element of uniqueness and helps enhancing your hand with your favourite nail color.

15.Lotus Art-

Lotus flower represents grace, sensuality, purity and femininity. They are considered a religious symbol and look very pretty when drawn as mehndi designs on hands. They give a completely new look to your hands.

16.The Handcuffs-

The design drawn in the form of handcuffs provides.