“So is this design offensive?” My friend texts me along with a picture of a Mehndi (henna paste) design.
“Yes. You as an American will be praised for wearing this design, but when someone from a culture that embraces henna wears it, they’ll be ridiculed.”
Of course, this isn’t the only reason why someone of a culture that doesn’t embrace henna shouldn’t wear it. I’m sure as you scrolled through tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, Weheartit and more, you came across pictures of girls and celebrities such as Selena Gomez and Kendall Jenner wearing beautiful “henna tattoos”.
Before deciding to copy them, have you ever stopped and thought to yourself what is henna? Who actually owns it? Why do people wear it? How do the designs differ?
Let me help you with that.
What is henna?
Henna is a plant that grows in a lot of places in Africa and Asia. Henna is a beneficial substance as it helps with reducing fever and headaches, healing wounds, detoxifying the body, strengthening the nails and more. Henna can also be applied to the hair as a nutritious substance or, more famously, to the skin as decorative designs. In a lot of cultures, it is used by men and women. However, henna is generally more utilised among women.
Who actually owns it?
The art form of henna decorating has been practiced in Northern Africa, the Middle East, Southern Asia, and parts of Europe. It is not limited to one religion as it is used by Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Pagans, and others. However, the designs vary from region to region. Therefore, if you belong to any of these regions mentioned and you wear it, you are not appropriating.
Why do they wear it?
Applying henna skin designs, more widely known as Mehndi, is a highly cultural and even religious practice in several regions in the world, as mentioned above. They are most commonly put during celebrations such as engagements, weddings, national days and the Muslim holidays Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha. Also, different designs allude to different things such as good health, fertility, wisdom, protection and spiritual enlightenment. This is why it is highly offensive when someone outside the culture of henna wears it. By doing this, you are reducing of the meaning of henna. The meanings that people hold dear to their hearts and embrace fully.
How do the designs differ?
Arabic henna designs are abstract and less dense with designs featuring graceful, usually large, floral and vine patterns on the hands and feet. Indian mehndi involves fine, thin lines for lacy, floral, paisley patterns with lines and dots; dense patterns covering entire hands, forearms, feet and shins. African henna patterns, usually simple, bold, large geometric shapes and designs with abstract symbols (this information can be found here). Also, different religions get the temporary henna tattoos of religious symbols such as the Hamsa hand to repel envy, or religious texts (borrowed from holy books such as the Quran, Bible or Torah).
Now this should cover all the basics about henna and give you enough guidance as to why wearing henna skin desgins if you do not belong to one of its cultures is a highly appropriative act. Remember to appreciate and not appropriate!
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