Mehndi, also known as Henna, is an ancient form of temporary art that is applied on women’s hands and feet for special events. A mehndi ritual is a basic part of every wedding. Those elegant designs on the hands and feet of brides and bride’s mates make them look gorgeous.
These mehndi designs are not only temporary tattoos; they reflect cultural creativity, allowing us to create designs on hands and feet and dying hair and nails. So, buckle up! This comprehensive guide will explore the diverse world of henna designs, their types, and the importance of henna in Asian weddings.
Bridal Mehndi from Historical Aspect
Bridal mehndi, or henna, is an important part of weddings in many cultures, including Hindu and Muslim traditions. It was used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes in the Roman Empire and other parts of the world. It signifies good health, wealth, and marriage blessing. The mehndi ceremony is a pre-wedding celebration where the bride, her friends, and family apply different henna designs on their hands and feet.
Things to Know About Bridal Mehndi
Here are some other things to know about Mehndi:
Henna Paste
The paste is made from the leaves of the henna plant, also known as Lawsonia Inermis. It also symbolises the health and prosperity of the wedding.
Design
Bridal mehendi designs are usually symmetrical and complex and can take a long time to apply. Some specific designs for bridals resemble the beauty of every culture.
Colour
In some cultures, it is believed that the darker the stain of henna designs, the deep is the affection between the couple. These darker stains also give the hands and feet of the bride the fluent and most attractive look.
Duration
It is believed in some cultures that the longer the henna retains its colour, the more optimistic it is. But nowadays, there’s no need to wait to let them dry for longer. The latest mehndi gets dry quickly and leaves darker stains.
Hidden Names
In traditional weddings, the hidden names of the groom are written on bridal hand. Henna design is also a culture that brings affection between the couples.
Types of Henna Designs for Bridals
Mehndi is a temporary skin decoration art made from henna paste. In the West, it’s also known as a henna tattoo. Pakistani mehndi designs blend diverse styles and are often intricate and attractive. They are a significant part of Pakistani weddings, where the bride applies mehndi as an auspicious tradition. Some of the most popular bridal henna designs are here:
Traditional Designs
A traditional mehndi design blends cultural timeless elegance and love into temporary body art. This type of henna design is most popular among brides due to its diversity and unique blend of tradition, the art of flowers, and the smooth creativity of petals and leaves, making it an ideal choice for every Asian bride. These designs include:
- Intricate Floral motifs
- Fine line work
- Peacocks Patterns
Arabic Influence
Arabic mehndi designs are known for their simplicity, elegance, and intricate patterns that capture the essence of Arab culture. Here are some characteristics of Arabic mehndi designs:
- Geometric Shapes: Geometric shapes are often used as an accent in the pattern.
- Floral Patterns: Arabic mehndi designs often feature elaborate floral patterns.
- Paisleys: Arabic mehndi designs often feature paisleys.
- Scattered Patterns: Arabic mehndi designs often include scattered patterns that make the designs seem more spaced out.
Minimalist Chic
These are the simple, less intricate designs of henna featuring delicate minimalistic features, delicate lines, and floral motifs. Compared to other traditional designs, these designs cover less skin, offering a subtle and elegant look to highlight natural beauty without devastating the hands and feet of brides. These designs include:
- Simple Mehndi Design for Fingers
- Simple Mehndi Design in Vine Style
- Simple Lacy Renditions of Tikki-Style
- Mehndi Design in Dots and Flowers
- Mehndi Design Resembling Connecting Chain Rings
- Simple, Thick, & Traditional Mehndi Design
Fusion of Styles
This type of mehndi design is a form of body art that often blends different styles and incorporates contemporary elements:
- Mandalas: A pattern representing wholeness and a connection between a person and the universe.
- Floral Designs: A floral pattern of henna that adds different flowers. The artistry of a unique blend of flower petals and classic leaf styles aesthetically creates striking henna designs that can make a bridal’s hands pretty and attractive.
- Shaded Designs: Each flower pattern is shaded inside in these designs, and the pattern fingers remain simple. The flower designs are drawn on the palm with many gaps.
Peacock Motifs
Henna designs that symbolise beauty, grace and pride and also represent the inner strength and empowerment of the culture. This design features vibrant colours and intricate detailing of the culture of a wedding.
Glitter & Stones
Glitter and stones are often added to mehndi or henna designs to accentuate different parts of the design or make it sparkly. You can add glitter glue or crystals to mehndi designs to create a more dazzling look. You can make glitter glue at home by mixing cosmetic-grade glitter with hair gel or a clear-drying glue.
Here are some tips for adding glitter and stones to Mehndi’s designs:
- Use a few accents to draw attention to specific parts of the design.
- Match the colour of the crystals to the glitter glue.
- Let the design dry for about ten minutes before showing it off.
Mehndi on Feet
Mehndi is not specific for brides’ hands. They also love to apply it on their feet with the beautiful art of henna designs to enhance their beauty effectively. There are multiple designs and styles of feet mehndi, which include:
- Cuffs
- Delicate Chains
- Intricate toe patterns
- Aesthetics round tikki
Personalised Elements
Incorporating personal elements such as the groom’s name, significant symbols or couple’s initials also lead to different attractive mehndi designs. In recent trends, adding brides’ and grooms’ pictures in designs has also become popular to add a beautiful personalised touch to the bride’s mehndi designs.