-
3400 BCE
Oldest record of Mehendi/Henna
The oldest proof found of henna was within mummified bodies in Egypt. These bodies were discovered with their hair dyed with mehendi/henna. -
1200 BCE
Mehendi/henna being used on skin
Most anthropologists argue that the first solid evidence of henna on skin was on the fingertips of Egyptian mummies in about 1200 BCE. -
1100 BCE
Mehendi/Henna arriving to South Asia
The Mughal Empire introduced mendhi to South Asia for the first time. This period showed royalty and the rich using henna to decorate themselves. The patterns were made by artists, not by the person that was getting the henna. Originally, these patterns were small in size and simple in design, usually only one symbol. However, through time the designs became a more complex and it slowly grew into its own art form with large intricate patterns. -
500 BCE
Mehendi / Henna as medicine
Texts have been found that suggest henna was widely used as a medicine throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula by 500 BCE. -
400
Mehendi / Henna as a dessert
The henna plant was commonly used in the deserts of India during this time, as it was found to provide cooling properties which would be applied to the hands and feet in the scorching heat -
750
Using Mehendi/Henna as a cooling property
Mehndi was used as a method to cool down one's body during hot weather. People of the desert would cover their bodies in henna, due to its intense sensation of cooling. This led people to notice how it would stain the skin. This discovery lead to idea of using henna to make semi-permanent designs on the skin -
Mehendi/Henna traditions in Indian weddings
By this time bridal mehendi was becoming very common in Indian weddings. The bride will get her hands and feet covered in long and detailed henna designs. This tradition was performed days sometimes a week prior to the wedding, allowing the henna to darken. The reddish-brown colour of henna symbolizes the prosperity that a new bride is expected to bring to her new family -
Mehendi becoming popular in the west
Popular actress Lucille Ball, known as her character Lucy Ricardo on the popular show “I love Lucy”, brought attention to the use of henna as hair dye. This caused the popularity of the use of henna throughout the ’60s in America. -
Current use of Mehendi
Through the many changes this form art had undergone, mehendi is used in many different ways today. It is most commonly used for brides on their wedding day, but mehendi has been seen more commonly amongst Western society, featured on many celebrities as a form of temporary tattooing, or as a way of naturally dyeing hair. Mehendi/Henna is seen in many different cultures and traditions today.