Arabic Henna

Many popular designs of henna can be seen around the world in many different cultures. Though, one of the most popular types of henna is the Arabic henna design. As henna is basically started in Arabic and Indian cultures, Arabic henna design is most probably one of the most extensively used henna body art in the Middle Eastern Countries of India, Egypt including Morocco and several other places in the Middle East.

Arabic henna designs are generally large floral patterns which are painted all over the body.

There are lots of reasons why these cultures make use of Arabic henna designs, but the most important reason consist of painting Arabic henna design on their bodies because of ceremonial or religious practices. Also, in some types of the Arabic henna design, like in Egyptian societies, henna was painted on the feet and hands of a dead Pharaoh before the Pharaoh was actually mummified.

But in more popular types of Arabic henna design that later came to be, henna was related to decorating the body, as in the bridal henna paintings that were used frequently.

In US, however, Arabic henna designs have been twisted and changed to fulfill the needs of the US culture. Though the practice of the Arabic henna designs had been deeply rooted in Indian and Arabic societies for many sentimental and important reasons, the United States has secularized and popularized the henna body art so much that most of the meaning related to henna in US has now been faded.

Also in US, the Arabic henna designs have been altered so that they no longer look like the flowing and original patterns that the Arabic cultures often patterned on themselves. Instead, Arabic designs in US now resemble face paintings or simple tattoos that one can get it easily anywhere from a carnival, tattoo shop or even amusement park.

However, henna designs are not tattoos because they are not painful and do not go deep into the skin, whereas actual tattoos do. But Arabic henna designs are popular in US for many different reasons.

First, they can be removed easily, whereas actual tattoos are not easily removable. Second, Arabic henna made for body art provide a clean, good alternative for younger children and teenagers who wish to get a tattoo but without the permission of the parents, or simply to test out how well they think that they would wish to get a tattoo on their body.

While thinking about the Arabic henna designs that have been a tradition in Egypt, India and other Middle Eastern cultures since long, one should certainly take into account the beautiful and intricate designs and patterns that were included along with the body painting.

Due to this reason the Arabic henna design will never go out of fashion but will provide an alternative to the secularized form of Arabic henna design in the US nowadays.