The Art Of Body Painting, Henna Design.

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Can an ancient tradition become a fashion trend? 

The art of body painting with henna has been used in Oman for centuries.

Henna designs vary across regions of Oman  although the general tendency is to paint the entire bottom of the foot and the palm of the hands. As an example, in Musandam, the palm of the hand is not decorated, but a circle in the middle of it is drawn instead.

Do you know how Henna is actually made? Henna is made out from the dye prepared from a plant called “Lawsonia inermis” that can be commonly found in Asia or Africa. In its natural state it is a reddish brown but if you see orange Henna this is how it looks on white skin.

It is commonly used by children and women for weddings or holidays such as the Eids but for children it is a case of balling their fists with a handful of henna mix, and then tying their fists closed with cloth. Nowadays, women wear it on a daily basis reapplying it as soon as if fades. Old women usually colour their nails and their fingertips and for babies it is done by decorating their soles and palms, or even the full body, as a blessing and for protection.

Henna designs can be used to display hidden messages or meanings. Among the most commonly used designs are birds and parrots representing messengers of love, flowers which are said to mean joy and happiness or butterflies and dragonflies symbolising change or rebirthing.

Why not try it when you next visit Oman?