The henna diaries

Things I do to decorate my body: 1. Makeup. 2. A little faux sun, if you will, for my tresses. 3. And oops, a tattoo I got when I was 18—and dumb.

So there you have it. I am lame. When it comes to “body art,” I’m boring and predictable. I’m aware of things like mehndi, or henna tattoos as we Westerners say, but have considered them something to admire from afar. “Admire from afar” really meaning “I’m a white girl, and I’m not sure how legit I’d look.”

What I know about henna is this: a) People get mehndi—mehndi, by the way, is the art, and henna is the dye—for religious festivals and cultural celebrations like weddings. And b) you get henna if you are Madonna circa Ray of Light. So, when someone told me about a flier he saw at Perks Coffee and Tea advertising this mendhi service, I thought I would broaden my cultural horizons a bit. I called the number and kept this running journal about the experience.

I was kind of nervous on my way to this lady’s house, just because all of this is so foreign to me. I must admit that I was expecting an elderly woman in a sari to open the door. And I secretly dreaded it, because I was scared we wouldn’t have anything in common and nothing to talk about, and then it wouldbe awkward and quiet. Worse, I’d be at her house forever due to the intricate nature of the process.

Sheetal Rajah Leverett opened the front door and was definitely not wearing a sari. In fact, Leverett, who is young and charismatic and friendly and beautiful, was kicking it that day in a tank and shorts. She was so nice right off that I felt relaxed.

We sat down to start, and I honestly still didn’t know where on my person this henna was going or how long it would take or anything. Leverett explained.

Turns out this ceremonial art originated in India but is also found in places like Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. It also has a cultural significance in the Muslim community, although, Leverett says her clients are from all different cultures and get inked for a variety of reasons.

For instance, Indian women get the backs of their hands, palms and ankles—sometimes up to their knees—done for their weddings. Ladies, take note: In India, a new bride does not have to do any housework until the henna fades, which is really awesome.

Since I was a newbie, we decided on the back of my hand, but it can go pretty much where the client wants, she says. From her Baton Rouge home, Leverett has done mehndi on faces, arms, shoulders, backs and even bellies.

First she put henna oil on my hands to make the skin better absorb the actual dye. Then she took the henna, which is in a cylindrical plastic container like cake icing, and began. There was no set design, but definitely a set theme—lots of swirls and vine-like lines. It really was beautiful, and I was amazed at how quickly she worked. The henna was thicker than I imagined. I thought it would be kind of inky but it’s more of a paste.

Leverett explained that the paste will get crusty and fall off, and that’s where the ink remains. This, she said, is an overnight process and she instructed me to avoid water. To “set” the henna, she applied a mixture of honey and lemon juice. My design, starting at the tip of my forefinger and climbing over my hand and past my wrist, took 30 minutes to apply, and was so inexpensive it shocked me.

I must say it was a bit annoying while it dried. I was not supposed to put water on the design, and being someone who likes to wash my hands, that was difficult. Then there was the sticky factor. My dogs wanted to lick me to death because of the honey. But I followed Leverett’s guidance and woke up with the most beautiful, dark reddish-brown art on my skin. I mean, really, it was gorgeous, and I felt like I didn’t deserve to have it on my hand.

I lived with this beautiful design for about a week and a half. Depending on the kind of paste used, and how well one takes care of the design, the henna can last up to three weeks. Now, I think mehndi would be great practice for a tattoo, like a test run. If anyone out there is on the fence about tattoo placement or size, try this first.

Will I get mehndi again? I don’t know. I really enjoyed it until I returned to work a few days later. Then it became very clear to me why one would get mehndi for a special occasion, and not to wear it every day. I felt flashy, and after talking with Leverett and learning about the tradition and technique, a little disrespectful, too. Maybe I’d get it again if I wanted to stand out or was going to an earthy music festival, but it doesn’t really gel with my pinstriped business attire.

That said, I’m glad I tried it. It’s one of those things that intimidated me in the past but now, I look at it fondly, and with lots of appreciation for the craft and the people who wear it so gracefully.