Henna has also been used in Europe in the 1800s, by artists during the Pre-Raphaelite era. This is interesting because it was believed in Britain that red hair is unattractive. But, with henna, women started dyeng their hair red, and men started fetishizing red hair.

Nowadays, however, henna is predominantly present in India, the Middle East, and in some parts of Europe, the US, and Australia.

It is mostly tied to the Indian culture, Indian weddings, as well as Indian beauty standards and practices for young and older women. Some consider henna dyeng and henna body art as a form of ritual for many Indian women, especially when it comes to bridal parties.

For example, the soon-to-be bride undergoes a process of getting her hands ‘tattooed’ with henna. The belief is that the darker the henna turns out, the better and stronger her marriage will be.

What Are The Origins of Henna Tattoos?

Henna tattoos aren’t tattoos; the skin is not tattooed using henna instead of ink, as some people believe. Henna is used to temporarily dye the skin by using beautiful designs and patterns.

As such, henna tattoos are known to be used in cultures around the world. The origin of women adorning and dyeing their body parts goes back to the Bronze Age in the easter Meditteranean.

The earliest mention of henna in the context of marriage and fertility comes from the Ugaritic legends (today’s Syria), where women would adorn their bodies with henna so they could welcome their husbands from the war and celebrate their victory.

How Long Do Henna Tattoos Last?

Some people think that henna tattoos are permanent. As we’ve mentioned, henna tattoos are temporary and short-term. So, in terms of how long a henna tattoo lasts, we can say anywhere between 7 and 14 days.

The longevity of a henna tattoo depends largely on the quality of the henna paste as well as the very application. For example, when henna is applied, the longer it sits on the skin, the better it will absorb and the longer it will last.