What is a mehndi ceremony?
South Asian · also called henna night, mehendi, mehandi
Mehndi is the pre-wedding celebration where intricate henna designs are applied to the bride's hands, arms and feet - a process that takes hours - while family and friends eat, sing and have their own henna done. It is usually one or two days before the wedding and is, for many families, the warmest and least formal event of the entire week.
What happens
A mehndi artist works on the bride for anywhere from three to eight hours depending on the intricacy and coverage. Guests have simpler designs applied alongside. There is food, music and, in many families, choreographed dances that the relatives have been rehearsing for weeks.
The groom's name or initials are traditionally hidden somewhere in the bride's design, and he is meant to find them - a game that produces a good deal of laughing and at least one photograph.
The henna itself
Darker stain is considered auspicious, and the depth depends on the paste quality, how long it stays on, and aftercare. Serious brides leave it on overnight, avoid water afterwards, and treat the stain as it develops over the following day or two.
One genuine safety point: 'black henna' containing PPD is not henna, causes chemical burns and permanent scarring in some people, and should be refused outright. Real henna stains orange first and darkens to deep red-brown over 24 to 48 hours.
Planning it properly
A tradition only goes well if the people running your day know it is coming. These are the things to say out loud, and who to say them to.
- Book the artist months ahead
- Good mehndi artists are booked out in peak season, and bridal coverage is a full day's work for one person.
- Schedule it far enough ahead of the wedding
- The stain darkens for up to 48 hours. Most brides want mehndi two days before so it is at its deepest on the wedding day.
- Insist on natural henna
- Ask what is in the paste. Refuse anything described as black henna.
- Plan for immobile hands
- The bride cannot use her hands for hours, then must avoid water. Eating, bathroom trips and changing all need help arranged in advance.
Common questions
How long does bridal mehndi take?
Three to eight hours for a bride depending on intricacy and how far up the arms and legs the design goes. Guests' simpler designs take a few minutes each.
How long before the wedding should mehndi be done?
Usually two days before. Henna stains orange at first and darkens over 24 to 48 hours, so timing it this way means the colour peaks on the wedding day.
Is black henna safe?
No. So-called black henna usually contains PPD, a chemical that causes burns and can leave permanent scars. Natural henna stains orange and darkens to red-brown; anything promising instant black should be refused.
The vendors who make this work
Mehndi depends on people who have done it before. Every review on Lazo comes from a couple who actually got married with that vendor, and rankings can't be bought.
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