The History of Mehndi

Mehndi has been around for thousands of years being used to bring good health, fertility and protect one from the 'evil eye'. We know mehndi today to be used by females for decorating parts of their bodies such as their hands and feet for special occasions like weddings or religious holidays.  The idea that it has been used for medicinal purposes or warding off evil has long since been forgotten.

The only visible evidence that suggests how long mehndi has been around is on female Egyptian mummies where hair, nails and hands have been found to be covered with mehndi.

The only written evidence I can suggest about mehndi being used dates back to around the 6th century where traditionally mehndi leaves were being used for it's healing abilities by Muslims or Arabs. It was known to heal wounds, illnesses such as small pox or leprosy, and improve the condition of hair and nails.  It was also known to keep the skin cool which is mostly why it was treated as a hair dye more than anything. Since Arabs mostly populated the deserts of the Middle East heat was a great factor in their lives.

It is said that the traditional mehndi we see today was re-introduced by the Mughals to the rich and elite families of India. Since then the recipe has been refined to improve the intensity of colour and ease of application.

More to come about the history of mehndi - stay tuned!