Hi Everyone, thanks for reading my blog! Today, I'm talking about henna tattoos. There are several types of natural inks that are used, but henna is the one that I'm familiar with. Henna is a dye found in plant leaves and has been used to dye hair and skin since the Bronze age (whenever that was). Henna tattoos are a great alternative for people like myself that don't want a permanent tattoo. They last for two to three weeks, then they're gone. When my family and I go on vacation to the beach, we always get henna tattoos. I usually get mine on my foot/ankle. It's fun and perfect for the beach. The downside, is that they're expensive and you have to let it dry for about two hours and nothing can touch it or it smears. So, a tattoo the size of the palm of your hand may cost $25...something really small like a flower on your shoulder may cost $18, or really big one that covers your back could cost $45 or more. It's worth it for me because I don't want it to stay on. Letting it dry can be a pain because depending on where you get it, getting into a car afterwards can be impossible until it's dried.
So after getting henna tattoos every summer for years, I decided to order the henna ink (powder form) online and do it myself. I ordered the kit which came with several small clear packages of henna and the bag and tip. The tip is just like the one that's put on the end of a cake decorating bag, but smaller. Mixing of the henna is pretty simple, you mix it with lemon juice or water and let it sit until it's the consistency of mustard and then you fill the small bag. You should have your tattoo drawn out or have a picture of it...or you can freestyle it, if you're that good. You can use transfer paper and trace it, then flip it over on you hand, wet it and then trace the design on your skin. There's a slight learning curve to keep the flow of the henna from being broken, but if that happens, it's easy to correct. You'll quickly learn the angle to hold the applicator. The hardest part is letting it set without messing it up. The longer you leave it on, the darker and longer it will stay on your skin.
If you're really wanting to get a tattoo, but don't know if you'd really want to live with it for the rest of your life...I'd really recommend that you find a henna artist. Pay a little money for a lot of peace of mind. I guarantee you, you'll fall in love with the versatility of having different tattoos in different places without the lifetime commitment. And, NO, I don't have commitment issues...I have permanent tattoo issues!!
Thanks again for visiting!
Smartkookie
Good information to know. Thanks for the comment that you put on my blog as well. Hopefully it wasn't too much ranting and I didn't sound too awful. I was having a pretty bad week.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love henna tattoos! I use to always get them on my back during beach trips before I got my real one.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite was a large piece that covered the top of my back. I got it the first day I was at the beach. After a week being in the sun and getting tan, my henna had given me a reverse tan. whenever the ink dissapeared, there was an imprint on my back the color of my skin, which by that time, was many shades lighter than the tan I had received from my week in the sun.
It's awesome that you do your own! I never thought of that.
I used to love the idea of getting a henna tattoo. I'm not so sure that it is something that is for me, now. I like the look of them still though. My problem with henna tattoos, is that they don't last and the drying period. I can barely sit still long enough to let my toes and nails dry so 2 hours for a tattoo is out of the question. I have 6 real tattoos and each one means something different to me; each of them is a reminder of what I've been through and what I was going through at that time in my life. For it to be gone in 2 or 3 weeks, I would be highly unhappy. I'm definitly sticking with my strategically placed real tattoos.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Danielle! Permanent tattoos are great, especially if they are significant to you. I will probably never get a real tattoo. Ms. Smith's comments below are one of the reasons...they are painful-HA! The main reason is that it's just not my personality and I find my body much more beautiful "unmarked". I do appreciate some real tattoos on others' bodies, however, and find them to be very creative and meaningful! I'm thankful that we are not all alike and have the freedom to do what we want to identify ourselves. What is your favorite tattoo that you have and where is it?
DeleteMy favorite tattoo is a column of 3 green butterflies on my back. I got it for my 23rd (I think) birthday as a gift to myself for making the changes I needed to get my life in order. Plus, I drew it.
DeleteMy first is 3 butterflies and 4 flowers all connected going across my lower back. I'm probably the most proud about that one because it's my first and I drew it.
My latest one is a crab (cancer-zodiac) on my lower stomach. My bestie and I both got it earlier this year. It was her first and our bdays are 7 days apart.
Its not as painful as most people think. Its all about placement and not having someone tattoo you with a heavy hand.
Wow, I got chills when I read the meaning behind the three columned butterflies on your back. It's even more cool that you drew some of your tattoos!
DeleteI read on your latest blog that you're getting another one this weekend! Let us know what it is...if it's not too personal (winks).
Henna tattoos are beautiful and much less painful than real tattoos!
ReplyDeleteK. Smith
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