Did You Know + Q&A
I intend for this page to be a fun and informative compilation on mehndi, henna paste and the culture around it too. Don't feel shy- ask a question! It can be about the art itself, about the culture of mehndi or even a general question. Please keep it respectful and appropriate, but don't worry about asking questions that might be 'sensitive'. Your questions will be sent to me privately and I will build this page accordingly! Thank you everyone for your questions and helping me build this page!
-The patterns don't necessarily have a specific meaning. It's like a hairstyle or make-up-- doesn't necessarily have a meaning.
-This is mehndi or henna art. Not a henna 'tattoo'. Tattoos are generally sub-dermal injection of ink. This is more like a mud mask for your skin. Or even like nail polish. It is not a tattoo. Instead, use the terminology: mehndi or you can use: henna art.
-Cultural appropriation. This comes up a lot and it's a great question! No, I do not think it is cultural appropriation if you get your mehndi done. However, I believe the gray area is asking an artist to teach their art so that you can do it for yourself. I think the line is crossed to cultural appropriation when a person who is not of the culture and does not know the cultural history or background or has no ties to it does the art and makes a profit from it. Think of it like this: You have a recipe, special to your family for a dessert. It's been handed down, it's part of your culture, your family. You make this dessert for all your friends to enjoy. They love and enjoy it. (Not appropriation, right?). Gray area: A friend learns your recipe and makes the dessert at home to enjoy. Appropriation: Someone learns your recipe, doesn't really have a tie to you, and then sells it and makes lots of profit because your family recipe dessert was delicious.
- The tika or bindi on the forehead does not mean a person is married. Often, sticker bindis are an accessory to desi garb. Other tikas are similar to when people get 'Ash Wednesday' marks-- we get ours during certain rituals, ceremonies and celebrations.
-Mehndi means 'henna art' and is a word derived from the Sanskrit language.
-"Chai tea" is redundant! Chai means tea. If you order a chai in India, they may ask you: black chai? masala chai? lemon chai? milk chai? etc.
-Henna comes from the henna plant: Lawsonia inermis
_Henna conditions the hair, skin and nails
-Lots of people ask about the cultural appropriation aspect of henna art. Here's my take on it:
For example:
Your grandma passed on a very specific and delicious recipe for cookies/cake whatever... and I come over and you make this cake for me... and I eat it with you and enjoy hearing stories of your grandma, etc... you love that I am spending time with you, enjoying and respecting and learning about you and your family/traditions
Then, after some time, I move to a different state/country and because you and I are such close friends, I ask you, can you please share with me the recipe so I can make it at home for myself to enjoy since we will be so far apart? You feel uncomfortable, because you don't really want to share the family recipe.. you want me to enjoy your baking, when im with you.
But, you decide to give me the recipe-- or I figure out a way to make something very similar to it. Then, I decide, this might be a money-maker, and I sell it, without talking about you, your family history, etc. I am making money off something that was special to you and your family.
___________________________
So... now same thing. When you come get mehndi done and you enjoy it and learn about it, you are giving yourself an opportunity to be open, to learn and respect someone else and their culture. This to me, is the Opposite of appropriation.
Then, you ask me to teach you to do mehndi or you ask where you can get cones from so that you can do it on yourself/your friends.. I am uncomfortable with that. It's that gray area of appropriation.
But, you decide you will become a "henna tattoo" artist... and you make money off someone else's culture with no mention of the culture or history, no education on the art.... this is, to me, that very clear crossover into appropriation. I am not okay with someone else making money off another persons' culture.
Thank you to everyone who allow for open and respectful conversations about these topics. Creating a forum like this is one of the biggest reasons I do what I do.
-The patterns don't necessarily have a specific meaning. It's like a hairstyle or make-up-- doesn't necessarily have a meaning.
-This is mehndi or henna art. Not a henna 'tattoo'. Tattoos are generally sub-dermal injection of ink. This is more like a mud mask for your skin. Or even like nail polish. It is not a tattoo. Instead, use the terminology: mehndi or you can use: henna art.
-Cultural appropriation. This comes up a lot and it's a great question! No, I do not think it is cultural appropriation if you get your mehndi done. However, I believe the gray area is asking an artist to teach their art so that you can do it for yourself. I think the line is crossed to cultural appropriation when a person who is not of the culture and does not know the cultural history or background or has no ties to it does the art and makes a profit from it. Think of it like this: You have a recipe, special to your family for a dessert. It's been handed down, it's part of your culture, your family. You make this dessert for all your friends to enjoy. They love and enjoy it. (Not appropriation, right?). Gray area: A friend learns your recipe and makes the dessert at home to enjoy. Appropriation: Someone learns your recipe, doesn't really have a tie to you, and then sells it and makes lots of profit because your family recipe dessert was delicious.
- The tika or bindi on the forehead does not mean a person is married. Often, sticker bindis are an accessory to desi garb. Other tikas are similar to when people get 'Ash Wednesday' marks-- we get ours during certain rituals, ceremonies and celebrations.
-Mehndi means 'henna art' and is a word derived from the Sanskrit language.
-"Chai tea" is redundant! Chai means tea. If you order a chai in India, they may ask you: black chai? masala chai? lemon chai? milk chai? etc.
-Henna comes from the henna plant: Lawsonia inermis
_Henna conditions the hair, skin and nails
-Lots of people ask about the cultural appropriation aspect of henna art. Here's my take on it:
For example:
Your grandma passed on a very specific and delicious recipe for cookies/cake whatever... and I come over and you make this cake for me... and I eat it with you and enjoy hearing stories of your grandma, etc... you love that I am spending time with you, enjoying and respecting and learning about you and your family/traditions
Then, after some time, I move to a different state/country and because you and I are such close friends, I ask you, can you please share with me the recipe so I can make it at home for myself to enjoy since we will be so far apart? You feel uncomfortable, because you don't really want to share the family recipe.. you want me to enjoy your baking, when im with you.
But, you decide to give me the recipe-- or I figure out a way to make something very similar to it. Then, I decide, this might be a money-maker, and I sell it, without talking about you, your family history, etc. I am making money off something that was special to you and your family.
___________________________
So... now same thing. When you come get mehndi done and you enjoy it and learn about it, you are giving yourself an opportunity to be open, to learn and respect someone else and their culture. This to me, is the Opposite of appropriation.
Then, you ask me to teach you to do mehndi or you ask where you can get cones from so that you can do it on yourself/your friends.. I am uncomfortable with that. It's that gray area of appropriation.
But, you decide you will become a "henna tattoo" artist... and you make money off someone else's culture with no mention of the culture or history, no education on the art.... this is, to me, that very clear crossover into appropriation. I am not okay with someone else making money off another persons' culture.
Thank you to everyone who allow for open and respectful conversations about these topics. Creating a forum like this is one of the biggest reasons I do what I do.