Henna what?

What is henna?

The henna plant (lawsonia inermis) is a small tree that grows in hot climates, commonly in northern Africa, the Middle East and southern Asia. The leaves of this plant are harvested, dried and ground into a fine powder.

Once it is to be used, the powder is made into a paste and used to dye skin, hair and even your fingernails.
The henna plant comes in many varieties found in different areas that produce different kinds of henna powder. The powder ranges from bright green to grayish-green to a dull brown in colour. The resulting stain can be mostly in reds, purples- I have yet to see a purple stain-oranges or browns.

Henna paste has been traditionally used for over 5,000 years as a cosmetic, natural dye and medicine. Most commonly used in ceremonies, henna is applied to hair, hands and feet.

 

How does henna stain the skin?

Henna paste is applied on top of your skin and over several hours the natural pigments are absorbed into the upper layers of your epidermis. What colour will henna stain skin?
Your skin will stain in any shade (light to dark) of orange, red, brown, burgandy and near-black. Even if you have darker skin, Henna will be a contrasting :)

Is henna an Islamic tradition?

This is actually a common misconception from non-Muslims and Muslims alike. Henna is absolutely not part of the Islamic faith nor will it increase one's faith or give them good fortune, however it is consider a permissible and recommend act of which a woman can beautify herself. There are many evidences that the women at the time of Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) used it, and even references of its usage during mensing. Please view these links to fatwas regarding henna:

http://www.islamqa.com/en/cat/57/ref/islamqa/143205             
 http://islamqa.com/en/ref/105417