Hands for henna

Henna is an art. The henna artist draws loops and swirls across hands, fingers, feet, lets the pattern dry and rubs it off, leaving a design stained into the skin. For Iffat Ara, henna is not just her art, it's about her culture and bonding with others.

Ara, who is from Bangladesh, is studying international business at Southeast Missouri State University, and said she learned about henna as a small child.

"When I was little, I went to a wedding for the first time, and I saw the bride creating henna on her hands by herself," she said. "I was like, 'Wow, what's that? Can you put some on me?' I was very interested by that. She put some on me and I was so happy."

Then, when Ara grew up, she decided to try her hand at henna herself.

"I felt some attraction to henna," she said.

Iffat Ara free-hands a henna design onto her left hand on March 10.Laura Simon

Her parents bought supplies for her from their local market, she said.

"I was not so good at it then," she said. "... I applied it so many times on so many people, that's how I started and how it went."

She said she found she's good at designs, and likes to observe designs others have created.

"I see a lot of henna. I observe them, designs I like so much," she said.

In Bangladesh, Ara said, she sees designs on people's hands, or in bridal pictures.

"Henna is sometimes also applied in a salon or spa," she said.

Henna art is associated with wedding celebrations.

"In weddings, the bride used to make henna art on her hands," she said. "Sometimes aunts of the brides, and everybody, just to celebrate to look beautiful, they decorate their hands."

Ara freehands her designs, rather than using a stencil or premade pattern, she said.

"I repeat the designs, then it comes out -- I can make the designs by myself," she said.

To keep her hand in it, she said she practices often.

"Sometimes I practice on myself, sometimes my sister or friends -- they're also very excited to have henna from me," she said.

It's not just about her art, but bonding, too, Ara said.

"That's how I met some of my neighbors," she said. "When they knew I can do henna, they came to me to talk about henna, so excited, 'Can you put some on me?' And I do."

Ara's supplies are special-ordered, she said, from reputable places she trusts.

"Sometimes I get supplies from Qatar, sometimes I order online from Canada," she said.

She has made contacts through social media as well.

"I have a page in my Instagram where I post my designs of henna," she said. "There's a woman who posts henna photos, sells, makes henna."

Ara said that's important to her, because she doesn't know how to make henna, which is a dye made from the powdered leaves of a tropical shrub, herself.

People should not be worried about allergic reactions or other problems with henna, Ara said.

"Problems never happen if it's from a good source," she said. "Some henna has problems because there are chemicals in it that are produced overseas, and some have chemicals not good for our skin or health. I try to do more natural henna."

Ara said she tries the henna on herself first, then on others, so they can see how it works.

"People should not be afraid," she said.

People contact her by phone or social media, Ara said, and she gives them a time to come by for their henna.

"I just need a tissue and a henna cone," she said. "... I put my hand on their hand, try to think about design, ask if they have preference design."

While some people have a preference on design or placement, some don't, and she's fine with either, Ara said.

"I ask about it, give [them] whatever [they] want," she said. "If you just want henna, that's fine, that's cool too sometimes. They're so excited about it, makes me feel so good. That's how I do it."

Ara said each henna experience is unique.

"Thirty minutes is the standard time to put henna on your hand, to dry it out," she said. "Sometimes you can wash it, sometimes just rub on other hand and it comes off. The henna artist can tell you what to do next because henna differs."

Ara said the color might go away a little bit with water.

"If you want the most of it, dry it out then rub it off and put some oil on your hands," she said, adding, "The design stays about a week."

Henna holds a lot of meaning for Ara.

"It's really become a part of me actually. I love to do it," she said. "When someone talks about henna, I can't stop talking about my experience, even if I try to listen to others, talk about henna, they're interested, they love henna, how henna works."

Ara said the practice of henna art also is related to her childhood.

"When I was little, I loved it ... . It's a very good memory, very good feeling it gives me, the henna. I used to put it on my mother. She was very specific about her designs, 'Don't give me everything, give me like this,' and I was like 'OK,'" she said. "There are so many memories to recall, and it really brings joy to me."

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

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