It is also redefining the art of henna. It is widely known that this small country brimming with beauty parlors has become the regional capital of the beauty industry. Lebanese women have a unique way of following the slightest fashion trend. The popularity of henna in the West is no secret in the “Land of the Cedars.”
“I have been working with henna for the past eight years. The demand for henna tattoos is on the rise, and my customers are as young as thirteen. The art of henna, which originated 5,000 years ago, is prevalent in Turkey, the sub-continent, the Gulf countries and North Africa; however, there has been a surge of interest in Western countries. Lebanese women always looking out for
new have also shown a great interest in henna tattoos,” explains Diala.
Celebrities such as Beyoncé, Jessica Simpson, Liv Tyler, Demi Moore, Julia Roberts, Prince, Shakira, Angelina Jolie, Pink and Madonna gave henna more exposure to the media. Madonna, for instance, covered her hands with tattoos in her video “Frozen,” released in the late 1990s.
Henna is still courted by the fashion industry. Chanel has launched a temporary skin art line, Les Trompe, and the Luis Vuitton 2011 Spring/Summer Menswear Show in Paris featured temporary body tattoos on models just as Chanel did in the fall.
As temporary tattoos are becoming more of a staple in the world of fashion, henna temporary tattoos will continue to grow in popularity.
Henna is a tall, shrub-like plant that grows mostly in Sudan, Egypt, India and most North African and Middle Eastern countries. The henna plant is like the tea plant: Its leaves are dried and ground into a fine powder, which is then mixed with water, oil and other ingredients — every henna artist has his own recipe — to form a paste. When this paste is applied to the skin, it leaves an orange stain that turns into a reddish-brown color within 24 hours. Tannins are the natural dyeing properties found in the henna plant.
“The design can last up to twenty days,’’ says Diala, who has become an expert in bespoke, lavish henna designs painted on hands complemented with the same design on the nails.
“These elaborate designs are very much in demand for engagement parties and weddings. I work with henna-based colors such as black, blue, green, orange, purple, red and violet, but red and green are the most popular. I also enhance the design with Swarovski Strass. The pattern that I paint on the hands is repeated on the nails. I use a dark varnish to imitate the henna and the result is stunning.”
Diala has redefined the ancestral art of henna by adding new elements, colors and sparkle. Although she has a catalogue of designs, Diala can draw any pattern, and she excels in bespoke designs. “Before I start applying the henna, I need to sit with my customer and understand her character. I always choose a design that suits the personality. I draw the main elements and if the client agrees, I go ahead, inspired by my imagination. I work best when I can work freely. In fact, I am so concentrated that I am able to finish both hands in fifteen minutes,” explains Diala.
Henna’s growing popularity is mainly due to the fact that it is temporary and painless. Henna can look different on different people: Drier skin stains much darker than softer skin, and the longer the paste remains on the skin, the darker the tattoo. In order to prolong a design, one should keep the tattooed area moisturized and warm. The skin should not be scrubbed or rubbed with harsh soaps; moreover, saunas should be avoided. For better results, one can try wrapping the skin with a plastic tape to keep it warm.
“Designers and celebrities are increasingly using temporary tattoos as fashion accessories that reflect a singular artistic expression. Cheap and easy to apply, you can wear it just the way you like it — simple or glamorous, with a highly stylized design, or enriched with color and Strass for a special event,” concludes Diala.
