Mehandi types

Mehndi is a form of body art and temporary skin decoration from the Indian subcontinent usually drawn on hands or legs, in which decorative designs are created on a person's body, using a paste, created from the powdered dry leaves of the henna plant (Lawsonia inermis).

Henna was first applied as a means to cool down the body. A dot was applied to the palm of the hands and helped to cool the body. After becoming bored with the look of the single dot on the palm, the early users of henna began to add lines and other shapes. Eventually this elaboration became the beautiful designs we see today.