Welcome to Henna by Ren.

only organic and all natural henna & hengua - original designs - appointments & events available

What is Henna?

A hand with intricate henna designs on the fingers and back of the hand, with a floral and paisley pattern.

Henna is a reddish dye made from the dried and powdered leaves of the Henna tree to make a pigment. When mixed into a paste, henna can leave a temporary “tattoo” on the skin that lasts for 1-2 weeks. This pigment can also be used to dye hair and fabric.

Where Does Henna Come From?

Henna has been used since Ancient Egypt to dye skin, fabric, and hair. The art of Henna, called “Mehndi” in Hindi and Urdu, has been practiced in Pakistan, India, Africa, and the Middle East for over 5000 years. Today, Henna art is worn to celebrate special occasions, symbolizing good health, prosperity, wisdom, and more! Designs can vary by country

Line drawing of a hand with intricate henna designs on the fingers, back of the hand, and wrist in brown ink.

Indian Mehndi

Line drawing of a hand with intricate floral and geometric henna designs on the fingers, back of the hand, and wrist.

Pakistani Mehndi

Origins

- often detailed, intricate and dense
- mostly on the hands and arms
- feature traditional motifs and religious symbols.
- varies by region
- less dense than Indian Mehndi
- flowing large designs
- often features floral and vine patterns
- blend of Indian and Arabic styles
- bold designs like Arabic Mehni with Indian Mehndi’s intricate patterning
- elaborate floral motifs and religious accents
- often covers hand and arm
- large bold patterns
- geometric shapes & abstract symbols
- emphasizes open spaces
- varies by region
- most commonly seen style is called Fassi
- features geometric shapes: triangles, squares and lines
- completely covers area being hennaed
- very few solid blocks of color
- nearly no pattern repetition, often structured and symmetrical
- commonly seen in America
- combines from all traditional forms
- includes contemporary elements a
- draws from all over the world

Line drawing of a hand with geometric tribal-style henna tattoo designs in brown, featuring squares, lines, and zigzags, with a handwritten note 'Design by Halloween Henna' on the side.

African Mehndi

Line drawing of a hand with intricate henna-style patterns in brown on the back of the hand, wrist, and fingers, with a note that says 'Design by HennaxSanaa'.

Moroccan Mehndi

Line drawing of a hand adorned with brown floral henna tattoos on the fingers and back of the hand, with the design credited to Glownouth Kells.ibu.

Arabic Mehndi

A black outline of a hand with intricate brown henna or mehndi designs covering the palm, fingers, and back of the hand, featuring floral and geometric patterns and the text 'Design by @RABBY_WELLDI' on the wrist.

Western Mehndi

Placement

images of opening and offering; allows a person to receive and offer blessings
protection & shielding
a divine point of contact where Human connects with the Earth

Common Symbolism

Birds: messengers between Heaven and Earth

Butterflies: transformation and new beginnings

Circles: the cycle of life and the fulfillment of destiny

Dragonflies: change and rebirth

Eye: the reflection of the evil eye; turning any evil wishes back onto the gazer; spiritual protection

Flowers & flower petals: pure happiness and joy, beauty, and new beginnings

Lotus: the awakening of the human soul; grace, beauty, creativity, sensuality, femininity, and purity

Om: mantra that broadly refers to the self and universal spirit

Paisleys: fertility and luck

Peacock: beauty

Peacock feathers: prosperity

Sahasara: ancient Lotus-like symbol meaning unity; uniting the soul with the "Divine Source"

Snakes & lizards: seekers of enlightenment

Swans: success and beauty

Vines & leaves: devotion, vitality, strength, longevity

FAQs

Click above for the full FAQ page.

Henna lasts 7-10 days with proper aftercare. Most of my clients and myself can have it last between 2-3 weeks.
My “darkness blend” is the same all natural henna mixed with a small amount of pure jagua fruit juice. Jagua itself can leave a deep blue stain that often appears black. This results in a deeper brown stain, in contrast to the reddish, lighter brown associated with henna.
In heat, henna only needs a minimum of 2 hours to stain. Keeping the paste on for 6-8 hours is recommended to allow the paste to fully set.
If the design is still wet and we are not in proximity for me to fix it, either remove the smudged area with a dry paper towel. If the design fully smudged, it is better to remove all of the paste with a dry paper towel. Avoid water for 24 hours after to allow the stain to set. It is likely to still stain for up to a week—just may not darken as deeply or last as long.