“If you haven’t seen them by now, you will soon. Mehndi, the reddish brown Indian designs which appear around ankles and arms, are the latest thing to hit L.A. Mehndi is a form of body painting that originated in Northern Africa and India. Women have been doing Mehndi for the last 5000 years for good luck, to invoke prosperity and to celebrate marriages. Both women and men of various ages are adorning their bodies with Mehndi, said Carine Fabius of Lakaye Mehndi Studio, a Los Angeles shop which specializes in the ancient art.
Mehndi has more appeal than tattoos because it is not permanent. It lasts anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks. And the process of getting one is as painless as drawing on your skin with ink. In fact that’s what they do: artists draw on your skin using tubes filled with paste made from freshly crushed henna leaves, a plant that produces a reddish-brown dye. When the paste is applied, it must be left on the skin for 12 to 24 hours, while you moisten it with lemon juice. Then the paste peels off your skin, leaving a reddish brown pattern, which starts to fade after a week. Since there are no chemicals used in the paste, there is no harm done to the skin, said Fabius.
You can help a Mehndi last longer by avoiding sun block, harsh lotions, and not rubbing or scrubbing with soap.
As for the designs, it’s all up to you. You can either get something traditional like designs resembling parts of a flower and designs made by connecting lines, circles and semi-circles. Or you can pick something more personal to you, however shadowing and shading is hard to do and is not recommended. The process of getting a Mehndi lasts from 5 to 25 minutes depending on the design and its size. And the prices are also modest; they start at $20 and increase based on the size and the design of your Mehndi.
The Lakaye Mehndi Studio, one of the many places which offer Mehndi, is on 8360 W. Third Street. The store also sells the paste with a six-month shelf life so you can draw the Mehndi yourself. And if you are not talented enough to draw the Mehndi, Lakaye Mehndi Studio also offers $50 classes. For info, call the studio at (213) 653-1724.”
