Should Henna Simply be seen as a Trend?
You may know henna from its tattoo like resemblance or its visually pleasing designs. Henna has transitioned into the U.S and seen as a painless temporary tattoo that’s easy and aesthetic. Although henna was able to translate well into the fabric of the U.S due to its tattoo-like resemblance and its trendy appeal, its roots and initial significance was lost within the translation.
The art of henna, also known as mehndi in Hindi, has been practiced for more than 5000 years in various parts of the world such as Africa, India, Pakistan, and the Middle East. Henna was originally used as a way for people to control their body temperature due to its natural cooling properties. People of the desert would soak their palms and soles of their feet into henna paste to soothe themselves of the heat. People would feel a cooling sensation for as long as the henna stain was left on their skin. These stains eventually left patterns on the surface of the skin, which later led to the idea of using henna to make decorative designs. Nowadays, henna has many cultural uses: beauty and adornment, blessings and well being, self expression, or cosmetic treatments.(Shah) Henna became something that transcended castes so that both the poor and the rich could wear it and was used for visual aesthetics.
What most don’t know about henna is that the henna designs can represent passages of life and symbolize one’s journeys. The henna paste, which is made from the henna plant, is associated with positivity and good luck. Henna is a lot more than just body art and decorative designs, it’s an art that holds a lot of meaning. For example, the placement of the henna on one’s body can hold special meanings and significance. Henna that is painted on the palms of the hands represents a hand ready to receive and offer blessings. Henna that is placed on the top of the hands, or the fingertips can be used to represent protection. Many henna designs also symbolize larger meanings. Some popular designs, such as peacocks, flowers, or the eye all point towards a bigger picture or hold significance in their own ways. More specifically, bird henna patterns represent messengers to heaven. A common eye design reflects the evil eye, which turns off evil wishes back into its gazer and seeks protection(Significance). Henna is also commonly used in weddings across Middle Eastern and Indian cultures. Brides typically wear henna for decorative and cultural purposes. For Hindu brides, the henna is typically done professionally and the historic and symbolic designs represent love and strength the bride will need for marriage. Hindus believe that the darker the henna, the deeper the love will be within the marriage.This custom holds lots of cultural significance for Hindus. Although many may not have known, henna is more than just a form of body art, as its designs, placements, and purpose hold great cultural significance.
Henna translated very well in the U.S, as henna booths and stores began to pop up in towns and festivals throughout the states. Henna was especially appealing because it resembled tattoos. Since decorative henna was so similar to tattoos, many flocked to the new type of art. Not only was it similar to tattoos, but it came without a lot of the precautions that tattoos had. Henna is a painless process that does not contain any age restrictions. Henna also has no risk of infection and no needles are involved, as opposed to tattoos which involve a long painful healing process and possibilities of infections. One of the most appealing parts of henna is that it is temporary. Those who are too anxious to live with the same tattoo for life or those who have a fear of regretting their decision can peacefully get henna designs, as they fade with time. Essentially, it resembles a tattoo but doesn’t require pain or long term commitment, which makes up for the reasons why most fear getting tattoos(Oberlender). Henna has also become a part of wedding traditions, camouflage for scarring, and for aesthetics. It is now advertised as art that is visually pleasing and draws people through bunching it in the realm of tattoos. Tattoos were very popular in American culture and many were familiar with the concept. When henna translated to the U.S, it attracted many because it was similar to something everyone knew but it also had new twists to it. People tend to gravitate towards something they are familiar with, which is why henna took off so well in the American industry.
Henna also became a large part of celebrity culture, as it especially peaked in the 90’s and early 200’s. After the henna trend got a jump start in the west, many celebrities like Gwen Stefani and Madonna have shown off their henna designs in movies and public outings. It started to become a world wide trend. In 2016, an article titled “Henna Never Looked so Good Until These 11 Celebrities Came and Rocked this Trend” was dedicated to showing which celebrities were getting henna done and highlighted how “the craze has taken over the western world”(Adcock).
Henna was seen as trendy after celebrities began to show off their designs in public, red carpet events, music videos, and more. It was seen as ‘exotic’, something new and foreign which helped increase its popularity and appeal. Once people see celebrities like Vanessa Hudgens and Katy Perry wearing henna, they want to hop on the trend and become a part of the popular culture.
Although henna became trendy and more popular, it did start some controversy over whether the art of henna was being appreciated or appropriated. While some argue that the nontraditional wearing of henna is empowering and was done out of appreciation for the beauty of the art form, it is quite clear that the translation of henna from India to the U.S was distasteful and poorly done. There is a large difference between appreciating something from one’s culture versus appropriating it. Its use in America shifts past cultural appreciation and instead becomes cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation involves taking a cultural tradition or object without full permission and normalizing that tradition in a new culture without acknowledging its significance and meaning. Cultural appropriation is harmful when the source of the object has been exploited. Celebrities like Gwen Stefani and Vanessa Hudgens used henna to keep up with the trends and stay a part of popular culture. Most of the henna wearers in America are unfamiliar about the background and meaning of henna itself. They use it for aesthetics and for its decorative aspects without fully understanding the significance of the process. “Without background knowledge on the custom and appreciation for only the aesthetics of henna, there is no credit delivered where it is due. The “trend” of henna thus leads to ignorance rather than potential to learn about and sincerely appreciate other cultures.”(Oberlender). The use of henna is deeply rooted in religious and cultural customs and therefore should not be used as a trend.
While some may view the translation of henna from India to the U.S as smooth, others see it as distasteful and poorly done. Celebrities like Gwen Stefani and Madonna use henna to seem exotic, as they want to become part of the trend that was popular at the time. Its use in America shifts past cultural appreciation and instead becomes cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation involves taking a cultural tradition or object without full permission and normalizing that tradition in a new culture without acknowledging its significance and meaning. Most of the henna wearers in America are unfamiliar about the background and meaning of henna itself. They use it for aesthetics and for its decorative aspects without fully understanding the significance of the process. “Without background knowledge on the custom and appreciation for only the aesthetics of henna, there is no credit delivered where it is due. The “trend” of henna thus leads to ignorance rather than potential to learn about and sincerely appreciate other cultures.”(Oberlender). Majority of henna wearers in the U.S wore henna as more of a trend and disregarded its past and its overall meaning.
Henna’s original meaning has been overlooked through the translation to the U.S, as very few henna wearers relic its deeper meaning. Unfortunately, when objects are translated into different cultures, their significance and roots are often lost in the translation. Once objects enter a newer culture, their initial meaning and culture background can be lost. Oftentimes, the transition of a cultural object to a newer culture is seen as trendy and hip, leading many to use that object to stay in touch with what’s popular and disregard its cultural significance. Not only can the object’s significance be lost in the newer culture, but the culture can be appropriated as well. Objects can be taken without permission and normalized in the new culture while being robbed of their importance. Although the globalization of culture can help promote interconnectedness, it can also cause certain cultural translations to lose their roots and significance.
