Henna and mehendi
For many families, Eid or a wedding isn't complete without mehendi. On the night before the festival, Chaand Raat, friends and cousins gather to paint delicate patterns on each other's… 2 Products
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Henna and mehendi
For many families, Eid or a wedding isn't complete without mehendi. On the night before the festival, Chaand Raat, friends and cousins gather to paint delicate patterns on each other's hands. Henna, known as mehedi in Bengali and Henne in German, is also a popular plant-based hair dye for warm red and copper shades.
At Tukwila you'll find Vatika Henna in Burgundy-brown, a hair-colouring powder packed in six single-use sachets (60 g in total), and Nadra Red Henna, labelled 100% natural and suitable for both hair and hands (35 g). Both are mixed with water into a smooth paste.
Complete the festive look with an alcohol-free attar perfume and something sweet from our Eid sweets. More personal care products are in the beauty and care category.
Mixing and applying henna
- For hands: sift the powder, then stir in lukewarm water and a little lemon juice until the paste is thick, like toothpaste. Cover and leave it for a few hours, fill a cone and pipe your design.
- Leave it on: the longer the paste stays on the skin, the deeper the stain; two to six hours is usual. Scrape it off rather than washing it away.
- For hair: apply the paste to clean, dry hair, cover with cling film and leave it for the time given on the pack. On grey hair the colour usually comes out bright red.
- Patch test: try a small amount on your skin 48 hours beforehand, read the label carefully and avoid pastes with unknown additives.
Getting ready for the festival? Have a look at our kurtas and lungis and the Eid sweets too.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use hair henna on my skin?
Nadra Red Henna is labelled for both hair and hands. Vatika Henna Burgundy-brown is sold as a hair colour. Always follow the instructions on the individual pack and do a patch test before you apply it more widely.
How do I get a darker mehendi stain?
Keep the paste on for at least two hours and keep your hands warm. Many people dab a little lemon and sugar mixture onto the drying paste. Avoid water for a few hours afterwards; the colour keeps deepening overnight.
How long does henna last on the skin?
A mehendi design on the hands usually lasts one to two weeks before it gradually fades as the top layer of skin renews itself. The colour tends to stay visible longest on the palms and fingertips.
What hair colour does henna give?
Henna dyes hair red to copper. Vatika Burgundy-brown leans towards a deep wine red. The result depends on your natural shade: on dark hair it shows as a reddish sheen, while on grey hair it comes out much brighter.