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Page 3 • Wednesday, March 3, 1999
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ince Madonna’s music video “Frozen,” henna, an ancient
Indian art form, has burst into Hollywood creating the newest
look for celebrities and the public alike. Contrary to popular
f belief, henna, also known as mehndi, is not actually a tempo-
rary tattoo. Henna is safe, temporary and painless, but it is ac
tually a dye extracted from the hawsonia inermis plant found
in Egypt, India, Iran and Pakistan, which dyes the skin, nails and/or hair a
dark brown to light orange color.
Vasuda Bhatia, an electrical engineering graduate student, said the process
of applying henna to oneself begins with a paste and ends with it being
squeezed unto any body part.
“We first make a paste with water from leaves and put it in a cone like those
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used for cake decorating,” Bhatia said. “The dye gives the color to hands and
feet. We let the hands and feet dry for three to four hours, depending on how
dark you want the design to be.”
There are books available with samples that can be copied, but most peo
ple draw the designs free-hand.
Ganesa Gopalakrishnan, a senior lecturer for the chemistry department,
said henna is safe.
“It has no toxins, it is as harmless as the vegetables we eat,” he said.
“There are no additives, it is simply the crushed leaves with water, which is
the paste-like substance.”
Sheila Krishan, a freshman biomedical science major, said the dye is used
mainly in India and Pakistan wedding ceremonies.
“Henna is used to decorate both hands and feet during wedding cere
monies, it is a decoration, like jewelry for festive occasions,” Krishan said.
“Many classical dancers use the henna for decoration.”
“The amount of time that it (henna) takes to actually apply also varies,
it takes approximately three hours for a bride because of the elaborate de
signs,” Bhatia said.
Bhatia said the mehndi lasts anywhere from one week to a month
and then slowly fades away.
Zaneta Gonzalez, assistant manager of Claire’s in Post Oak
Mall, said they are trying to popularize henna in the Bryan/Col
lege Station area.
“We’ve carried henna, which, here, are temporary tattoos for
about six or seven months,” Gonzalez said. “Not many people
knew about it before Madonna wore it, but now a lot of people
want to try it.”
Although the henna powder can be purchased at herb, health
food or Indian stores, Claire’s actually carries temporary tattoos re
sembling henna.
“The henna we sell stays on for about four to six weeks and
cost about $12,” Gonzalez said. “We also sell henna markers used
to draw the design yourself, it looks a lot like the real thing.”
Gonzalez said henna is not restricted to the hands.
“There is henna for the palms, toes, neck and ankle,” she said.
Brijesha Shah, a senior marketing major, said along with the deco
rative purposes people have found other uses for the mehndi that are
therapeutic.
“I always wondered if there was a purpose behind mehndi, but I
found there is not a religious meaning behind it,” Shah said. “Al
though there is a scientific meaning, which is the cooling effect when
applied to the scalp, hands and feet,”
Krishan said henna is used for relieving stress and is very soothing.
“Mehndi is also used as a natural hair coloring, it is supposed to
see Henna on Page 5.
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Aggieland Credit Union®, a branch of Greater
TEXAS® Federal Credit Union would like to
welcome it’s newest board member to the GTFCU
family. Aggieland Credit Union and Greater
TEXAS Federal Credit Union are proud to
nnounce the election of Jack W. Falks to our
Board of Directors.
A credit union is a non-profit financial coop
erative designed to offer real savings and real
alternatives to its’ members and their financial
needs. Without the benevolence and generosity
jfrom our volunteers, as seen with our Board of
irectors, the credit union and the credit union
ovement would not find the success and growth
that it enjoys.
Please join us in congratulating Mr. Jack W.
Falks on his latest achievement.
Aggieland Credit Union &
Greater TEXAS Federal Credit Union
Owned by those we serve since 1952
25^
liefs^
)nef r; ’
Mr. Jack W. Falks 85%
Director of Student &
Administrative
Services,
Texas A&M University
Health Science Center
Aggieland Credit Union
providing the students, faculty, and staff of Texas
A&M with financial services including:
The Aggie Card, Aggie Bucks, and Student Loans
AGGIELAND
CREDlTIf UNION
Pfl
&
branch of Greater TEXAS Federal Credit Union
201 Southwest Pkwy. E & 501 University Dr. W
409-696-1440 800-999-0310
www.gtfcu.orgwww.aggielandcu.orgwww.bonfire.org
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