Dear Shawna -
Help! I am competely overwhelmed by Mehndi styles! I am getting married to a Scottish guy and I love traditional style, but I am still a modern NYC girl at heart. How do I find the right mehndi style for me?
Thanks in advance!
Sheetal
NY, NY
Thanks for your email Sheetal!
There are two things that my girlfriends squealed about when they found out I was engaged…first was, “Omg, I get to wear a sari” and “And, I get to get mehdni!” One of my bridesmaids even asked me if she could get it on her face! How cute was she?!
Mehndi goes hand in hand with Indian brides and Indian weddings, so to help you and all my Maharanis-to-be out, I have put together some tips on how to have your ultimate wedding mehndi.
First, choose your Style...
1. Persian Mehndi - Just like gently waves on the beach, Persian Mehndi has a gentle rhythm to it. Whether you choose a swirl based design or a geometric pattern will be repetitive and meditative.
2. Middle Eastern Mehndi - Cascading figures, accented with flowers and open spaces adorn the shape of your hand.
3. Matching Mehndi – Your artist designs a one of a kind, original design based on the patterns of your bridal lengha. Pretty, fabulous, huh?
4. Pakistani Mehndi – Starting from your elbows and going to the tips of your fingers, Pakistani Mehndi is total coverage with intracite designs. For Maharanis choosing this design, look for an artist who has precise designs with fine lines, and who works very quickly! Otherwise you will be sitting for more than 4 hours!
5. Rajasthani Mehndi – Since the state is filled with many, many cultural images, so is their mehdni! Whether you choose Ganesh Ji or a Raja & Rani you are guaranteed gorgeous designs. Just like Pakistani Mehndi, this is a full coverage look, so make sure you pick your artist carefully!
6. Glitter Mehdni – Give your mehndi a modern look with a touch of glitz and glamour! The latest designs add crystals to mehdni giving a whole new meaning to the word bling.
For more looks take a peek at our Facebook Mehndi Look Book.
Then, choose your Artist...
Although all Mehndi artists will tell you they can do any of these options (which has some truth to it), when you take a look at their portfolio of work, you will see a certain style to it.
If you are an Indian bride who wants any of the full coverage Mehndi style, you must look for an artist who has precise designs with very fine lines. The work should resemble lace, and be very, very neat. Also, ask the artist how long that type of design takes them. Typically it should be no more than 2 hours for your arms.
Lastly, your color...
For the rich rust color every time here is what Maharani recommends you do:
1. Wash your hands and lightly apply Eucalyptus oil to your hands. Just a few drops is enough, you want to create a moisturized base, so the Henna doesn’t dry out.
2. As your mehndi is being applied, have one of your bridesmaids gently tab the dry areas with a cotton ball soaked in a mixture of lemon and sugar. This prevents the Mehndi from flaking off, but just make sure it is completely dry before you start touching it!
3. The final tip is the most important one of all! Place about ten cloves on a frying pan and heat them up. Hold your hands directly over the pan (careful not to burn yourself!) The smoke from the cloves will make your mehndi much darker, and get you out of housework for a few days!
For traditions sake you must ask the artist to hide your groom’s name in the mehndi of your right hand. After your have exchanged your vows, shared a first dance, and dashed off from your reception, tell your groom that you have a game for them to play. Ask him to find his name in your mehndi…but don’t’ tell him it is all in your right hand, it’s a bit funnier that way! And, if he finds his name and wins, you get to give him a special prize…but, I’ll leave that part to you!
Good luck and send us a picture of you as a mehndi clad Maharani! We would love to see it!
Wishing you love, laughter & happily ever after,
image by Aaron Delesie
I love to hear from our readers! Drop me a note at hello@maharaniweddings.com
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