Mehendi is actually a plant, leaves of which are powdered, mixed in water or oil and other ingredients to make a paste. This paste is then used to decorate the body. The mehendi powder manufactured in Rajasthan is preferred as it gives a dark colour.

Darker The Better

Every bride wants the colour of her mehendi to be dark. It is traditionally believed that the darker the colour, the greater is the husband's love for his wife.

After scraping off, darkness of the mehendi depends on body heat. However, few methods can be tried to ensure a dark colour.

" While making the mehendi paste, mix equal amounts of eucalyptus oil, clove oil and lemon juice in the mehendi powder. Use this paste for making the designs. When it has dried, dab a mixture of sugar in lemon juice with cotton", advises mehendi artist Usha Shah.

The mixture pf sugar in lemon juice makes the hands and legs sticky, which makes it difficult to scrape the mehendi off. Apply coconut oil on hands and legs to make the removal easier.

After scraping off the dried mehendi, apply clove oil on your hand and wear woollen gloves. They will help to absorb heat and make the colour darker. Ideally, you need to allow it to dry for five hours, for it to leave a dark colour.

Designs on You

There are two major categories of mehendi designs - Arabic and Indian.

Arabic mehendi design consists of thick borders and includes a lot of shading. Glitter is often used in Arabic mehendi as a special touch for the big day. Gold or silver glitter and washable body glitter, is used to match the bride's outfit. Today, Arabic mehendi designs are popular with the bride's friends and relatives.

Indian mehendi, which includes more intricate design, figures and themes, is more popular among brides. Suggests mehendi artist Deepa Sharma, "A wedding theme as a mehendi design is ideal for brides. These themes include the varmala ceremony, vidaai or pheras. Figures of the bride and groom are a favourite among brides-to-be."

A mehendi tattoo need not be made only on the hands and feet. Other exposed or visible parts of the body such as the back and the midriff can also be used.