Mehndi is derived from the Henna plant, a plant that grows in Asia. It is a temporary tattoo, painless and changeable. Mehndi is traditionally put on the women's hands and feet for festive occasions. It originated around the 12th century in Asia and the Middle East. One of its original uses, besides that of celebration, is to cool the hands and feet in hot temperature because it has a cooling effect.

To prepare Mehndi, the leaves are dried and ground into a fine powder. This powder is then mixed with a variety of oils and tea or water. This forms a thick paste which is then filled into a cone and used to apply on the hands or feet. The paste is a dark green, from the color of the leaves. The paste dries after an hour and forms a hard crust. To keep the crust on, another paste of lemon and sugar is added. This helps the Mehndi to stick ot the hand and stay on a longer time. The longer the Mehndi stays on, the darker the color. Colors for Mehndi can vary from a deep brown to a light orange. They slowly fade away. Mehndi can last from 5-10 days.