The Art of Henna|神奇的手绘刺青

by Olivia Wycech

Next time you want a tattoo, consider trying it out with henna first.

　　Many people think getting a tattoo is a great way for people to express themselves and even tell their stories on their skin. The problem is that tattoos must be professionally removed, and sometimes stories and people change. Henna, on the other hand, is a natural impermanent way to put designs on the body. Henna is a temporary dye that has been extracted from a plant and is used to color the hands, skin, hair, fingernails, as well as different kinds of fabrics and even leather. It was first used cosmetically in ancient Egypt, and today it still remains an important tradition in many cultures.

　　The modern henna tattoo became fashionable in the Western world in the 1990s. It was inspired by the practice of Mehndi in India and the Arab world. Mehndi is a tradition involving the application of Henna on the hands and feet for special occasions such as festivals or Hindu weddings, as it is a symbol of love and good luck. While henna is now used to decorate the body with intricate patterns and designs, for centuries people would cool down their bodies by soaking their hands and feet in it.

　　To make the dye, the leaves of the henna plant are dried and ground and, when mixed with a liquid, a reddish brown paste is made. It is then applied to the skin using paintbrushes or plastic cones. After it hardens, the mud is removed, and a stain is left behind that remains for approximately one to three weeks. Fortunately, if you don't like the design you can have it redone after the henna fades, whereas ink tattoos require laser treatments to be removed. Henna might be a good starting point for someone a bit nervous about getting an ink tattoo.

神奇的手绘刺青

下次你想刺青的时候，可以先考虑试试看手绘刺青。

　　许多人都认为刺青是人们展现自我，甚至是在皮肤上诉说自己故事的一种好方法。问题是刺青必须用专业的方式才能去除，而且有时候人事全非。相反地，手绘刺青（henna）是一种自然而且非永久的方式，让人们可以把他们的设计涂在身上。手绘刺青所用的是一种由植物提炼出来的暂时性染料，它被用来替手、皮肤、头发、指甲以及各式各样的布料甚至是皮革上色。这种染料最早是在古埃及时被用来化妆，而时至今日，它仍是许多文化中一项很重要的传统。

　　现代的手绘刺青是在 1990 年代在西方世界变得很流行。这股风潮是由印度和阿拉伯世界所使用的手绘刺青（Mehndi）所带起。这种手绘刺青是一项包含了在某些特殊场合将手绘刺青运用在手脚上的传统，象是庆典或是印度式的婚礼，因为它是爱情和好运的象征。虽然手绘刺青所用的染料现今被用来以精细的图案和设计装饰身体，但长达数个世纪的时间人们都把手脚泡在这种染料中来散热。

　　要制作这种染料，要先把这种植物的叶子晒干并磨碎，然后和某种液体混合在一起，就可以作出棕红色的糊状物。接着要用画笔或是塑胶制的锥子把它涂在皮肤上。等它干掉之后，就可以把泥巴拿掉，染剂会留在皮肤上，而且会持续大约一至三个星期。还好，如果你不喜欢皮肤上设计的图案，你可以在手绘刺青褪色之后重作，不过如果是一般刺青可得用雷射治疗的方式才能去除。对于那些对一般刺青感到有些紧张的人而言，手绘刺青可能是一种不错的入门方式。