Instruct: Given a question, retrieve passages that answer the question.
Query: How is henna made?
Henna (Arabic: حِنَّاء‎) also known as Mehndi (Hindi: मेंहदी) is a dye prepared from the plant Lawsonia inermis, also known as hina, the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet,[1] the sole species of the genus Lawsonia.
Henna of this region has a high content of lawsone (the dyeing agent in henna powder) of 0.5–2.5% in dry henna leaves. It attaches itself strongly to proteins, and as a result the dye is very fast. The higher the lawsone content in henna powder, the better the quality.
An important form of art in Somali culture is henna art. The custom of applying henna dates back to antiquity. During special occasions, a Somali woman's hands and feet are expected to be covered in decorative mendhi. Girls and women usually apply or decorate their hands and feet in henna on festive celebrations like Eid or weddings. The henna designs vary from very simple to highly intricate. Somali designs vary, with some more modern and simple while others are traditional and intricate. Traditionally, only women apply it as body art, as it is considered a feminine custom. Henna is not only applied on the hands and feet but is also used as a dye. Somali men and women alike use henna as a dye to change their hair colour. Women are free to apply henna on their hair as most of the time they are wearing a hijab.
In Morocco, henna is applied symbolically when individuals go through life cycle events.[24] Moroccans refer to the paste as henna and the designs as naqsh, which means painting or inscription.[24] In Morocco, there are two types of henna artists: non-specialists, who traditionally partake in wedding rituals, and specialists, who partake in tourism and decorative henna.[25] Nqaasha, the low-end Henna specialists, are known for attracting tourists, which they refer to as gazelles or international tourists, in artisan slang.[26]
Henna can also refer to the temporary body art resulting from the staining of the skin from the dyes (see also mehndi). Henna has been used since antiquity to dye skin, hair and fingernails, as well as fabrics including silk, wool and leather. Historically, henna was used in the Arabian Peninsula, Indian Subcontinent, near and Middle East, Carthage, other parts of North Africa and the Horn of Africa. The name is used in other skin and hair dyes, such as black henna and neutral henna, neither of which is derived from the henna plant.[2][3]
The movie takes place in Egypt 1957 where gypsies still roamed and had designated living areas where they could go about their lives. In this particular gypsy living area there is a carnival where Tamr Henna, the main character, works along with the Hassan, the carnivals strong man and her love interest in the beginning of the movie. During the first part of the movie we see Tamr Henna working as a belly dancer and being coveted by all sorts of men be them rich or poor, and we simultaneously see Hassan’s strong sense of jealousy. During one of Tamr Henna’s belly dancing performances a rich man by the name of Ahmed sees here and sparks up a conversation. Hassan is then not pleased and vows to kill him so Tamr Henna goes to Ahmed’s mansion to warn him but gets caught by Ahmed’s father who sees her as nothing but a useless gypsy. Tamr Henna manages to escape the make shift prison Ahmed’s dad locks her up in and warns Ahmed. The two then start meeting up and Ahmed convinces Tamr Henna to live with him in his mansion and promises to transform her into a socialite. He changes her name to Yasmine and buys her new clothes and in the process convinces his father that she is of a very wealthy family. Meanwhile, Hassan searches for Tamr Henna but is unable to find her. As the movie progresses Ahmed’s father starts coveting Tamr Henna for himself, because of the money he thinks she possess, and so he hosts a party in which he will propose to her in. During this glamorous party hosted for Tamr Henna, Hassan manages to find her, thanks to the help of Ahmed’s ex-fiancé and socialite Maysa, and vows that he will kill her. She finds out and outs herself as a fake and tells everyone her true occupation and origin, and flees to try to find Ahmed only to over hear him talking about the bet that he has made with his neighbor in order to fool his father. Tamr Henna feels devastated and runs to her room only to find Hassan waiting for her with a knife in hand. She professes her love to him but he manages to stab her and while she is bleeding she tells him that she still loves him and he carries her back to the carnival, and it is implied that Tamr Henna heals and ends up marrying Hassan.
The Night of the Henna was celebrated by most groups in the areas where henna grew naturally: Jews,[12] Muslims,[13] Sikhs, Hindus and Zoroastrians, among others, all celebrated marriages and weddings by adorning the bride, and often the groom, with henna.
Henna is mud-like material that is prepared on the day before the wedding. On night for the wedding, in the old days all the ladies would gather at the house of the bride (but nowadays it's mixed, also male relatives and family friends are invited.) A bowl is filled with henna. Henna is celebrated differently throughout the Assyrian community.
In some areas, whoever holds the bowl with the henna will dance with it around the others. 
The groom and bride put in the bowl their little finger and their little finger will be wrapped and connected to each other by a ribbon.
In other areas, everyone is given a turn to wrap his finger with henna, and after everyone, the person that is getting henna in his hand starts the chant of praise for the future couple, as everyone else follows him.
Across the henna-growing region, Purim,[12] Eid,[14] Diwali,[15] Karva Chauth, Passover, Nowruz, Mawlid, and most saints' days were celebrated with some henna. Favorite horses, donkeys, and salukis had their hooves, paws, and tails hennaed. Battle victories, births, circumcision, birthdays, Zār, as well as weddings, usually included some henna as part of the celebration. Bridal henna nights remain an important custom in many of these areas, particularly among traditional families.
Though traditional henna artists were Nai caste in India, and barbering castes in other countries (lower social classes), talented contemporary henna artists can command high fees for their work. Women in countries where women are discouraged from working outside the home can find socially acceptable, lucrative work doing henna.[17] Morocco, Mauritania,[18] Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates India and many other countries have thriving women's henna businesses. These businesses are often open all night for Eid, Diwali and Karva Chauth. Many women may work together during a large wedding, wherein hundreds of guests have henna applied to their body parts. This particular event at a marriage is known as the Mehndi Celebration or Mehndi Night, and is mainly held for the bride and groom.
Henna has been used to adorn young women's bodies as part of social and holiday celebrations since the late Bronze Age in the eastern Mediterranean. The earliest text mentioning henna in the context of marriage and fertility celebrations comes from the Ugaritic legend of Baal and Anath,[10] which has references to women marking themselves with henna in preparation to meet their husbands, and Anath adorning herself with henna to celebrate a victory over the enemies of Baal. Wall paintings excavated at Akrotiri (dating prior to the eruption of Thera in 1680BCE) show women with markings consistent with henna on their nails, palms and soles, in a tableau consistent with the henna bridal description from Ugarit.[11] Many statuettes of young women dating between 1500 and 500BCE along the Mediterranean coastline have raised hands with markings consistent with henna. This early connection between young, fertile women and henna seems to be the origin of the Night of the Henna, which is now celebrated worldwide.
PPD black henna use is widespread, particularly in tourist areas.[64] Because the blistering reaction appears 3 to 12 days after the application, most tourists have left and do not return to show how much damage the artist has done. This permits the artists to continue injuring others, unaware they are causing severe injuries. The high-profit margins of black henna and the demand for body art that emulates "tribal tattoos" further encourage artists to deny the dangers.[65][66]
In the 1990s, henna artists in Africa, India, Bali, the Arabian Peninsula and the West began to experiment with PPD-based black hair dye, applying it as a thick paste as they would apply henna, in an effort to find something that would quickly make jet-black temporary body art. PPD can cause severe allergic reactions, with blistering, intense itching, permanent scarring, and permanent chemical sensitivities.[53][54] Estimates of allergic reactions range between 3% and 15%. Henna does not cause these injuries.[55] Black henna made with PPD can cause lifelong sensitization to coal tar derivatives[56] while black henna made with gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, paint thinner, and benzene has been linked to adult leukemia.[57]
Hashim (Adnan Siddiqui) and Henna (Ayesha Khan) are a married couple living in U.S.A with their children Soni and Naeel. Henna is a perfect wife and a caring mother but misses her family living in Pakistan. One day Hashim hands over airplane tickets to Henna and asks her to visit her family in Pakistan with Soni and Naeel. Henna gets happy and visits her family. Her family includes her parents, two brothers, a sister-in-law and a niece. After few days, Hashim calls his kids back as he doesn't want them to miss their school. Within few days, Henna receives divorce papers and is devastated. As she doesn't have a green card she can't go back to US. Meanwhile, Hashim is having an extramarital affair with his best friend Nabeel's (Imran Abbas Naqvi) wife Kamla (Tooba Siddiqui). Hashim marries Kamla but his children don't accept Kamla as their new mother. Henna is desperate to meet her kids and meets Nabeel who proposes to Henna to take revenge from Hashim. Henna rejects his proposal. Kids find it difficult to stay with Kamla. Kamla too feels that it would be better if the children go to her mother i.e. Henna. She sets up a plan to send Soni and Naeel to Henna but is caught by Hashim. Hashim divorces Kamla. Henna's younger brother Adeel (Ahsan Khan) has a friend Marina (Juggan Kazim) who sets up her maternal uncle (Mamu) Salman's (Faisal Rehman) marriage with Henna. Henna doesn't want a second marriage but marries him as he promises her that he would take her to US where she can actually meet her kids and get them. Adeel on the other hand, likes a girl Roma and takes Marina's help. Marina secretly loves Adeel but is in an inferiority complex of being an overweight. Adeel soon realises his love for Marina and proposes her. Salman is suffering from impotency and Henna feels cheated for not being known about this she even calls him gay. Salman tells her that she is treating him the way Hashim treated her. Henna apologizes and visits a doctor with Salman. Marina loses weight and surprises Adeel and his family on the day of their marriage. Salman offers a job to Adeel in U.S.A. Henna soon conceives, Salman is extremely happy but denies his promise as he doesn't want Henna to neglect herself being pregnant. Salman, Henna, Adeel and Marina arrives U.S.A. Henna keeps on insisting but is denied to meet her kids. Salman again promises her that as soon as the baby would be born, she would be taken by him to meet Soni and Naeel. Marina applies for her master's in a university. Adeel opposes her decision but is later convinced by Henna. A baby girl is born and is named Zarlina (Zee). Meanwhile, Hashim arrives Pakistan with his kids to meet Henna and is informed about Henna's second marriage. He calls Salman in order so that the kids could meet Henna but is denied. Henna is eager to meet her kids but is denied by Salman as he thinks Henna would forget about Zee as soon as she meets Soni and Naeel. Henna neglects Zarlina and insist Salman but soon realises her duty of being Zee's mother. After few years, when Zee grows Henna shows Zee her children's picture, Zee too demands for her older siblings. Marina gets a job which saddens Adeel as he wants a baby now. One day, Henna meets Hashim and demands to see her kids she goes with him to Hashim's House and is devastated to see Soni being so spoilt drug addict and Naeel being always alone. She finds that her kids hate her for not showing up as Hashim had lied them that it was all Henna's fault. Henna stays there in order to get the things done but still hates Hashim. Salman is furious and goes with Zee to Hashim's place. Henna blames him that because of him, her kids are so spoilt and hates her. Salman in guilt, leaves Zee with her. Soni hates Zee and warns Henna to leave her house or else she would cause a trouble. Naeel likes Zee and even plays with her. Soni kidnaps Zee and ask Henna to leave the house. Henna readily accepts which hurts Soni as she thinks Henna only loves Zee. She doesn't agree. Salman comes to meet Zee but is surprised by Soni's set up. Zee, who lives at Soni's friend's house still loves her elder sister. Soni exploits Zee but also takes care of her at her friend's house. Soni's friend calls up Henna one day and apologizes. Henna takes Zee with her and is leaving Hashim's house. Before leaving, she tells Soni that she isn't aware of the truth. Hashim confronts Soni about all he had done. Henna decides to leave alone as Salman didn't kept his promise. Soni talks to Henna and tells her not to leave Zee alone. Marina decides to leave Adeel thinking him as a male chauvinist but Salman tells her that it is she who is a problem in living with and must not leave Adeel as he truly loves her. Marina apologizes to Adeel for her headstrong behavior and lives a happy life with him and even plans for a child. Soni and Naeel refuse to stay with Hashim and stay with Henna and often meet Zee. Soni tells Henna to get back with Salman as he is a nice person. Henna forgives Salman and gets back to him with her children.
Commercially packaged henna, intended for use as a cosmetic hair dye, is available in many countries, and is now popular in India, as well as the Middle East, Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States. The color that results from dying with henna depends on the original color of the hair, as well as the quality of the henna, and can range from orange to auburn to burgundy. Henna can be mixed with other natural hair dyes including Cassia obovata for lighter shades of red or even blond, or with indigo to achieve brown and black shades. Some products sold as "henna" include these other natural dyes. Others may include metal salts that can interact with other chemical treatments, or oils and waxes that may inhibit the dye, or dyes which may be allergens.
Historically, little incisions were cut into the bride and groom's palms so that they could be joined in blood. As time progressed it was replaced with henna (also spelled as hennah). Henna is a plant and which is use for dying hair, fingernails, leather, and wool. Henna is considered more sanitary and less messy. At this moment a girl dressed in traditional Afghan clothes would come through the door with a silver tray with candles and an assortment of fresh flowers with little containers of henna dancing and twirling all the way to the bride and groom. The mother of the groom would place a teaspoon full of henna onto the bride's palm and cover it with a triangular cloth made of fine and shiny fabric. The bride's mother would place the henna on the pinkie finger of the groom and likewise cover it with the fabric.
As for Mehndi, natural brown henna dyes are safe to use when mixed with ingredients such as lemon juice. However, a commonly marketed product called "black henna", is not safe to use because the product has been made by mixing natural henna with synthetic black dyes containing PPD, which can cause serious skin allergies, and should be avoided due to the substantial risk of serious injury. Another option is Jagua, a dark indigo plant-based dye that is safe to use on the skin and is approved for cosmetic use in the EU.
In Tunisia, the Jewish wedding custom acts to clean the bride by bathing her, removing her body hair and painting her with henna.[34] The procession begins 8 days before the wedding ceremony when a basket is delivered to the bride, which contains henna.[35] The mother of the groom supervises the procession in order to ensure all is being done correctly.[34] Today, the groom accompanies the bride in the ritual at the henna party, but the majority of henna painting is done on the bride's body.[35]
Whole, unbroken henna leaves will not stain the skin. Henna will not stain skin until the lawsone molecules are made available (released) from the henna leaf. However, dried henna leaves will stain the skin if they are mashed into a paste. The lawsone will gradually migrate from the henna paste into the outer layer of the skin and bind to the proteins in it, creating a stain.
Body art quality henna is often more finely sifted than henna powders for hair.
Girls gather in one of the rooms. One of bride relatives takes henna and starts dancing in the middle of the room. Then she brings a tray and an empty box and puts them in front of the one of groom relatives. This relative put money into the empty box and takes the henna. She comes to the bride with dancing then the bride's fingers and feet are smeared in henna. Then henna is brought in front of everybody. Everybody smears henna and gives namar. Then the jewelry that the groom's relatives brought was presented to everybody.
Another tattoo alternative is henna-based tattoos, which generally contain no additives. Henna is a plant-derived substance which is painted on the skin, staining it a reddish-orange-to-brown color. Because of the semi-permanent nature of henna, they lack the realistic colors typical of decal temporary tattoos. Due to the time-consuming application process, it is a relatively poor option for children. Dermatological publications report that allergic reactions to natural henna are very rare and the product is generally considered safe for skin application. Serious problems can occur, however, from the use of henna with certain additives. The FDA and medical journals report that painted black henna temporary tattoos are especially dangerous.
Henna (حنّا) is an Arabic male name for John. It is a common given name as well as a surname particularly among Arab Christians. The Arabic female name Hannah (حَنَّة meaning "blessed") is rarely also anglicized as Henna. Henna is also a Finnish female given name (different root). Notable persons with the name include:
For Moroccan Jews, a wedding festival can last up to 5 days, with 2 days involving henna art.[27] One of these days is referred to as azmomeg (meaning unknown), and is the Thursday before the wedding where guests are invited to apply henna to the bride.[27] The other henna ceremony occurs after the wedding ceremony, called the Day of Henna.[27] On this day, typically an older woman applies henna to the bride after she dips in the mikveh to ward off evil spirits who may be jealous of the newlyweds.[28] The groom is also painted with henna after the wedding.[28] During the groom's henna painting, he commonly wears black clothing, this tradition emerged from the Pact of Umar as the Jews were not permitted to dress similar to colorful Muslim dress in Morocco.[28]
Sojat, also called Henna City (Mehandi Nagri), is India's largest henna cultivating and producing city.
Henna produced in this region has popularity all over the world as "Rajasthani Henna". It imparts rich dark reddish stains on hands and feet and also acts as a good natural conditioner for hair.