Yahoo Lifestyle 13 of the most beautiful henna designs to try in 2025
It’s 2008. I’m ten years old. I have a henna cone in my hand and I’m not afraid to use it. I squeeze unrecognisable flowers onto the women, and I paint wonky footballs and messy rockets onto the boys. I wave my henna cone around with gleeful abandon and inhale the comforting, sharp, herby scent that I’ve come to associate with fun occasions like weddings and Eid.
For the South Asian, Arab and African diasporas, henna is a symbol of our cultures and the traditions. Yet, henna (or “mehndi,” as it’s sometimes referred to) can be adapted and shared, too. I might blend a traditional Indian design with English flowers to represent all aspects of my identity, for example, or apply henna with my English friends. It’s an easy way to share my identity with others, and for them to show an interest in my culture and what’s important to me.
What is henna?
According to Pavan Ahluwalia-Dhanjal, founder of Pavan Beauty, which brings henna to the high street via its acclaimed “henna bar” in Selfridges, henna quite literally comes from the henna tree. “Its leaves are crushed into a powder, and then that powder is mixed with water and sometimes essential oils to form a paste,” she explains. As traditional henna comes from completely natural ingredients, it shouldn’t cause an allergic reaction. The paste is then applied to skin to leave a rich and vibrant reddish-brown stain. It applies wet, dries down, and then you scrape it off after a few hours. Using water to take it off will give you a lighter stain.
When I asked Sanna Adams, (content creator, henna expert and founder of Mahsā Stories), to explain what henna is, she took a less literal approach. To her, henna is “uncomplicated, beautiful, and profoundly culturally important.” It’s a form of self-expression and self-care. As a Scottish atheist of Pakistani descent, she says it’s been tough to prise apart her culture from her family’s religion, and to discover what that means to her.
“Because henna is shared across so many faiths and ethnicities, it always felt so easy from the beginning,” Sanna admits. “It felt uncomplicated, beautiful, and very profoundly culturally important to me.” The whole experience, she says, is something that she feels proud and privileged to practise — from the blending of the henna paste (and imagining the generations of women doing this before her), to applying it across her palms and appreciating its beauty, no matter the accuracy or skill involved. “In a world where I don’t feel “Scottish enough” to Scots, or “Pakistani enough” to Pakistanis, being able to enjoy an aspect of my culture for hours on end is something I’ll hopefully never give up.”
How are henna designs created?
Nowadays, henna paste is wrapped up into a pen-like cone and squeezed out of the nib. “Before this, people applied henna with their bare hands or Q-tips,” says Pavan. “I remember my mum using Q-tips or toothpicks to sculpt the shape of the design. In Morocco they used to use syringes. The process has evolved with time.”
My grandma would use the blunt end of a pin to create a really fine, traditional pattern. But, even before my grandma’s time, henna was traditionally used for its practicality rather than its aesthetic. “Henna was used to cool down palms and soles in warm countries,” explains Pavan. “There was no design — no rhyme or rhythm to it — they would literally slap it on the skin with their hands.”
Henna designs themselves pull on multiple influences and are created differently depending on what the person is doing. “It depends on what event you’re going to or what you’re celebrating,” notes Pavan, who finds her clients opt for a more traditional Indian look if they’re attending a wedding, or a contemporary tattoo-inspired look using black Jagua henna if they’re going on holiday.
Sanna says she creates her designs by taking inspiration from landscapes, stories, and the intricate work of other artists on Instagram. “We’re seeing more cross-cultural henna designs that are being appreciated and supported by different cultures. I love the “Emirati Ghassa” — it’s native to the UAE and I blend it with Indian and Pakistani elements by combining florals with symmetry. I’m seeing lots of “Moroccan Fessi” designs recently, which use straight lines and a lot of coverage.
“What I’m most excited about is the rise in abstract henna designs. More wallpaper-like designs featuring repetitions of symbols like flowers or cherries. This trend goes hand-in-hand with the rise of more minimal, pared-back trends.” Think: quiet luxury. “Sometimes I have completely bare hands and only apply henna to my fingertips — I just add little splashes of colour and pattern here and there.”
How long does henna last?
“It can last for up to two weeks but it’s entirely aftercare dependent — you need to keep your skin warm while it develops,” says Sanna, who carries around a palm-sized hot water bottle for this exact reason. “It also depends on things like the thickness of your skin, how long you keep the henna paste on for before scraping it off, the temperature of the environment, where on the body it’s applied, and skin concerns. Henna rarely stains the parts of my hands that are eczema-prone, for example.”
It’s also worth considering the quality of your henna. “If it darkly stains your skin straight away then it probably has added chemicals in it,” warns Pavan. Real henna takes about 48 hours to fully develop. You also want to keep it hydrated with oils and creams.” Much like you’d protect a fresh manicure, make sure you wear gloves while washing up or handling chemicals, and don’t leave your henna in water for long periods of time. Here are some of the best design inspirations I found online and what they mean...
Trending henna designs and what they mean
Paisleys
Include lots of petals, swirls and paisleys for a more traditional South Asian style, which is particularly perfect for weddings, as paisleys symbolise luck and fertility.
Flowers
Flowers represent beauty and joy, and can be found in South Asian and Middle Eastern designs alike. Combine this with inspiration from Western tattoos and try dotting little flowers around your fingertips for a quick and easy henna design.
Vines
Vines and leaves are popular henna subjects, thanks to their powerful meanings of devotion and strength.
Mandalas
Representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism, mandalas make a great centrepiece to any henna design.
Palm circles
Take inspiration from African and Libyan wedding traditions and apply a big circle in the centre of your hand to keep evil spirits away. Include a pattern within or around this to suit your personal style.
Moons
Moons are often found in henna designs, whether to symbolise the Islamic month of Ramadan and other religious festivals, or to signify guidance, protection and luck.
People, animals and mythical creatures
To show appreciation and love, it’s common for people to include portraits of people and animals within their henna designs. Brides often ask for a portrait of their husband or wife-to-be.
Lotus flowers
A symbol for multiple chakras within Hindu Tantrism and yoga, the lotus flower can also symbolise purity and unity, and often makes an appearance in henna tattoos.
Arabian arches
Middle Eastern designs often include beautiful, curved, flowing lines that connect into arches. These can house other designs or remain the star of the show. Keep things simple if you want to try your hand at traditional Middle Eastern-style henna — less is more.
Hearts
Hearts in henna symbolise love, affection and deep connection, making them a good option for weddings, anniversaries and more.
Abstract shapes and symbols
Made popular by artists like Dr Azra on Instagram, abstract designs offer an opportunity to get creative whilst still celebrating traditions.
Words and messages
Henna is a form of self-expression and it’s commonly used to write simple, meaningful words like “love” in Arabic. Say what’s important to you by incorporating words within your design — it doesn’t need to be poetic or well-thought out. After all, it’ll wash away in a few days.
Western tattoo-inspired designs
Blend traditional elements with popular Western tattoo designs to create something truly unique to your identity.
Follow Humeara on Instagram here
You Might Also Like
