The Aesthic of Henna

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Posted by txilar on June 26, 2001 at 00:08:01:

In reply to: Recent questions re ammonia/quicklime posted by Kree at Gilded Lilies on June 24, 2001 at 05:00:38:

I had to think this over after reading it before I felt I could
respond. I agree and disagree in a way (and of course don't mean
*any* disrespect with that!) Henna is a natural substance that should
be respected, not abused. Abuse in my mind is using things such as
the PPD and gasoline, substances whose non-Henna related use might
ought to be questioned as well! And ammonia, having its roots in day-
old camel pee just ... well, it's simply not aesthetic to me or "my"
henna!! However, ammonia is a natural byproduct produced by our own
bodies, so it isn't really the same abuse, I don't think, that
gasoline is. And lime (the slaked lime at least) is used by make
masa. Who could live without their masa!? Thus, it too is a
relatively natural product (we sometimes just help it along.) Same
thing for calcium carbonate. These things, to me, encourage the
henna. I agree that black and super dark shouldn't be the goal. The
goal is henna and the unique beauty it produces- but there are things
that can help a shy henna reach its potential. To that end, why even
use lime or lemon juice? We have to use something to release that
dye, a little natural oil here and calcium products there aren't
destroying the henna. It's the idea of what henna *should* be to
certain people that destroys it, and well, if it isn't henna that
those people abuse it will be something. Certain people simply have a
nature that causes them to bend any and everything to their will. I
used to always get irritated with people that refer to henna as 'temp
tattoos' and the like. But, my mindfullness set in and I realised
that that is all it is to them. No matter what idea henna-ites (heh
heh) maintain, for some, it's just another hippie stlye/skater
style/military style/grunge/ <insert comet-like returning fad here>
and nothing will convince them otherwise. For Henna-ites, it is
something altogether different.

: I think it is cool experimenting with different henna techniques.
: However, I just wanted to let the experimenters know that the best
: moroccan artists I met were very knowledgeable about what
: constitutes "healthy" vs. "tainted" henna and made a point of using
: all-natural ingredients. Some of them were a little bit snooty
about
: the henna artists in Azzemour who use the quicklime technique, in
: fact I was told several times that "henna is a healthy plant, a
: sacred plant, why would anyone want to add bad ingredients?" (this
in
: reference to gasoline, lighter fluid or ammonia crystals.)
: Personally, I'd like to see people exploring more of what henna can
: do on its own, rather than what we can "make" henna do, ie what
henna
: can do with silk, rayon, hemp, paper, papyrus, wood, eggshell,
skin,
: etc. There's a world of henna projects out there if we can just
dream
: them up!
: ciao,
: kree

Follow Ups

Re: The Aesthic of Henna Kree @ Gl Henna 18:58:58 6/26/2001 (1)
- Re: The Aesthic of Henna txilar 20:49:36 6/26/2001 (0)
Re: The Aesthic of Henna Nick 00:54:03 6/26/2001 (1)
- Re: The Aesthic of Henna txilar 16:40:40 6/26/2001 (0)

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: I had to think this over after reading it before I felt I could : respond. I agree and disagree in a way (and of course don't mean : any disrespect with that!) Henna is a natural substance that should : be respected, not abused. Abuse in my mind is using things such as : the PPD and gasoline, substances whose non-Henna related use might : ought to be questioned as well! And ammonia, having its roots in day- : old camel pee just ... well, it's simply not aesthetic to me or "my" : henna!! However, ammonia is a natural byproduct produced by our own : bodies, so it isn't really the same abuse, I don't think, that : gasoline is. And lime (the slaked lime at least) is used by make : masa. Who could live without their masa!? Thus, it too is a : relatively natural product (we sometimes just help it along.) Same : thing for calcium carbonate. These things, to me, encourage the : henna. I agree that black and super dark shouldn't be the goal. The : goal is henna and the unique beauty it produces- but there are things : that can help a shy henna reach its potential. To that end, why even : use lime or lemon juice? We have to use something to release that : dye, a little natural oil here and calcium products there aren't : destroying the henna. It's the idea of what henna should be to : certain people that destroys it, and well, if it isn't henna that : those people abuse it will be something. Certain people simply have a : nature that causes them to bend any and everything to their will. I : used to always get irritated with people that refer to henna as 'temp : tattoos' and the like. But, my mindfullness set in and I realised : that that is all it is to them. No matter what idea henna-ites (heh : heh) maintain, for some, it's just another hippie stlye/skater : style/military style/grunge/ <insert comet-like returning fad here> : and nothing will convince them otherwise. For Henna-ites, it is : something altogether different. : : : I think it is cool experimenting with different henna techniques. : : However, I just wanted to let the experimenters know that the best : : moroccan artists I met were very knowledgeable about what : : constitutes "healthy" vs. "tainted" henna and made a point of using : : all-natural ingredients. Some of them were a little bit snooty : about : : the henna artists in Azzemour who use the quicklime technique, in : : fact I was told several times that "henna is a healthy plant, a : : sacred plant, why would anyone want to add bad ingredients?" (this : in : : reference to gasoline, lighter fluid or ammonia crystals.) : : Personally, I'd like to see people exploring more of what henna can : : do on its own, rather than what we can "make" henna do, ie what : henna : : can do with silk, rayon, hemp, paper, papyrus, wood, eggshell, : skin, : : etc. There's a world of henna projects out there if we can just : dream : : them up! : : ciao, : : kree
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