The Henna Page Science, History, and "HowTo" Free Ebooks
Videos, Calendar, and Slideshows


The Henna Page Body Art Patterns
Enlaced


Body art patterns for henna and Becoming Moonlight® techniques
(freehand white, color, and gllitter work)

by Penni AlZayer

This is a FREE pattern book from TapDancing Lizard ® LLC
how-to 'white henna'

The Becoming Moonlight® Introduction to "White Henna"

by Catherine Cartwright-Jones PhD and Rebecca Chou

This book is a how to guide for people who are interested in 'White Henna' from the folks who invented and developed it.
moonflower dreams

Moonflower Dreams
a pattern book for 'white henna'

 by Catherine Cartwright-Jones PhD,  Rebecca Chou, and Alexander Limbach
Adinkra

Adinkra Patterns
Adapted for Body Art

Body art patterns based on Ghanaian Adinkra.
This is a FREE henna pattern book 
Fire Dancer

Fire Dancer

Body art patterns based on Polynesian tattoos and graphic arts. This is a FREE  Spellstone PatternBook by Alex Morgan.

Spain2

Spain

Henna patterns based on art from Medieval Spain; a FREE Spellstone PatternBook by Alex Morgan.

Topkapi

Tulips of Topkapi

Henna body art patterns based on Ottoman Turkish graphic art; a FREE Spellstone PatternBook for body art  by Alex Morgan.
North African Henna: Elements2

The Henna Page "HowTo"
North African Henna Elements  

Fundamental elements for Marrakechi style henna,  a FREE henna pattern book
Drums

Spain: Drums

Henna techniques for drum tops

This is a FREE Spellstone PatternBook for body art  by Alex Morgan.
North African Henna Diamonds and Stars

The Henna Page "HowTo"
North African Diamonds and Stars
 
Diamond and Star patterns for
 North African style henna work, a FREE henna pattern book
North African Patterns

The Henna Page "HowTo"
North African Patterns


A FREE henna pattern book by Catherine Cartwright-Jones, full patterns for hands and feet; 8 MB pdf
How to Apply Henna

The Henna Page "HowTo"
Apply Henna

Learn to apply henna with traditional and modern tools


This is a FREE henna pattern book 
Free Harquus Pattern Book

Harquus: NorthAfrican Women's 
Traditional Body Art
Volume 4: Improvisation


Modern variants on women's
traditional body art: 5 MB pdf

This is a FREE henna pattern book
Tribal

Tribal

New Edition! This is a FREE Spellstone PatternBook for body art  by Alex Morgan.
Saint Pancras

The St. Pancras Henna Pattern Book

This is a FREE henna pattern book by Catherine Cartwright-Jones.

Ancient Blue Patterns

Ancient Blue Pagan Patterns
from Ancient Europ
e

This is a FREE henna pattern book from Spellstone by Alex Morgan.
Europe

Europe

A FREE Spellstone PatternBook by Alex Morgan


Henna, The Joyous Body Art

This is a FREE henna pattern book 

Warrior

Warrior

This is a FREE Spellstone PatternBook for body art  by Alex Morgan.

Body art patterns adapted from Native American art

Native American Tribal Patterns
adapted for body art

This is a FREE henna pattern book
HowTo Mix

The Henna Page "HowTo"
Mix Henna

Learn to mix your own henna paste
for better results at lower cost:
1.5 MB PDF


 
A guide to creating SAFE black temporary tattoos without dangerous "black henna",  without para-phenylenediamine or other coal tar dyes.  This ebook has "step by step" instructions for tribal style body art in safe, easy to use harquus. 2 MB PDF 

HOwTo Knotwork

The Henna Page "HowTo" Knotwork

A guide to knotwork for henna artists:
3 MB PDF
Hindu Wedding

The Henna Page Encyclopedia of Henna

 Hindu Wedding,  by Dipti Desai
This free ebook explains the sequence of parties and rituals for Gujarati Hindu weddings, the meaning and importance of the traditions, and photographs of the events.
5 MB PDF
Free Henna pattern book

The Henna Page "HowTo"
Patterns Volume 1

Learn to do henna patterns like a pro;
7 MB PDF

This is a FREE henna pattern book
Free Henna Pattern Book

The Henna Page "HowTo"
Patterns Volume 2:
The Secret Henna Diaries

Popular, eclectic patterns; 6 MB PDF

This is a FREE henna pattern book
Free Henna Patterns

The Henna Page "HowTo"
Patterns Volume 3:

This is a FREE henna pattern book
Academic Research Papers by Catherine Cartwright-Jones PhD

History of Black Henna, doctoral dissertation.  19MB PDF

Catherine Cartwright-Jones PhD
Masters thesis


A comprehensive discussion  on the botany, chemistry, history and traditions of henna, and the legal and cutural issues that have arisen since 1990.

Master's thesis: 13 MB zipped PDF

Catherine Cartwright-Jones PhD
 Henna and the Evil Eye2

Henna and the Evil Eye,
Salt and Lilith, and the
Geography of G6PD Deficiency

This is a FREE graduate university reviewed paper on henna and indigo body art by Catherine Cartwright-Jones, PhD, with full citations, suitable for basis of further academic research.

Click, download, be patient, this is a large file.


Postpartum Henna Traditions

The Functions of Childbirth
and Postpartum Henna Traditions
 
Information on henna childbirth traditions,
 G6PD deficiency and kohl,
with citations from medical
and scientific journal articles. 
36 pages, 2 MB PDF

By Catherine Cartwright-Jones, PhD
Persian techniques

The Patterns of Persian Henna
16MB PDF

This paper examines women’s henna patterns from Persian art between the 13th and the mid 19th centuries. showing several distinct traditions, reflecting the arts and beliefs that were a part of their daily lives.

This is a FREE graduate university reviewed paper on henna body art by Catherine Cartwright-Jones, with full citations, suitable for basis of  further academic research.

By Catherine Cartwright-Jones PhD
Persian Henna

The Techniques of Persian Henna

 8 MB PDF

This paper shows henna patterns and
 techniques  in pictorial and literary
 Persian art between  the late 15th  and
the mid 19th centuries, corroborated by
Persian literature  and traveler’s
descriptions.

This is a FREE graduate university reviewed paper on henna body art by Catherine Cartwright-Jones, with full citations, suitable for basis of further academic research.

By Catherine Cartwright-Jones PhD

Formal and Popular
Muslim Pilgrimages
in Morocco

anthropological research paper

Catherine Cartwright-Jones PhD
Henna and Menstruation

Menstruation and Henna:
Pollution and Purification


anthropological research paper on the traditional connection between henna and women's fertility
Id al-adha

Id al-Adha: The Muslim
Feast of Sacrifice, and the
Significance of Henna
in this Sacrifice.

This paper details Id sacrifice traditions and effects, focusing on henna and ecosystem management, from its origins in the Neolithic Mediterranean world, to present day. 1.5 MB PDF

By Catherine Cartwright-Jones, PhD
North Africa

North African Henna
History and Technique Volume 1


Historical images and techniques of North African henna from 1900 to 1920. 5 MB pdf

This is a FREE graduate university reviewed paper on North African body art by Catherine Cartwright-Jones, PhD, with full citations, suitable for basis of further academic research.

Caution: this book contains nude images and may unsuitable for children.
Free Harquus pattern book

Harquus: North African Women's
Traditional Body Art
Volume 2: Paint


Historically accurate and period appropriate North African women's tattoos 10 MB PDF

This is a FREE graduate university reviewed paper on North African body art by Catherine Cartwright-Jones, PhD, with full citations, suitable basis of further academic research.

Caution: this book contains semi-nude images that may be unsuitable for children.
free harquus pattern book

Harquus: North African
Women's Traditional Body Art
Volume 3: Tattoo


Historically accurate and period appropriate North African women's tattoos 10 MB PDF

This is a FREE graduate university reviewed paper on North Afirican body art by Catherine Cartwright-Jones, PhD, with full citations, suitable for basis of further academic research.

Caution: this book contains semi- nude images that may be unsuitable for children.

Henna’s Significance in Amazigh Id, Circumcision and "Night of the Henna" Celebrations

Moroccan traditions of henna
for Id al-Adha, circumcision, and the
“Night of the Henna",
based on eyewitness accounts from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  PDF

By Catherine Cartwright-Jones, PhD

Finding Blue: the history and techniques of Celtic Woading and Body Art

Finding Blue ~ History
examines the historic record of Celtic woading and  indigo body art
Finding Blue ~ Science
explains how blue body art is created with woad and indigo
Finding Blue ~ Technique shows you how to create woad and indigo patterns 
Finding Blue ~ Patterns  
has more patterns for woad and indigo

By Catherine Cartwright-Jones, PhD

Ancient Sunrise Henna for Hair

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 1
Henna for Hair
: Introduction and the Epidemic of Para-phenylenediamine Sensitization

This chapter discusses the risks of using chemical hair dye, and the epidemeology of  millions of cases of hair dye allergy.  This chapter introduces the solution for allergies to chemical hair dye and associated chemical sensitivities.

Links to specific topics in this chapter:

Ancient Sunrise® Henna for Hair: Foreword
Henna is NOT black

Mapping the use of ‘black henna’ temporary tattoos

The epidemic of PPD sensitization and the urgency of using pure henna

Stylists and PPD Sensitization
Appendix I: Cross Sensitizations to Para-Phenylenediamine
Apppendix II: Incidents
The History of Henna

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 2:
The History of Henna Hair Dye
 
Links to research papers in this chapter

Theoretical Use of Henna in Prehistory

Henna, Astronomy, and the Agro-Ecology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age

Ancient Mesopotamian and Levantine Henna

Early cultural henna use in the Arabian Peninsula and along the Arabian Ocean

Henna during the Late Bronze Age in the Mycenaean Eastern Mediterranean

Henna and Menstruation

Henna in 12th century Sicily

Moorish Culture and Henna in Medieval Spain


Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 3: Compound Henna

This chapter discusses the addition of metallic salts and oxidative dyes to henna, how these created conflicts with chemical hair dye, and well as confusion about what henna actually is.

Compound henna, rasticks, henna-reng, henna-rasticks, and metallic salts

Henna mislabeling, misinformation and disinformation

Para-phenylenediamine and henna

Walnut, Silver Nitrate, and Para-phenylenediamine as Brunette Hair Dye
Henna Science and microscopy

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 4:
Henna Science and Microscopy 


This chapter details the botany of henna, the phytochemistry of henna, and microscopy of henna in present and past production.

Links to specific topics in this chapter:

The Botany of Henna

The Phytochemistry of Henna

Microscopy of Products Labeled as Henna in Present and Past Commercial Production
Plants that dye hair

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 5: Plants that Dye Hair


This chapter discusses henna, indigo, and cassia, (lawsonia inermis, indigofera tinctoria, and cassia obovata) and the chemistry of each of these dye plants. Understanding the botany of these plants will help you understand how to get the best results from your henna hair dye.

Links to specific topics in this chapter:

Three Plants Dye Hair: Henna, Indigo, and Cassia

Henna, Lawsonia Inermis

Indigo, Indigofera Tinctoria

Cassia Obovata

What is the difference between Cassia Obovata and Cassia Auriculata? 
How do you use Cassia Auriculata as a hair conditioner and toner?
Henna and Acidic Mixes

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 6 : Henna and Acidic Mixes

This chapter discusses the necessary chemistry of mixing henna and cassia with a mildly acidic liquid.  This chapter discusses several sources of fruit acids, and how each has a different effect on henna.

Links to specific topics in this chapter:

Henna, Cassia, and Mildly Acidic Mixes

Citrus Fruits and Citric Acid

Ancient Sunrise® Amla, Emblica Officinalis

Acids with Anthocyanins and Antioxidants

Ancient Sunrise® Kristalovino and Ancient Sunrise® Malluma Kristalovino

What Acids Do You Have Around the House?

Coffee, Wine, Yogurt, Oil and Eggs: Don’t Bother
Mixing and Testing Your Henna

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 7:
Mixing and Testing your Henna Mix


This chapter discusses the mixing, dye release, formulation, and testing of a wide range of non-chemical permanent colors from henna, indigo, and cassia.  This chapter includes step-by-step instructions to produce the color you want for your hair.

Links to specific topics in this chapter:

What Difference Does Your Hair Color Make?

Formulate Your Mix; Mix Your Paste

Dye release: 
When Will the Henna Paste be Ready?
 Need your Henna in a Hurry? 
What Does Henna Dye Release Look Like?

Mix Henna and Indigo for Brunette Colors

Mix Ancient Sunrise® Indigo  to Dye Hair Black over Henna

Test Ancient Sunrise® Paste on your Hair

What is the difference between Cassia Obovata and Cassia Auriculata?  How do you use Cassia Auriculata as a hair conditioner and toner?
Henna Your Hair

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 8: How to Henna Your Hair

This chapter has step-by-step instructions for first time users dyeing hair blonde, red, brunette or black with henna indigo, and cassia.

Links to specific topics in this chapter:

How Do You Henna Your Hair for the First Time?

Use an Ancient Sunrise® Cassia-Henna Mix to Repair Bleached Hair and Add Color

 Apply Ancient Sunrise® Cassia for Conditioning and Minimal Color Change

Apply Ancient Sunrise® Henna to Bleached Hair

Dye Hair Warm Black with a One Step Henna-Indigo Mix
Over Chemically Dyed Graying Blonde

 Dye Graying Light Brown Hair Black with the Two-Step Henna-Indigo Process

Henna Chemically Dyed Hair
Doing Your Roots

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 9: Gray Hair and 'Doing Your Roots'

This chapter has step-by-step instructions for maintaining your gray roots as they grow in; dyeing them red, brunette, or black.

Links to specific topics in this chapter:

Doing Gray Roots with Ancient Sunrise® Henna

Covering Gray Roots with an Ancient Sunrise® Henna-Indigo Mix

Dye Graying Blonde Roots Warm Black

Dye graying roots black with the Ancient Sunrise® two-step process of henna and indigo

Dyeing Graying Roots at Home
Lightening Hennaed hair

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 10:
Lightening your Hennaed Hair


This chapter discusses the application of henna over chemically lightened hair, and chemically lightening hennaed hair.

This chapter demonstrates the technique of highlights with henna and foils.
Relaxed and natural hair

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 11: Henna for Relaxed and Natural Hair

This chapter contains step-by-step instructions for using henna, cassia, and indigo to dye relaxed hair, natural hair, and locs.

Links to specific topics in this chapter:

Henna on Relaxed and Natural Hair

Cassia and Relaxed Hair

Henna and Natural Hair

Two-Step Henna-Indigo Black and Locs
Troubleshooting Henna

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 12: Troubleshooting

This chapter provides answers to the most frequent questions from people who henna their hair; these include problems with hard water,  slight adjustments in color, getting complete and permanent color, and the occasional surprise.

Links to specific topics in this chapter:

Why Are My Cassia and Henna Turning Brownish, or Worse? (hard water problems)

Henna and You

Troubleshooting Paste and Application

Understanding the Nature of Henna
Henna and your health

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 13:
Henna and Your Health


This chapter discusses the safety and wellness aspects of dyeing your hair with henna: why it is recommended for pregnant and nursing women, how it can enhance your wellness, and who should not dye their hair with henna.

Links to specific topics in this chapter

Henna, Pregnancy, Nursing, and Doctor’s Orders
Henna and G6PD Deficiency

Health Benefits of Henna
Henna and Hair Care
Henna and Head Lice
Stylists and Salons

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 14: Stylists and Salons

This chapter is directed to stylists who wish to incorporate henna into their salons because they need to serve clients who have become sensitized to chemical hair dye, or they, themselves, have become sensitized to chemicals.

Links to specific topics in this chapter:

Stylists and Salons

Stylists’ Frequently Asked Questions

Maria’s Advice for Stylists
Additional Techniques

Ancient Sunrise® Chapter 15: Additional Techniques for Henna

This chapter discusses henna manicures and pedicures, as well as amla facials for salon practice, and provides step-by-step instructions.

Links to specific topics in this chapter:

Additional Techniques for Henna at Home and in the Salon

Ancient Sunrise®Henna as Part of a Manicure

Ancient Sunrise® Henna as Part of a Pedicure

Ancient Sunrise® Amla as a Facial

Other Free Things fromThe Henna Page
Slide Show

The Henna Page Encyclopedia of Henna
The Henna Page Guide to Henna

Use this slide show to teach henna classes: combine this slide show with free ebooks from The Henna Page and  your own expertise and demonstrations  for a great henna class!  "The Henna Page Guide to Henna" is appropriate for ages 14 and up.
The Henna Page Guide to Henna
2 MB PowerPoint
The Henna Page Guide to Henna: PDF 2.5 MB
Rangoli

Rangoli

Rangoli is a sacred women's folk art in India.  Here's the "why" and  “how - to” of rangoli, and traditional rangoli patterns from different areas in India. PDF

View Rangoli Video
Henna is NOT black

The Henna Page Encyclopedia of Henna
 Henna Is Not Black

This is an information packet on the dangers of para-phenylenediamine "black henna".  It includes a list of published medical papers detailing the hazards of using para-phenylenediamine on skin, what you should tell your physician if you are injured, and how to avoid street vendors who use para-phenylenediamine.
shaded henna

Naturalistic Henna Work:
This video shows henna techniques adapted from painting 17 MB wmv
Harquus 1   Instructional slideshows for Harquus:  A SAFE black body paint used to make temporary tattoos
1) View "Viking Dragon", step by step: 8 MB download, wmv file
2) View "Scorpion Dance", step by step: 5 MB download, wmv file
3) View "Swan", step by step:  7 MB download, wmv file
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Terms of use for personal use:

You may not sell, offer for sale, exchange or otherwise transfer these publications.

You may make one (1) printed copy each of these publications for your personal use in the creation of hand rendered ephemeral body decoration. You may not sell, lend, give away or otherwise transfer this copy to any other person for any reason.

You may make one (1) electronic copy each of these publications for archival purposes.  Except for the single (1) permitted print copies and the single (1) archival copy, you may not make any other copies of these publications in whole or in part in any form.