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Danny Gurwin sat motionless as Syra Arif applied a thin green paste onto his forearm, outlining whimsical Indian-inspired floral and peace signs into an intricate design.
Arif, a junior in electrical and computer engineering, held a henna tattoo presentation Thursday in Baker Hall West for 20 residents.
Punjabi MC played on the speakers as students enjoyed samosas, a traditional Indian potato dish, and viewed “Bend It Like Beckham” between tattoo sessions, in order to enhance their cultural experience.
The event was sponsored by Baker Hall resident advisers as one of their mandatory diversity events for their residents for autumn quarter.
“I’m pretty fickle,” said Gurwin, a freshman in architecture. “I change my mind so often, and so I can’t commit to getting a permanent tattoo. I like henna tattoos because I can change it up, and if I get sick of it, it’s gone in a week anyways.”
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Henna is a topical dye applied to the skin to create a temporary red-brown stain. When receiving a henna tattoo, a green liquid paste is applied to the skin. The paste typically takes 15 to 20 minutes to dry, depending on the thickness of the henna and the humidity – higher humidity will prolong the drying process.
The paste is elevated on the skin while it is soaking in, creating the stain. Arif said she recommends her customers leave the dried and flaky paste on their skin overnight. The next morning, the customer can scrub the remaining green paste off their skin, and the red-brown stain will appear underneath.
Henna tattoos can last from one to three weeks, depending on the quality of the henna and the placement of the tattoo on the body. Tattoos applied to hands or feet typically last longer than tattoos applied to the stomach or the back because of skin pigmentation and natural oil secretion. Clothing rubbing against the skin can also shorten the life span of a henna tattoo, Arif said.
“Henna has great cultural significance,” Arif said. “Before there were chemicals for makeup, brides in the Middle East and south Asian regions would use henna to decorate their bodies.”
Intricate henna designs are applied to the bride’s hands in Indian culture prior to wedding ceremonies in order to promote good luck, joy and beauty, Arif said.
Today brides are using glitter and gems to enhance traditional designs.
“The glitter and the gems add a unique element to henna,” Arif said. “I use glitter henna on brides because it only lasts one day and creates a visually stunning effect.”
Arif began doing henna at the age of 8, after she visited her grandmother in Pakistan and was taught the ancient art form. During her sophomore year at Ohio State, Arif began lending her henna services to the public and put an advertisement on Craigslist.
“I don’t use generic pre-made designs,” Arif said. “I create my designs with my customers’ interests in mind. I just listen to what they want and work with them to create a design specific to their interests.”
Mary Fulop, a junior in art and resident adviser in Baker West, asked Arif to return to Baker West this year after the positive response she got from students who attended the presentation last year.
“It’s a really popular program. We had 20 slots this year for students to participate, and the sign-up sheet was full within 24 hours,” Fulop said. “This program gives students a chance to explore different art forms and learn the deep cultural ties of henna.”
Alexia Cameron can be reached at [email protected].
