| Henna vs Ink Tattoos |
Question:
First off, I'd like to say I'm not trying to instigate a rant about
Henna artwork. I personally, just had a rather large ink tattoo done
on my back that has very significant meaning to me and that I took a
lot time in considering doing. I'm considering a second ink tattoo and
jumped online to do some research. In my web surfing I came across
several articles that fascinated me:
The first article was a Henna artist writing to a body modification
group, asking if they would consider inclusion of Henna artwork as a
body mod in the format - I guess it was a website. Much to this
artist's dissapointment the gentleman he was writing would not
recognize Henna as a body mod.
The second article I read...in my opinion made some very valid points
about the fad of clothing that simulated body art (tattoos). The
writer feels that this somehow will affect the image of tatooed
individuals once the fad wears off.
article: http://www.bmezine.com/news/pubring/20040312.html
After reading these two articles I began wondering...How do tattooed
individuals feel about Henna artwork. From my research I've concluded
that Henna is not permanent and fades away. Do those in the bodyart
culture that are tattooed have any opinions on Henna bodyart? Does the
idea of temporary tattoos somehow make you feel a certain way about
your permanent tattoos?
I personally feel this way about it:
My tattoo is very meaningful to me...something I never want to forget
or lose sight of. I want it there to always remind me of this thing.
So I do not want it to fade away, however, this being my first tattoo
I've noticed people react to me differently because of the tattoo.
This has led to me wondering, not questioning whether I really made
the right decision. I'm single and the thought that keeps crossing my
mind - what happens if I meet someone someday that really just doesn't
like the tattoo...Will I be able to accept that this is something I
did for me and if that means affecting my knowing or meeting someone
that can't see past my skin...I guess I know the answer to that
one...but I digress. Point being...is Henna maybe a good choice for
those wishing to "try out" a tattoo before going permanent?
Answer:
- Not henna, although of course like anything a particular person could have
an allergic reaction to it, or get dermatitis if their skin doesn't like it
or what it's been mixed with. The problem's usually with "black henna" (AKA
PPD, para-phenylenediamine, a nasty chemical found in hair dye) which is not
henna at all. Natural henna is made of plant and kind of looks like
green-tinged shite when made up into a paste; it leaves behind a stain which
is always a shade of red or brown. I used to use natural henna on my hair
before I decided that my own gene-given titian red-gold was nicer. Also it
stains everything it touches.
To go back to the OP's query, what do people think of henna art, I think
it's cool. It's cool that people decorate themselves to make themselves
look and feel how they want to look and feel. I do that when I paint my
nails. With a good base and top coat, that can last over a week. Henna
work can even be art but it's not modification because, barring that
horrible allergic reaction that gives you permanent scars, it's temporary.
- I am an infrequent poster here, but here's my opinion. Except for the fact
that I'm a white collar wage monkey with a mortgage and as such keep my
tattoos placed such that they are covered by my work clothes, I could care
less what people in social situations think about my tattoos. I do have
friends who are to varying degrees critical but not so much that it affects
our friendship. Hell, I'm friends with people who plan to vote for Bush
again, so it cuts both ways.
That said, who am I to judge anyone who wants a temporary tattoo. Whether
strictly speaking a temporary tattoo is body modification is subject to
debate. Nevertheless, people do all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons
and, for the most part, it's their business.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could rent a kid for a month to see if you really
wanted to be a parent?
- Henna has been dismissed as a body mod in this newsgroup previously.
Charter somethingsomething.
I'm a tattooed individual. A cute clerk at Jiffy Lube had some
Olde English text tattooed on her forearm. Or I thought it was a
tattoo. It was henna. Cool.
I've read mention of scarring with regard to henna. Meh. It does
look good on a blonde: http://www.earthhenna.com/images/her5.jpg
Is that a big factor in your decision? If so, why?
No. It's apples and oranges from my viewpoint. To each his own.
The use of one shouldn't negate the use of the other.
Yes. You made the right decision. Move on! Back to the tattoo studio
for more work, to the health food store for more henna, or to the
doctor's office to inquire about laser surgery.
Suicide? Homicide! No. How about reeducation? If they really don't
like the tattoo then perhaps you need to meet someone else.
In that case, absolutely meet someone else.
But can you get similar effects from henna that you would get from
an actual or permanent tattoo? If by "try out" you mean gather some
idea of what artwork on that particular limb or area of the body
would be so far as your appreciation for the art and society's
reaction to the art then sure. I wouldn't see why not.
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