You have probably seen it cropping up on your Insta or pinterest feeds - young girls flaunting this intricate design at weddings and music festivals. Yeah, it looks almost like delicate lace, but is in fact the hot new rage called "White Henna". The designs are just exactly like
mehendi and the design as intricate and elaborate as it can get. White henna has not yet hit India in a big way - but it's good to know the real deal when the trend hits us in full force! The thing about white henna is that it's not the same henna in a different hue- it comes with it's own design and understanding and mostly, it's not the same ingredient. So we got you the low-down on this trend first. Who knows, when it finally catches up and goes big, you know who you have to thank!
What exactly is white henna?
Well, its not really like Henna, because henna can never really be white. There are different forms of what this "White Henna " could be. Some use cosmetic adhesive that makeup artists use to add cosmetic attachments, some use a water-based gel, or even tattoo paint. It can also be just white paint and paste that is mixed with glitter and added on the body. Do remember: white henna is not colourless henna or even bleach.
How does one apply it to look great at weddings?
Apply it like normal henna. Just fill a cone with white paste and draw a design you like. Dust it with glitter powder for it to show. The glitter will stay on and the remaining dust will fall off. Let it dry for 2-4 hours!
How long does it last?
Depending on which method you use- the cosmetic adhesive can last around 7 days . It looks a bit like 3D puff paint, and then can be peeled off after a week, and can resist water in the days in between . If you use a water-based gel, then that gets washed off with water easily. Tattoo paints also last for about a week to ten days and can be removed using rubbing alcohol.
Could this be the next bridal mehendi trend?
Well, why not? If you want to wear a pale pink lehenga or maybe a modern mint green then white henna would look totally gorgeous- delicate and lovely. Just make sure it's not a simple design but an elaborate one because it has to show.
Who is capable of creating the white henna design?
A bunch of white henna artists have cropped up abroad, but in India we haven't spotted anyone so far. Do ask your mehendi artist though if they have used white henna before. The designs remain the same, just the ingredient changes, so it's worth a try! If you want to give it a try, use white eyeliner and draw designs on your skin and see if it really works.
Would you ever try white henna? Tell us in the comments section! 
