Khaleeji henna
Also called: Gulf henna and Arabic henna
The Gulf style of henna design: bold flowing lines, open space and floral or vine motifs, usually along one side of the hand and up the fingers.
Khaleeji henna is the design language of the Gulf. Where mehndi fills the skin, Khaleeji work leaves it open: a strong stem or trail runs from a finger across the back of the hand toward the wrist, with flowers, leaves and shaded petals along it. Fingertips are often capped in solid colour, and the two hands are usually drawn to complement rather than mirror each other.
Because the lines are bolder and there is less fill, a Khaleeji design on both hands takes around thirty to forty five minutes, and it reads clearly even as the stain fades. It suits Eid, weddings and gatherings, and it is the style most women in Dubai mean when they ask for a light or simple henna. Feet are drawn in the same language, with a trail along the top of the foot and the toes.
The paste, the timing and the aftercare are the same as any natural henna, and the stain lasts around one to three weeks. Hamd Beauty draws Khaleeji designs as part of its henna for both hands.
