The History of Henna

History is more than a passing curiosity for me and I have a passion for separating fact from fiction. As an eternal student of archaeology and anthropology, finding origins and timelines of customs and artifacts is not just a passing curiosity. The following history of henna is based on documentation. Information is added here as I uncover and verify evidence.

Archaeological findings confirm the first use of henna as hair, finger and toe nail dye was 5,000 years ago on mummified remains in ancient Egypt in 3,400 BCE.

Texts 4,000 - 1,000 years old show the cultivation and trade of henna for use as dye, perfume and medicine had expanded throughout the Mediterranean Basin. From Egypt, henna first spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean: Arabia, Syria, Cyprus, the Levant and Babylon (16th century BCE-1st century BCE). Jewish traders then brought henna to North Africa, the southern Iberian peninsula and Palermo, Sicily.

1,300 years of henna body adornment. Written texts show henna's use in body art spread with Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It's documented in Arabia and Persia (8th-13th century) and the Iberian peninsula and Sicily (12th century). The use of henna for body art in India* arrived from Persia with the Mughal invasion (16th century). Henna finally made its way to North America and Europe in the mid-20th century. 

* The conjecture that the body art depicted in the paintings and sculptures of the Ajanta Caves (2nd century BCE - 6th century CE) in Maharashtra, India as a far earlier use of henna in India's history is devoid of proof. There is no evidence of henna grown or traded in India at that time. What was abundantly used and documented for body paint in India during that time is the use of red lac as well as alkalized turmeric powder, red iron-oxide and madder powder. All are red in color, indigenous and abundant to the region. 

​Source, Source, Source, Source, Source, Source, Source, Source, et al.