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Henna Bellies
Maternity henna is a way of celebrating and highlighting the beautiful changes in both the expectant mother’s body and incredible honor of growing new life within her body. Make it part of your baby shower or or mother's blessing, or simply make it an intimate few hours with just you and baby (and even siblings and the daddy if one desires). The design can include traditional patterns (florals, paisleys, etc.) or can be customized to include the baby’s name or symbols that are meaningful to the parents-to-be.
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WHAT IS HENNA?
Henna, also known as mehndi, is a dye prepared from a plant which is natively grown in South Asia, North Africa, and Australia. It is not surprising, then, that the practice of applying henna is prevalent in South Asian (Indian, Pakistan, etc.) and North African (Egyptian, Moroccan, etc.) cultures. The leaves of the Lawsonia inermis plant are ground up into a fine powder which is then mixed most commonly and safely with water, lemon, and various essential oils. This mixture (henna paste) is then left out (in open air) to oxidize and release the dye molecules creating a temporary tattoo effect that lasts for 1-3 weeks, depending on your individual varying factors.
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HOW IS IT DONE?
Custom designs are hand drawn in a process resembling piping/decorating a cake. The paste sets/dries on the skin and will often begin to crumble and flake off on its own. After several hours (or the next morning), the dried henna is rubbed off leaving behind a beautiful dark brown stain. Henna initially stains orange/red and the color deepens and darkens over additional time as the stain oxidizes on the skin.
IS IT SAFE?
When choosing a henna artist, it is very important to make sure the ingredients being used are safe for use during pregnancy. Traditionally, henna paste is made using water, essential oils, lemon, and sometimes tea/coffee. Unfortunately, it is common to find pre-made henna cones with chemicals mixed in that could cause an allergic reaction.
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Here at BBC, we make our own paste from certified and low-risk pregnancy ingredients, so you can have peace of mind that you and baby are getting the best care, even down to the henna.
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*additional fee