Arkansas Blog

Well Lindsey, I must say the Eqyptian/Turkish dancer caught my eye. Are those tattoos around her navel button?

More likely, Cato, her skin has been decorated with henna in a process known as "mehndi". Unlike tattoos, which are permanent, mehndi fades in a matter of weeks or months.

Will it rub off, like lipstick ?

I've been anxiously waiting for DBI's comments on the photo. Perhaps drooling on the keyboard made it stop functioning.

No, eLwood, the henna reacts with the melanin in the skin cells to produce the color (a reddish to dark brown), so that it easily survives rubbing or washing for periods ranging from a week or so to a couple of months, depending on the technique of application, until the skin cells themselves die and are sloughed off naturally. It involves brushes or pen-like applicators, not needles. The patterns are very intricate and are done especially on the face and hands, so it's not just for a one-time party.

I'm surprised more people who are considering a tattoo don't try out a henna one to start with, just to see whether they can live with it for a while, or better yet, get only mehndi from time to time instead of the permanent, needle-type tattoo. Personally, neither is for me. Ask your Indian or Muslim friends about it.

Hmm, peering more closely at the photo--which the dancer, as well as the photographer, should be proud of--I think I see the edges of a design peeking around from her back. I'm intrigued.

I was just kinda joking wij. The inference was ,you know, if you get up close and personal will your white Tshirt get those tell-tale signs.
Beautiful dancer.

The designs on the stomach and on the sides are created with Bindi's, which are not permanent decorations. :O)

Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments on my picture. I have to give credit to the photographer on it though without him I wouldn't look as darn good as I do! He really knows how to catch the right pose if I do say so myself, ok slap me, I'm a little conceded. LOL. And no they are not tatoo's on my stomach just bindi's, they are like little stickers that come in all kinds of colors. I get a little carried away with them but they add that sparkle and interest to the dance. Thanks again everyone especially Lindsey and Brian for the picon the web!