Elegant Traditional Leaf Trail Mehndi Design for Full Hand

A detailed traditional mehndi design providing full hand coverage, featuring star cluster and lotus pattern. Rated as Medium, this pattern is perfect for Diwali.

Full-hand designs run from the fingertips to the wrist, so allow extra time for application. Work from the wrist towards the fingers, or the other way round, so you never rest on wet paste. This pattern suits someone who is already comfortable with basic lines, dots and petals and wants to practise even spacing.

The dye in henna, lawsone, binds to keratin in the skin, which is why the stain lasts until the skin sheds. Traditional South Asian motifs include the paisley (also called ambi or mango), the peacock and the lotus.

Application tips: Leave the paste on for at least four to six hours; the longer it stays, the deeper the stain. Dab a lemon and sugar mixture on the dried paste to keep it moist and stuck to the skin.