Indonesian Henna Designs

Indonesian Henna Designs: Background and Style

In Indonesia, henna is commonly called pacar or inai. Malam Bainai is a pre-wedding henna night in the Minangkabau tradition of West Sumatra. The traditional practice is to stain the bride's fingertips and nails red, not to draw fine patterns. Modern Indonesian bridal henna often borrows Arabic and Indian layouts and is sometimes done in white body paint, which is not true henna.

Common motifs

• stained fingertips
• delicate florals
• lace-like patterns
• leafy vines
• small mandalas
• dot borders

Application tips

• For the traditional look, cover the fingertips and nails with a thick, even layer of paste.
• Keep modern lace-style designs fine and light, with thin lines and small motifs.
• White henna is a body paint that sits on the skin; it does not stain and washes off within days.