more mehndi questions

sistergh

I'm still on the fence about getting mehndi for my wedding (eek - 10 days away!). There's no way we can afford to bring someone out to our wedding site. I also don't think that any of my bridesmaids want it, so I'm considering going on my own before I leave for the wedding. Does anyone have an idea of how long it will look good, especially if I just do henna on the insides of my hands? Could I get it done on Wednesday for a Saturday wedding? Also, how long does it take to dry? I am so swamped for time that I just don't know how much time I have to spare... Also, is there a way to get it off? I have a few meetings, etc., the week after the wedding so it might make sense to take it off before then. Thanks as always!

Meghana55

Palms always come out darker (i think because your palm generates more heat).  If you let the mehndi set for at least a couple of hours (and having someone put a lemon juice sugar combo on it as it starts to dry), the color should be fine on Saturday.  Mendhi dries relatively quickly but adding the lemon sugar will help the color set better.  Also, the color is usually darker 1-2 days after you have it done.  So your mendhi would probably be at it's darkest on Friday and Saturday it would still be pretty darkAs for getting it off before work the next week, I'm not sure.  Mine took 2 weeks to come off!  Would your work frown upon you having the mehndi on? 

wdc*bride

I got my Mehendi done on Thursday and it was still plenty dark on Sunday, so you'd be fine.How long it takes depends entirely on how much you get done.  I don't know if you saw my wedding pics, but mine took 2.5 hours and it was fairly elaborate.I'm really happy I took the time to do it.  The night I got my mehendi applied was the night I "stopped wedding planning."  It was a great excuse to relax and do nothing for the next few days.  And trust me, you need to give yourself that kind of deadline so you're not working right up until the day.  I think it's a great idea to stop working three days before the wedding.I don't know how much success you'd have getting it off, but I'll just say that I work in a very professional and pretty traditional workplace, and I'm white, and my coworkers and bosses were not put off in the least by my extensive Mehendi the weeks after the wedding.  I didn't feel at all uncomfortable about this; it just wasn't an issue.

mrs.khan

Ditto wdc. I had full mehndi (front and back of arms, feet) for our engagement party and I had it at work until it faded. No one said anything negative about it.  I did have people ask about how they apply it, etc.

sistergh

I'm a lawyer. In a pretty conservative town. And, honestly, and not as a negative against anyone who has it, I'm sort of self-conscious about getting it. I just don't love pattern - I wear really plain outfits most of the time. (Not Amish plain. Color, yes, but lots of pattern, no.) So I just don't know that I want it for a week all over my hands and feet. Which is probably why I'm still on the fence about it.

katie978

I'm a lawyer too and will have it done.  Also had it on at work after the trial a month ago.  I told everyone who asked that it was a dreaded skin disease which will get significantly worse soon ... but you're probably a nicer person    Only do it if you'll be comfortable with it, and I don't think you should feel bad if you aren't comfortable.  This is your day and you should do exactly what you want as much as possible.  That said, I don't think you'll have any problems if you have it done.  I've certainly seen lots of people do have it in professional settings (from their own weddings or those of other people) and people have only been interested or think its cool.  But if anybody gives you a hard time, I'd be happy to represent you in a discrimination case  ;)Big swastiks on the back of each hand for your in laws??? 

sistergh

Katie - You might have to defend me in the discrimination case if I wore the swastika mehndi. Your colleagues might be surprised to see you going over to the other side... I'll keep thinking about it, I guess, and keep you all posted. Thanks for all of the awesome advice!

dublintomadras

If you're not 100 percent feelin' it, don't worry about it and just don't do it.  I really wanted to get it done but ended up running out of time.  My ILs also weren't pushy about me getting it done just because from my understanding, it's technically more of a North Indian tradition and my ILs are Southies.  I did, however, get it done for my Indian bridal shower and that was super fun. I guess that doesn't really answer your original questions, but I'm just kinda giving you a vote of confidence to go with your gut, if that's what you feel like   That said, I honestly don't think anyone would really say anything to you about having mehendi done, conservative profession or not.  You could also just do your palms -- less visible.

ESJ'sBride

Another option may be to get 'fake tattoo style' henna. I know they sell this at many Indian bridal stores and it comes with full sheet designs for your hands or feet. It is similar to applying a fake tattoo -with water and slight pressure for up to 30 seconds or so and they have elaborate and intricate designs which can look amazing. The designs can also come with embossed gold/silver edges for added sparkle. The fake tattoo style mehendi comes in particularly handy when you only want it to last one day and not longer than that since one good session with rubbing alcohol later and its all gone.

wdc*bride

Sistergh - Yeah, as Katie said, I'm a lawyer too, and not a big deal in the office.  But what *is* a big deal is that you have to want to do it and think it's fun and pretty.  Sounds like you don't.  Which is completely fine.  You should totally not feel pressured to do it.  I second (third?) the vote for not doing it at all given that this sounds like your real preference. 

sistergh

I do like it, I just don't love it enough to want to wear lots of it for two weeks with suits or t-shirts/casual outfits. I've looked at some designs and have founds some that I think are really cool. Still not sure what I'll do, but thanks for the ideas. I may look into the temporary tattoos, too. That sounds promising...

versace1008

can you just do the palms of your hands, I dont love it so I just did a little-my palms only, it does look like a skin disease when it fades, luckily for me I was on my honeymoon and in the pool and it faded fast two weeks after the wedding!do a design you like!

shwethasrin

ESJ's Bride, can you post a link to the fake henna tattoo website? And sistergh, you could try exfoliating your hands when it starts fading to get it to fade even faster. Something like glycolic acid or salicylic acid from the drugstore should work. Also, I think just getting it on your palms is a good idea. That's probably what I'm going to do. I'm having two ceremonies on the same day (just shoot me now) and the mehndi wouln't really go with my big fat white dress.