It’s 2008. I’m ten years old. I have a henna cone in my hand and I’m not afraid to use it. I squeeze unrecognisable flowers onto the women, and I paint wonky footballs and messy rockets onto the boys.

In some cultures, henna designs are synonymous with celebration. The night before a major event like a wedding, it’s common practice to decorate hands — and sometimes even feet — with the popular ...

With a history spanning millennia across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, henna is steeped in tradition and cultural rituals. The natural dye is typically used to create temporary, ...