A mehndi ceremony is usually what kickstarts the wedding celebrations at the bride's house. All eyes are towards the bride as she gets her hands adorned with intricate and beautiful designs. The mehndi represents good health and prosperity as the bride makes her journey towards the lovely stage of marital bliss. It goes unsaid that an experienced and skilled mehndi artist can understand their client's desires and create stunning henna designs. Delhi/NCR is home to many professionals that not only specialise in traditional designs but keep themselves updated with modern trends as well! Let us give you a heads up on all you need to know about mehendi designs and artists!

What are the types of Mehndi Designs in trend?

Delhi/NCR region is filled with mehndi artists who specialise in different designs whether it's modern, personalised, Indian, Arabic etc. It can get tough to find the exact design you’re looking for in terms of what is currently trending in the market. Here are a few of the designs that are popular with brides:

Indian Designs: The charm and beauty of the traditional Indian mehndi designs cannot be denied. Indian mehendi designs are known for their extremely detailed illustrations and feature beautiful motifs inspired by earthly elements or floral designs. Another thing that draws appeal to this type of design in Delhi, is the incorporation of the names of the bride and groom as a symbol of togetherness.
Arabic Mehndi Designs: Unlike the Indian mehendi designs, Arabic designs are more large-scale and spread out and mostly feature round or elliptical shaped designs and a lot of shading. A lot of the designs also feature quotes written in Arabic which only adds to the beauty of the designs. It has its origin in the Arab world and has a very interesting appeal due to its Mughlai designs.
Indo-Arabic Mehndi Designs: This is a modern and interesting fusion of the two amazing designs to bring forth an interesting one! It features Indian designs like floral designs, birds etc with Arabic style of shading. This kind of design has a lot of appeal among the modern day brides since it is the best of both worlds.
Western Mehndi Design: Often called ‘henna tattoos’ in the west, they are more about the minimalistic vibe. It is drastically different from its Indian counterpart and features geometric shapes, quirky patterns etc. These kinds of designs are more suitable if you’re not someone who likes to wear heavy mehendi.
Moroccan Mehndi Designs: Unlike their Indian counterparts, Moroccan designs are not very detailed but look amazing with their tribal designs and patterns. Their most prominent design is that of a diamond shape. Moroccan designs are extremely unique and beautiful and are sure to attract attention.

What are the things to keep in mind when booking a Delhi Mehndi Artist?

Booking a mehndi artist is a very important decision and one that requires a lot of thinking and beforehand information. Here are a few things every bride must keep in mind before or while booking a Delhi Mehendi artist for her wedding:

Be aware of the latest trends in Mehndi designs: Before booking a professional, keep yourself updated about the latest trends, designs in mehendi so you can ask the right questions to your mehndi artist and know exactly what you want for your big day without any added confusion or without getting influenced by the artist herself.
Go through their Social Media: Searching on social media can give you an idea about the plethora of mehndi designs that exist out there. You can also use it to scroll through an artist's mehndi design portfolio or you can even look through their portfolios on websites like WedMeGood to get an idea of their creative capabilities.
Figure out their style: Certain Mehendi artists specialise in only a certain type of design whereas some others do a variety of designs. In Delhi, you can find both of these types. Figuring out an artists’ style can give you an insight into their creative skills and help you decide what kind of designs you would like for your big day!
Be open to suggestions: When it comes to mehndi designs it is obvious that you will have certain expectations and designs in mind. But it's always easier to be open to suggestions from the mehndi artists as well. That way you can get a lot more options to think about and work with.
Inquire about the ingredients: Always make sure that your mehndi artist uses natural, good-quality henna and does not mix it with any toxic or synthetic ingredients that may cause allergies or rashes in the long run. It is always better to be safe than sorry. If possible do a patch test of their henna to see if it causes any unwanted reaction with your skin.
Inquire about the time: As a bride, you'll want to get a complete henna application on your legs and arms. An intricate design would also mean that it would take a long time to apply the henna. So it's always good to inquire about the time required so you can plan your festivities beforehand accordingly.
Budget: Another important thing to keep in mind while booking a mehndi artist in Delhi is obviously the budget. It's important to find a mehndi artist who not only understands your creative vision but also caters to your budget. It is completely possible to get a stunning mehndi without burning a hole in your pocket.
Always ask for trial sessions: Before committing to a particular mehendi artist, always demand a trial session to see if you like their work or design and if their work is worthy of the amount they charge. Through the trial session, you can see the amount of time needed for the design and also the quality of work/henna they use. There are many mehndi artists that offer a free trial or a trial with a small amount charged to you.
Advance Booking: It's always advisable to book your mehendi artists in advance for yourself and others because, during peak wedding season in Delhi, most of them are fully booked.

Should you book the same Mehndi artist from Delhi for the bridal party as the bride?

It is not advisable to book the same mehendi artist for the bridal party and the bride. It goes unsaid that the mehndi designs for the bride are going to be a lot more intricate and time-consuming. Not to mention that the mehndi has to look perfect for the bride more than anything. So it's better to have a mehndi artist solely for the bride alone. That way the artist won't have to rush up her work or feel pressured to finish and move on to others.
Mehndi artists in Delhi usually come with assistants. The assistants could be assigned for the mehndi work of the rest of the bridal party. Usually, the mehndi for the rest consists of very simple and easy designs in order to cover a large number of people in a short time span.
Another reason why the mehndi artist for the bride should be different is that the bridal mehndi has to look perfect on the big day and therefore, you need a skilled and experienced artist for that. So it is ideal that the bride should be assigned a separate mehendi artist for herself.

What are the Dos & Don'ts before applying mehendi?

Dos:

Leave the henna till it dries & then just scrape it off once it starts falling off.
Apply vicks if you want your mehendi to get darker

Don’ts:

Don't apply any oil, creme, gel or lotion before applying mehendi
Don't wash your hands with water for at least 6-7 hours after removing it.

How much in advance should you book a bridal Mehendi artist in Delhi?

You should book a bridal Mehendi artist in Delhi at least 3 months prior to your wedding. As the closer you get to your wedding day the less options will be available for you.

How can you personalise your mehendi design?

Getting your mehendi personalised is the trendiest thing this season. There are different ways to get your mehendi personalised like:

Some cute unique elements from your life or love story
Get your wedding date on your mehendi
Portraits of the couple
If you’re shifting to a new country or city get something related to that

How long does the henna last and how can I make it look darker?

Henna lasts for about 6-7 days. To make it look darker, let it stay till the henna completely dries and starts coming off on its own. Try to keep your hands away from water before it gets dark overnight. If you want your mehndi to get darker, apply mustard oil or vicks.

How much time does a mehndi design take?

It depends on what kind of a design the bride wants. If she wants everything very detailed and personalized then it can take about 5-6 hours and if you want to keep it minimal then 1-3 hours

How much do mehndi artists in Delhi charge for traditional bridal mehndi?

It usually starts from 4,000 and can go upto 30,000 as well. Charges for traditional bridal mehendi depend upon the design and detailing. The price will be more if you want it detailed and customised. The charges also depend on the length of the mehndi and will increase accordingly.

Bridal Mehendi in Delhi NCR