Mehndi is the popularly used Indian term which refers to the decoration of different parts of the body, primarily the hands and feet, with henna. A necessary element of an Indian wedding, it is integral to the identity of the bride. It is such a celebrated tradition, that often, an entire function is hosted wherein all the guests, mostly the womenfolk, come together and put mehndi on their hands in celebration of the union of the couple. Apart from the bride’s outfit and jewellery, it is the mehndi that truly completes her look and sets her apart from the crowd.

Types of mehndi designs

Mehndi designs are no longer restricted to mundane patterns and only the inclusion of traditional motifs. A constant evolution has been noticed among mehndi designs, such that brides nowadays have several options to choose from. For your inspiration, we have listed below some of the most popular ones currently trending in the bridal scene in Andheri East and elsewhere in Mumbai.

Traditional Mehndi Traditional mehndi designs are evergreen and classic. They will never go out of fashion. These include floral motifs, peacock designs, and paisley patterns. There is no way of going wrong if you choose to incorporate these elements into your bridal mehndi.

Arabic Mehendi As the name suggests, these designs are Originally from the Arabian and Gulf countries, these are mehndi designs that have gained immense popularity among Indians due to their versatility. There are several overlapping motifs and patterns among traditional mehndi designs and Arabic designs, such as peacocks and floral motifs. Apart from these, Arabic designs also include checkered patterns and neatly drawn diagonal lines. Moreover, often, Arabic designs involve leaving a lot of empty space to give an edgy yet classic look. Arabic designs are particularly popular on the back of the hand.

Minimalist Mehndi Not every bride wants to cover every inch of her arms and feet in henna. And while there is nothing wrong if you choose to do so, there are several modern day brides opting for more minimal mehndi designs, to keep up with the tradition yet add a twist to the ritual. Minimalism in mehndi is in no way synonymous to reduced beauty. Choose selective yet eye-catching and boldly drawn motifs on key areas, such as the centre of your palm and your fingertips. Remember, less can be more!

Personalised Mehndi Nowadays, there are several mehndi artists providing personalised mehndi designs to the bride-to-be. Such mehndi is a unique way of reflecting your love and couplehood, and includes symbols that are personal to the bride and groom. In fact, with the creativity exhibited by bridal mehndi artists constantly on the rise, mehndi depicting small portraits of the couple, or a scene telling the story of a special moment such as the proposal, are also becoming popular. The hands begin as a blank canvas but are soon adorned to tell the epic love story. Other ways to personalise your mehndi include hiding your couple hashtag among the varied patterns, or including the romantic lyrics from a song the two of you fondly listen to together.

Nowadays, mehndi designs have become all the more creative and unique. You may be as imaginative as your mind permits. Lately, newer elements such as lotus motifs, roses, dot work, hearts and stripes are also being included in the pattern. Jewellery inspired mehndi, imitating bracelets, rings and haath phools, is also popular. Be it cut out designs, mehendi on just your fingers, white mehendi as a deviation from the regular, brown henna, mixing multiple prints, or incorporating a lot of negative space-- be as creative as your want! After all, you are the bride and your bridal henna should be a true, mirror reflection of you!

Things to keep in mind before you book for mehendi artist

Since mehndi has such a rich, cultural history, one cannot afford to overlook this aspect for their wedding day. Apart from being a revered tradition, it is also inherently beautiful. You want your mehndi to be truly spectacular, in every sense of the word. It must radiate the charm you had envisioned for it to.

So, of course, one should hire a skilled and professional mehndi artist in Andheri East, Mumbai. You do not want to make the mistake of booking someone who is a novice and will draw asymmetrical patterns and uneven lines, thereby ruining this indispensable part of your bridal appearance.

With several results for bridal mehndi artists in Andheri East, Mumbai on the WedMeGood portal, we do not blame you if you are having a tough time making a decision. But, to ease the process, we have compiled below a list of some of the important factors to keep in mind before you book your mehndi artist. <-x->

Be sure to book well in advance Don’t leave the booking of the mehndi artist to the last moment and make it too late. The most popular ones in and around Andheri East get booked months in advance, particularly if your wedding is during the peak season. So, you must select and hire the artist of your choice well in advance, as a priority.

Pre-define your budget Pre-defining the budget for your bridal mehndi will make the search for a mehndi artist in Andheri East easier and less tedious. In this manner, you will only seek those artists who offer packages that fall within your range.

Don’t book an artist with multiple bookings on the same day This can lead to chaos due to time constraints. The artist may end up being late, or do an unsatisfactory job due to fatigue.

Look through samples, portfolios and reviews On the WedMeGood portal, you will find the portfolios of several mehndi artists in Andheri East. You can scroll through these to find one that you feel best aligns with your vision. Along with this, several previous clients have also posted reviews for the mehndi artist. Additionally, request the mehndi artist to show you pictures of bridal mehndi done for previous and recent clients. This gives you a chance to see if what is being sold has actually been delivered.

Find out about the ingredients used Enquire regarding the composition of the henna, since the ingredients used in it are what actually determine the colour and darkness of the mehndi. Read up in advance to understand what works best. Also, be sure to ask your mehndi artist to show you pictures of dried bridal mehndi-- hence, you can gauge the richness of the colour once the mehndi has set and absorbed into the skin.

Signature styles Different mehndi artists in Andheri East and elsewhere in Mumbai will pride themselves on different styles of mehndi, be it traditional, Arabic, minimalistic, or personalised. Find out if the artist’s signature style matches your top preference for your bridal henna.

Questions regarding mehndi for family, friends and other guests If you are planning to host a mehndi function, let the mehndi artist in Andheri East know the number of guests you will be expecting. In this light, enquire about packages available and prices for the same.

DOs and DON’Ts before applying mehendi

To make sure that your mehndi laden hands steal the show, we compiled a list of bridal mehndi dos and don’ts.

DOs

Browse through pictures of bridal mehndi online and save the ones that you like best. You can show these to your mehndi artist as references and request him or her to recreate particular elements you have a strong affinity towards. Instagram and Pinterest are two of the best platforms for this task.
Get your manicure and pedicure done beforehand, since dipping your hands and feet into water later on will lighten the colour of the henna.
If you are hosting a mehndi function, then get your bridal mehndi applied before it begins. In this manner, you’ll get a chance to join in the celebrations, and won’t have to sit still in a corner with your limbs temporarily dysfunctional.
Ask your mehndi artist to make a fresh henna paste.
You can use natural ingredients over your mehendi to darken the colour. A great and fool-proof way to do so is to rub warm cloves (laung) or clove powder. This gives a really rich, dark brown colour.

DON’Ts

Don’t moisturise your arms and legs before the application of mehndi. The moisturiser forms a layer which reduces the absorption of the henna and interferes with the desired outcome.
Don’t wear a dupatta or tight clothing, and don’t leave your hair open. Pick something loose, breezy and easy to handle since you will be required to sit still for a number of hours. Put up your hair in a bun or tie a braid, so that the hair doesn’t fall on your face and you don’t have the urge to push it aside with your henna laden hands.
Don’t blowdry your mehndi after application. Letting it dry naturally is what ensures the darkest possible colour.
Don’t schedule another event on the day of your mehndi, since it is a tiresome process and won’t have the energy to enjoy another function properly.
Don’t drink too much water before you get your mehndi put, since you won’t get a chance to visit the bathroom for a good four to five hours, at least, while your mehndi is being done.

Bridal Mehendi Artists in Andheri East