Teens learn to tattoo

By Jennifer R. Hill
jennifer@athensnews-courier.com

July 18, 2008 06:26 pm

— Tattoos have a different and dangerous feel to them, Beverly Ellis said as she taught teens the art of Mehndi tattoos Thursday at the Athens-Limestone Public Library.
Mehndi is the ancient art of temporary tattooing. Ellis, who has studied the ancestry of Mehndi for several years, said the 5,000-year-old art form is used to adorn the hands and feet, and is thought to have originated in the Middle East and North Africa.
These days, teens are bonding by designing Mehndi tattoos for one another.
“I’ve read about girls using it as a bonding experience at sleep overs,” Ellis said.
The paste for the temporary tattoo is made from a mixture of the ground leaves of a Henna plant, something sweet, such as sugar, and something sour, such as citrus juice.
Substitutions may be made according to allergies.
Follow the steps below that Ellis teaches to create Mehndi tattoo art. Steps are coordinated with numbered pictures.
1. Draw your design. Morgan Garris, 13, draws out a design to apply to her hand.
2. Apply Henna paste. Beverly Ellis applies Henna paste, drawing a design on Ahna Ravan’s hand.
“I want tattoos when I’m older, so I figured Henna would be a good thing to start with,” Ravan, 15, said.
3. Let the paste dry. Ravan’s design is done and ready to dry. Paste should be allowed to dry for one to six hours.
4. Reveal the tattoo. Flake off Henna paste to reveal your design. Ellis’ daughter, Wanda Ellis, 12, shows off a design of her own.
A design will last one to two weeks depending on length of time the paste is left on and skin care.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.