Henna (
Lawsonia inermis, also known as
hina, the
henna tree, the
mignonette tree, and the
Egyptian privet) is a
flowering plant and the sole species of the
Lawsonia genus. The English name "henna" comes from the
Arabic (
ALA-LC:
ḥinnāʾ; pronounced ) or, colloquially , loosely pronounced as . The name
henna also refers to the
dye prepared from the plant and the art of temporary body art (staining) based on those dyes (see also
mehndi). Henna has been used since antiquity to dye skin, hair and fingernails, as well as fabrics including
silk,
wool and
leather. The name is used in other skin and hair dyes, such as
black henna and
neutral henna, neither of which is derived from the henna plant.
