The Rise of Henna-Inspired Nail and Makeup Trends

Henna has held a place in beauty traditions across many cultures for centuries. In South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, henna (also called mehndi) is commonly used to adorn hands, feet, and occasionally other parts of the body, especially during weddings, festivals, and celebrations.

Henna Artists use a paste made from the powdered leaves of the henna plant (mixed with water, lemon, sometimes sugar or essential oils) to draw intricate, flowing patterns that leave a natural stain on the skin for days or weeks.

In recent years, though, henna’s influence has shifted into broader beauty realms, going beyond its traditional role as body art into areas like nails and makeup. Artists are adapting henna motifs, techniques, and aesthetics to new canvases: fingernails, facial contouring, freckles, lip stains, and more.

The henna beauty trend is still emerging, but certain developments are documented and verifiable. Below, we look at what’s known: how henna-inspired nail and makeup trends are evolving, who’s leading the trend, what the risks are, and how audiences are responding.

One of the more visible adaptations of the henna beauty trend is henna contouring. This technique doesn’t use real henna dye on the face. Instead, makeup artists draw patterns reminiscent of henna designs: shapes, swirls, dots, and lines, with concealer, foundation, or cream products, then blend them to sculpt and define facial features. The idea is to combine artistry and makeup in a way that evokes the ornamental beauty of mehndi.

One of the beauty trend’s earliest known proponents is Sahur Saleim, a Pakistani make-up and henna artist, who used thin brushes to draw intricate patterns on her face using concealer, then blended them for a sculpted effect.

According to Marie Claire, she used LA Girl Pro-Conceal in “Espresso” to create the contour lines and a MAC Pro Longwear Concealer (NC42) for highlight, applying them with ultra-fine paint brushes and then blending. This trend was sometimes called “henna contour” and was featured as a playful, painterly take on the contouring trend that has dominated beauty routines for years. 

This style of contouring demands precision and patience; the patterns must be applied with control before blending, and there’s little margin for error. As Glam pointed out, it’s a “high-risk, high-reward” technique — missteps can show badly, especially since the design might partially remain visible if not fully blended. Because of the semi-permanent staining nature of real henna, many prefer using standard makeup products for safety and control. 

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Also emerging in beauty circles is the movement of nail henna; applying henna-inspired designs onto fingernails, either by using real henna (or modified formulas) or by creating a henna-like effect via dyes and polishes.

Azra Khamissa, a henna artist based in the UAE, has been a central figure in this space. In The National profile, Khamissa explains that her nail henna stain is made from a tea-based formula rather than actual henna; this choice allows her to produce deeper red pigment without the orange hue typically associated with raw henna. Her products aim to mimic henna’s aesthetic without the drawbacks of regular polish or dye; for example, by allowing nails to “breathe” or avoiding harsh chemicals. 

Khamissa also offers stencil sticker packs for nail henna designs, enabling consumers to replicate detailed motifs more easily. Her designs range from dots, florals, and geometric accents to more abstract, minimal patterns. In her broader henna work, she often blends minimal motifs, Bedouin-inspired linear forms, and negative-space design; a modern take on tradition. 

Azra’s approach to henna (not limited to nails) is rooted in honoring cultural heritage while pushing aesthetic boundaries. She has talked about crafting a design language that is balanced and symmetrical, informed by her knowledge of anatomy, as she fuses her background in health and her artistic sensibilities into her henna work. Azra also describes her designs as meditative and responsive to her personal and environmental context.

Apart from contouring and nail art, another adaptation gaining attention is henna freckles. This trend involves drawing or applying tiny dots that mimic freckles, sometimes using henna-based pigments or henna-like products. It has trended on TikTok under tags such as #hennafreckles.

The practice is sometimes treated as semi-permanent, meaning the “freckles” remain longer than typical makeup but eventually fade. Because the trend touches on visible skin areas, especially the face, conversations around cultural appropriation and sensitivity to henna’s cultural significance have arisen.

Some creators from cultures with traditional henna practices have expressed discomfort when the henna makeup trend is used without acknowledgment of its origins.

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There are also documented examples of bloggers experimenting with henna-based lip staining. For instance, a beauty blogger named Brianah Christianson posted a video in which she applied mehndi (henna) to her lips as a colored stain.

That video went viral and prompted reactions about safety and the appropriateness of using henna in sensitive areas. Because lips and facial skin can be more reactive, medical voices caution against such uses, especially when the henna is non-natural or contains additives.

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Usage of henna (or henna-derived products) in cosmetics is not without risk. Dermatologists and beauty editors have highlighted concerns about allergic reactions, skin irritation, swelling, or worse, particularly when “black henna” or chemical variants are involved.

The Glam specifically warns about the semi-permanent nature of real henna-based contouring and the fact that even “pure” henna may not suit all skin types.  When applying near the eyes, eyelids, lips, or sensitive facial zones, caution and patch testing are recommended. 

Because these beauty trends are relatively new and evolving, the number of public figures or brands fully committing to them is still limited. But we can point to Sahur Saleim (henna contour) and Azra Khamissa (nail henna and modern henna art) as leading voices.

Saleim’s blend of makeup and henna design caught mainstream beauty press attention and online buzz. Khamissa’s media coverage includes Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Allure, and The National, wherein she discusses her minimalist and modern approach to henna design and how she is expanding the art’s visibility. 

Public response to these trends is mixed and evolving. On the one hand, many beauty enthusiasts are fascinated by the novelty, the cultural layering, and the artistry involved. The fusion of heritage aesthetics into modern beauty looks has appeal for those seeking distinctive expression.

On the other hand, critics raise valid concerns: about appropriation, about replicating meaningful cultural symbols superficially, and about encouraging unsafe practices (e.g. using chemical henna in facial areas, omitting patch tests). These debates already shape the discourse around henna-based beauty trends. The need for transparency, respectful attribution, and product safety is frequently underscored in commentary around these posts.

Looking ahead, several developments seem plausible. First, the commercial beauty industry may respond by producing safer, cosmetically stable products that mimic henna aesthetics for nails and facial uses. Khamissa’s stencil packs already hint at a move toward making henna-inspired designs more accessible and user-friendly.

Second, social media will continue to be a powerful driver: tutorials, “get the look” videos, and critique (or policing) of trends help spread innovation but also enforce boundaries about cultural sensitivity and safety.

Third, artistic tools and technologies, fine brushes, precision applicators, stencils, and even augmented-reality apps, are likely to assist more users in experimenting with henna-inspired designs more confidently.

In sum, the rise of henna-inspired nail and makeup trends is not just a passing fad. It represents a creative reimagining of cultural beauty practices for new canvases.

While still relatively niche, these beauty trends are grounded in documented work (henna contouring, nail henna, henna freckles, lip stain experiments). They come with both beauty potential and ethical or safety considerations. As more artists, brands, and consumers engage thoughtfully, henna’s legacy may continue to evolve, bridging tradition, identity, creativity, and modern beauty.

Photo: Instagram/glambygladys