The History of Henna and Hair

Theoretical Use of Henna in Prehistory Most discussions of henna begin with a statement such as, “the history of henna is lost in the swirling mists of time,” often as a preface to ‘henna originated in MY culture, and my culture has the only TRUE henna heritage.’ Cultural claims are important to the identity of cultures, and the fervor of belief in them is genuine. Henna has been around for a long time, and is well integrated into many cultures. There may be many discoveries, origins, independent and later entangled developments of the cultures of henna. Click on the the images and links in this section to learn more about the complex subject of the history of henna. Climate Change and Culture Influences on Henna in North African Pre-history and Ancient Egypt: Click HERE or on the image above to learn about the primary and secondary evidence for henna use in Ancient Egypt, and the climate changes that drove henna from the 'Green Sahara' into Egypt. Theoretical use of henna in prehistory Henna in Ancient Egypt Henna in the Ebers Papyrus	Henna, Astronomy, and the Agro-Ecology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age Click HERE or on the image above to learn more about the religio-agricultural system the gave rise to women's henna traditions. The Evolution and Migration of Henna into Cultural Practices Henna, Astronomy, and the Agro-Ecology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age Evidence of henna in the wall paintings of 1600 BCE lustral basin in Xeste III prior to the Santorini eruption Artifacts showing markings consistent with a bride with hennaed hands in depictions of women in the Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean Henna in Mycenae at the End of the Bronze Age
Ancient Mesopotamian and Levantine Henna Click HERE or on the image above to learn more about henna in Mesopotamia, and interpreting henna as mentioned in the Old Testament Evaluating claims of ancient henna use and searching for origins Henna and Mesopotamia Henna, conquest, and change following the collapse of the Bronze Age The Royal Unguent The Royal Unguent Conquest, identity, and the erasure of henna in the southern Levant Reading ninth century BCE henna in the Book of Kings: Jezebel Echoes of Bronze Age Canaanite Henna in the Song of Songs Imagining Queen Esther	Early cultural henna use in the Arabian Peninsula and along the Arabian Ocean Click HERE or on the image above to learn more about the evidence of the early use of henna in the Arabian Peninsula and South Asia. Evidence of early cultural henna use in the Arabian Peninsula and along the Arabian Ocean Yemen and the Sabean Kingdom Imagining Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba, with or without henna Evidence of henna use and difference among neighbor The environmental limitations of henna [Lawsonia inermis] cultivation around the Arabian Ocean Ambiguation and disambiguation of hair dye in South Asia Ambiguation and disambiguation of red body markings in South Asia
Henna during the Late Bronze Age in the Mycenaean Eastern Mediterranean Click HERE or on the image above to learn about henna at the end of the Bronze Age in the eastern Aegean and Greece Henna in the Pylian perfume industry Henna and the Poseidon festival	Henna in 12th century Sicily Click HERE or on the image above to learn more about the use of henna in Sicily during the 12th century
Henna in Medieval Spain and the Spanish Inquisition Henna was beloved by Christian, Muslim, and Jewish women during the Spanish Convivienca, but was criminalized during by the Spanish Inquisition.  A woman could be arrested, tortured, and executed for witchcraft and heresy for using henna by the Office of the Inquisition.	The Spread of Henna into Europe and North America, and Compound Henna in the 19th Century This article discusses the addition of metallic salts and oxidative dyes to henna, how these created conflicts with chemical hair dye, and well as confusion about what henna actually is. Click on links and images below  to learn more about the unfortunate intersection of henna and chemical cosmetics in the west.
Late 19th century henna, compound henna, rasticks, henna-reng, henna-rasticks, and metallic salts page 3	Early 20th century henna mislabeling, misinformation and disinformation   page 33
Early 20th century para-phenylenediamine and henna page 50 PPD warnings in New York City, 1928	Early 20th century walnut, silver nitrate, and para-phenylenediamine as brunette hair dye page 87
Turkish henna in the 19th century, and exports to Europe	Madame Patti, late 19th century diva credited with popularizing henna in Europe
https://www.ancientsunrise.blog/oscar-wilde/ Oscar Wilde’s Hair and Skin: Investigations into His PPD Sensitization and Use of Henna	PurePact Henna Leaves, sold in the USA about 1930
Henna Instructions from a 1940 Textbook for Beauticians	Henna and Musicians with Gray Hair