Stain & Aftercare

What is Palm vs Arm Stain?

Palm vs arm stain describes why mehendi looks darker on palms and fingertips than on the backs of hands, arms and legs: palm skin has a thicker layer of keratin, which absorbs more dye.

Palm vs Arm Stain explained

It is normal for a single bridal design to show a deep maroon on the palms and a lighter brown on the forearms. Artists plan bolder outlines for lighter areas so the design still reads well.

Keeping the paste on longer and keeping the arms warm helps narrow the difference, but it never disappears completely.

Also searched as: why mehendi is lighter on arms · back hand mehendi light colour · mehendi colour difference

Mehendi designs related to palm vs arm stain

Back Hand Mehendi

Back hand mehendi is any design applied to the back of the hand and fingers - the side most visible in daily life and photographs - ranging from a single Arabic trail to full bridal coverage.

Front Hand (Palm) Mehendi

Front hand mehendi is a design applied to the palm and inner fingers, the placement that develops the darkest, richest stain because palm skin is thicker and absorbs more dye.

Full Leg Mehendi

Full leg mehendi is a bridal design that runs from the toes and feet up the shin to the knee, creating a matching set with full-hand bridal mehendi.

Related mehendi terms

Henna StainA henna stain is the colour left on the skin after the paste is removed. It begins bright orange, then darkens through oxidation to reddish-brown or maroon over 24-48 hours, and gradually fades as the skin exfoliates.Dark Mehendi StainA dark mehendi stain is a deep maroon or reddish-brown colour achieved with fresh natural paste, leaving it on for 6-12 hours, sealing it with lemon-sugar, keeping the area warm, and avoiding water for several hours after removal.OutlineIn mehendi, the outline is the main contour line that defines the shape of each motif before fillers are added. Bold outlines make designs read clearly from a distance and help lighter areas like the back of the hand look sharp.Mehendi Coverage LevelsMehendi coverage levels describe how far a design extends: finger-only, half hand (to the wrist), full hand (to mid-forearm), elbow length and above-elbow. Coverage is the main factor in time and price.

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