Indian brides have always been adorned as lavishly as a family’s means could arrange. Colorful saris with golden threads, thick with embroidery, jewelery, lavish hair styles, and cosmetics announce to the community the means and status of the bride. Prior to the 19th century, Hindu brides were adorned with turmeric, lac, and kumkum. Muslim brides had henna, and a night of the henna. These traditions gradually merged and fused, and energized each other through the late 20th century.
Recently, the bridal henna industry in India has recently expanded into other types of colorful body adornment, using glitter, gilt, and colored cosmetics and paste, reflecting current clothing styles and tastes. There are presently dozens of styles and techniques in India that go far beyond henna, into the genre of theatrical cosmetics adapted for henna. These cosmetics do not stain the skin as henna does, they are various kinds of waterproof body paints formulated so they can be applied in henna techniques. These colorful body paints are particularly popular with brides who undergo many clothing changes through their bridal parties, and who want to be able to change their body art to match each change!
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