Henna was used throughout India and the Middle East before Islam, and is also known as "Mehendi" (an Indian word).
Henna is made from the leaves of a bush, the Egyptian evergreen plant whose shoots and leaves yield an extract which is mixed with substance obtained from various trees and shrubs.
Arabians crush dried berries from this plant to obtain a red powder. Black henna is reserved for the soles of the feet and hands while red henna is used for the tips of the fingers and toes. 
Traditional henna designs were put onto hands and feet. It was often part of a
special celebration of women, such as preparing for the wedding. Women gathered to decorate the bride's hands and feet, and their own hands as well.
Henna was also used on the groom's hands, too, but the parties were separate. The designs were usually made to look like leaves, vines, and flowers or geometric patterns.
The history of henna goes back 5,000 years! It was not only for decorating hands and feet, but was used as a medicine, too. (Even the Prophet Muhammad recommended using henna for some health problems.)
