Should you try the stick-on mehendi?

Mehendi ceremony is an integral part of Indian weddings, but we all agree, it is a messy and time-consuming affair. It begins with the search for a good artist, browsing the Internet for a good design, sitting still for (endless) hours as the mehendi is being applied, and waiting for a few other (endless) hours for it to dry. And it doesn't end there. There are a whole lot of things we do to make sure the colour is deep. 

While most brides prefer going through this arduous, albeit fun ceremony, heena application does not have to to be the only option. In several parts of India, brides wear alta on their hands and feet instead of mehendi. And keeping with the current trend of mixing traditional with modern, several brides are ditching the traditional henna and opting for stick-on mehendi. This trendy mehendi has pre-made designs in various shapes and sizes. They have a thin adhesive which needs to be stuck on and left for a few hours while you go about your day. You can peel it off for the design reveal. Sounds tempting right? We thought so. Which is why we decided to give you a rundown on this new alternative, which we think is better than traditional mehendi in a whole lot of ways.

Less time consuming 
Applying traditional mehendi is a long, tedious process unless you are great at being still and patient. You need to also be careful when the mehendi is drying; one slight smudge and endless hours of hardwork and patience goes down the drain. On the other hand, stick-on mehendi just needs to be cut up and placed where you want. You dab some water on it, wait for some time and viola!  

Is amateur-friendly and less messy 
Traditional mehendi requires a lot of skill to create and can be quite messy if not done properly. Stick-on mehendi’s easy application makes it amateur friendly. If you wish to do your mehendi by your self but don’t have the necessary skills, then the stick-on mehendi is a good option for you.  

More colour options 
If you are looking for more colour options than the usual brown hues of traditional mehendi, stick-on mehendi comes in many colours—from crimson red to jet black. Some even have ombre effects and glitter for that extra sparkle for your wedding day. 

Relatively inexpensive 
Hiring mehendi artists is an expensive affair. Stick-on mehendi is relatively inexpensive, and is the perfect option if you are on a budget.

Lasts less compared to traditional mehendi 
Traditional mehendi lasts for around two weeks, whereas mehendi stick-ons last a few days. This might be a good thing after all, considering some brides don’t want the mehendi to last into the honeymoon.

Cannot be customised 
The one con we think stick on mehendis have is that they cannot be customised. In traditional mehendi, there is a lot of room for customisation—want your spouse's name on your hand, or perhaps memories of your dating days, it can all be done incorporated by the artist. While stick-on mehendi has beautiful designs, it cannot be customised. Where traditional mehendi is drawn to perfectly fit your hands and feet, stick-on mehendis come in a set size.

Feature Image: @ranveersingh / Instagram