Finger tips mehendi design.

In Sudan, mehndi is displayed primarily by married women on their hands, fingertips and feet.

The designs exemplify virtues such as kindness and peace.

and are more elaborate during special celebrations such as weddings, births and male circumcisions.

When henna was first used, Egyptian men and women would dip their fingers into henna in order to have red tipped fingers.

It was considered inappropriate to leave the house without henna’ed hands.

Rural North African people still use henna twigs as toothpicks to keep their gums and teeth healthy.