Mehndi

It was only a matter of time. After catching on among contemporary trend followers, the centuries-old art of mehndi--painting on the skin in intricate henna-colored designs--is getting a new look. Sacred Earth, a downtown Los Angeles mehndi boutique, decided that enough dull reddish brown was enough and has created dyes that are painted on in the ancient designs, only in bold, multicolored shades.

It was only a matter of time. After catching on among contemporary trend followers, the centuries-old art of mehndi--painting on the skin in intricate henna-colored designs--is getting a new look. Sacred Earth, a downtown Los Angeles mehndi boutique, decided that enough dull reddish brown was enough and has created dyes that are painted on in the ancient designs, only in bold, multicolored shades.

Melany Balmforth has come to the Fandangle boutique in Orange on a recent Saturday morning to have an artist adorn her hand with a silver-dollar-sized tattoo. "Cool, cool, cool," the 13-year-old Fullerton resident says, surveying the newly minted medallion on her epidermis. Yet Melany's mother Jacquie Balmforth looks uneasy: "Why does a mother let her kid do this?" she says. "My husband's going to be so mad." What will literally save Melany's skin is the fact that her tattoo is only temporary.

Melany Balmforth has come to the Fandangle boutique in Orange on a recent Saturday morning to have an artist adorn her hand with a silver-dollar-sized tattoo. "Cool, cool, cool," the 13-year-old Fullerton resident says, surveying the newly minted medallion on her epidermis. Yet Melany's mother Jacquie Balmforth looks uneasy: "Why does a mother let her kid do this?" she says. "My husband's going to be so mad." What will literally save Melany's skin is the fact that her tattoo is only temporary.

Whenever the mood hits her, Hollywood film producer Ilene Staple gathers several friends and heads to Little India in Artesia, where she slips inside Ziba Beauty Salon to have her hands stained with henna in the ancient style of Indian adornment called mehndi. Staple, 36, says she prefers to dress simply but that "this is a way of marking myself for special occasions that is beautiful and meditative. We plan a whole day around it. We have lunch, buy music, go to the shops for spices and bangles.

They weave around a wrist like iron lace, along the edge of a foot like an embroidered hemline, spiral the palm like a branch shadow projected by the sun. Written on the body, these imprints--deep red strokes that fade into an echo of an image--are the markings of a North African and Indian tradition called Mehndi, an ancient art of henna painting. Henna is known as much for its apothecary powers as its magical properties.

Walking through a trendy boutique in a mall in the Valley, I am reminded of when I was a little girl and I wrapped myself in the gold and rich colors of my grandmother's soft silk saris. I see bright red dots called bindis, not wrapped in little cards in the sweet-smelling Indian shops of my childhood but crowded together in a neon-lit showcase with chokers, cheap jewelry, colorful hair dyes and other trendy accessories.

This summer adorning the skin is in, but who knows about this fall? Fashion is fickle, so think about temporary beauty designs on the body. There are plenty of products for self-applications of mehndi designs, tattoos, body jewels and stenciled-on color. They're perfect for people of the here-today-gone-tomorrow mentality. Create henna designs that last about a week with the help of a new book, "The Art of Mehndi" (Penguin Studio, $19.

Those mehndi artists do great work with temporary henna tattoos, but there's so much time involved. What's a trendy Angeleno who wants some body art supposed to do? Tattoo yourself. With a rubber stamp and an ink pad, a temporary design on your body part of choice is just seconds away. Rubber stamp companies such as Magenta and All Night Media have come up with designs that look like mehndi, with exotic patterns and intricate swirls.

It began when we spotted a sign outside of Aahs in Santa Monica, heralding the arrival of do-it-yourself henna tattoo kits. Inside, we found a choice of five kits with stencils, as well as a book of designs for those adventurous enough to tackle this thing freehand. "Very popular," said store manager Willa Grady of the kits. We settled on a box labeled Mehndi Body Art--$15 including two stencils, henna powder, directions and a plastic cone for applying.

Walking through a trendy boutique in a mall in the Valley, I am reminded of when I was a little girl and I wrapped myself in the gold and rich colors of my grandmother's soft silk saris. I see bright red dots called bindis, not wrapped in little cards in the sweet-smelling Indian shops of my childhood but crowded together in a neon-lit showcase with chokers, cheap jewelry, colorful hair dyes and other trendy accessories.

They weave around a wrist like iron lace, along the edge of a foot like an embroidered hemline, spiral the palm like a branch shadow projected by the sun. Written on the body, these imprints--deep red strokes that fade into an echo of an image--are the markings of a North African and Indian tradition called Mehndi, an ancient art of henna painting. Henna is known as much for its apothecary powers as its magical properties.

The bride was Mexican. The groom was Iranian. Vanessa Domenech of Best Dream Weddings brought in mariachis and belly dancers. The Woodland Hills wedding planner has done Latin weddings and Filipino weddings. She'd like to try her hand at Chinese ones. And although she's planned Sikh nuptials, she has yet to do Hindu - which is why she signed up for "Indian Weddings 101. " CITY BEAT: More stories from the city Knowledge of white dresses and waltzes may be all you need in some places.

Tayyaba Anis is a sentimental artist. The 29-year-old beautician and makeup artist has spent the bulk of her life perfecting the beauty treatments and cosmetic needs of traditional Pakistani and Indian brides--including the detailed and painstakingly precise art of henna tattoos. Operating from her small Lampson Avenue studio, Anis specializes in preparing brides for their wedding day.