Lalle
Body art is one of the earliest forms of artistic expressions known to humankind. Lalle also known as Henna in English is a traditional body art technique mostly done by the Hausa people of Northern Nigeria.
Lalle is a plant-based dye acquired from the Lalle leaf which is dried and blended into a powdered form. The powder is mixed with water, lemon, dye and oil perfume and applied on the body through the tip of the applicator. The applicator is delicately used to apply the paste to create beautiful body designs. The color is usually black, red or brown. The paste must be allowed to dry on the skin after the design has been made.
This traditional design is primarily practiced during weddings in the Northern part of Nigeria as part of the marriage rites and is widely accepted as a sign of blessings and fertility. The design is also worn at other festivities such as naming ceremonies, Sallah and other celebrations. For the northern Nigerian wedding festivities, there is usually day set aside for Lalle to be designed known as Kamu or Wuni (Sa lalle). The event is strictly for the bride, her friends and female family members to bond as part of the prewedding activities. Beautifully crafted designs are done on the bride’s hands, palms and legs. Friends and family also get henna designs on their hands, however theirs is not as elaborate as the brides.
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Recently, the Lalle designs are being worn as a body decoration and not necessarily to a specific event. It is very safe as it is made from natural materials compared to modern body art – tattoo. The Lalle designs are not permanent and should be visible on your skin for about 4 to 6 weeks depending on your skin texture.
Have you done this body art before? Please send us pictures. To get your beautiful Lalle designs in Lagos, please visit the Henna place at https://www.thehennaplacespa.com/