Lawsonia inermis

The henna plant is characterized by its beautiful green leaves and flowers that take on a pink or white color, and this plant has been used by different civilizations of the world for centuries to dye the hair or skin brown or red. Henna leaves, seeds or flowers can be used for normal cosmetic purposes, such as the aforementioned dye, or for health and medical purposes.

The story:

Sadeem was a young woman who felt embarrassed by her mother and grandmother’s trade—selling henna. She despised the smell of henna and saw it as an outdated relic of Bedouin heritage, which she considered shameful. To hide this, Sadeem avoided talking about her family’s trade and never invited her friends over, fearing they would see the henna trees that filled their garden.

One day, her mother offered to apply henna to Sadeem’s hair, but Sadeem refused, saying, “I’d rather have damaged hair than use this disgusting substance with its horrible smell.” Her words left her mother deeply disappointed.

The next day, Sadeem’s friend Renad invited her and a group of friends to her house to celebrate Saudi Heritage Day. Excited about the event, Sadeem joined in the festivities. During the celebration, Renad revealed a surprise—henna for hand engraving. All the girls cheered with enthusiasm, except Sadeem, who was taken aback. “You actually like henna?” she asked, shocked. Her friends replied that they loved it, sharing how they used henna on their hands and hair during special occasions.

Their excitement and pride struck a chord with Sadeem. Hesitant at first, she decided to try it and let Renad decorate her hand with henna. On her way home, Sadeem began to reflect on her earlier feelings. She realized that henna wasn’t something to be ashamed of—it was a beautiful part of her heritage, something to cherish and take pride in.

When she arrived home, Sadeem approached her mother with an apology, sharing what she had learned from her experience. Her mother, overjoyed by the change in her daughter’s perspective, warmly accepted the apology. From that day forward, Sadeem no longer saw henna as a burden of the past but as a vibrant thread in the tapestry of her culture.