20 Mehndi Designs Simple Yet Trending for 2023

Despite the different cosmetic and skincare products in India, there is always a special place for traditional mehndi designs that stain the palms and the feet and add charm to one’s looks. With the wedding season approaching, many women are looking for mehndi designs that are simple yet attractive.

That’s why we have put together 20 fantastic mehndi designs that can be used for the brides, the bridesmaids, and the wedding guests. Did you know that the word mehndi is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘mendhika’? Mendhika is the plant, the leaves of which release a red dye. 

Mehndi designs are popularly applied by people in South Asia, the Middle East, and even parts of Africa. Now, mehndi is a known art form in other parts of the world. However, this is more commonly known as a henna tattoo.

Unlike tattoos, mehndi is more fun because the stain disappears after a few weeks, and you can get new designs every time. Since mehndi is fully natural, it is a safer choice of temporary tattoo for people with sensitive skin too.

How is a Mehndi Design That’s Simple and Elegant Created?

The first step to creating a mehndi design that’s simple and elegant is to pluck the leaves of the Mendhika plant (scientifically called Lawsonia inermis) and grind it into a smooth paste. Some people also dry the leaves, powder them, and add water to create a paste-like consistency that can be applied to the skin.

This semi-thick paste is then filled into handmade plastic cones and sealed. The tip of the cone is cut, and the mehndi can now be applied.

There is no limit when creating different mehndi designs that are easy and beautiful. Other parts of the world have created unique patterns, and we have tried to put together 20 such designs below.

1. Traditional Indian Full Hand Mehndi Designs

One of the most popular full hand mehndi designs that people love worldwide is the traditional Indian one. Traditional Indian mehndi designs use floral and leaf designs and are more curvy and flowy. There are also a lot of peacocks, elephants, and other cultural references in these designs. Indian full-hand designs take a long time to complete and are intricate and elegant.

2. Indian Mehndi Designs That are Simple and Small

If intricate and detailed Indian mehndi designs are popular, Indian mehndi designs that are simple and small are equally popular too. These are commonly used for smaller festivals and functions and are preferred when there is a need for more time or many hands to fill.

Such simple designs usually have a large central design combined with finger mehndi designs.

3. Figure-Art Bridal Mehndi Designs

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One of the latest additions to the bridal industry is the figure-art bridal mehndi designs. The henna artist chooses a particular theme – a baraat procession or the wedding scene- and tries to bring those elements together in the mehndi design.

Such designs are simple for an artist with experience using the mehndi cone. This is just like using a pencil and creating shapes on paper for them.

4. Portrait Mehndi Designs

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Have you seen some brides showcasing such beautiful pictures of the bride and groom on their palms? Just like how an artist draws portraits on paper, a mehndi artist creates figurines with henna, and this is not a skill that all mehndi artists bring to the table.

Unsurprisingly, such mehndi designs are pretty expensive, and brides choose these because they add such uniqueness to the whole wedding experience.

5. Intricate Bridal Mehndi Designs

Brides who do not like portraits and figurines on the palms can pick up intricate bridal mehndi designs that are equally awe-inspiring and elegant. Regarding bridal designs, the more fine-cut the cone tip is, the more intricate the designs will be. Check out this incredible piece of art on a bride’s hands.

6. Mandala Front Hand Mehndi Designs

This season, another straightforward yet lovely pattern is the Mandala front hand mehndi design. Mandala is an art form with repetitive patterns drawn on a circular base. Mandala designs bring calmness and serenity to the person looking at them.

7. Arabic Mehndi Designs

Apart from Indian mehndi designs, another prevalent and accessible variant to try out is the Arabic design. Arabic designs are asymmetrical and don’t usually fill the whole space like Indian designs. The conscious mixture of designs and open spaces makes these very attractive.

Arabic designs are easy to try out and great for beginners.

8. Unique Finger Mehndi Designs

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One funky henna design youngsters apply these days is the finger mehndi design. These are a great compromise between getting henna and wanting something more traditional.

As the name suggests, this design covers only the fingers or the toes and leaves the rest of the hands or feet empty. Finger henna is very popular now all over the world.

9. Floral Mehndi Designs

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One of the most commonly chosen mehndi designs is a floral design. Like thousands of natural flowers, these mehndi designs can be of any shape, size, or pattern based on the applier’s wish.

In all other styles of mehndi designs, flowers never fail to show their presence. Flower designs are great fillers too.

10. Backhand Mehndi Designs

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While traditionally, mehndi designs are applied on the palms where the stain appears darker, right now, more and more henna enthusiasts prefer backhand mehndi designs. One simple reason is that the designs created on the back of the hand are more easily visible.

When people choose backhand mehndi, it is essential to ensure the variant of henna used has a darker stain, though. Otherwise, the colour would come out light. Check out this excellent backhand mehndi design to get inspired by.

11. Morocco Geometric Mehndi Designs

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The third trendy type of mehndi design is the Moroccan style. This is characterized by geometric patterns and strategic, closely placed straight lines. Such designs are very sharp and bold, and most Moroccan mehndi designs don’t fill up the whole palms or feet. They are identified with enough gaps so the designs stand out.

Finger mehndi designs are a fun sub-segment of the Moroccan style too. Some designs have nothing on the palms but beautiful stripes and lines filling up the fingers from end to end.

12. White Henna Tattoo Designs

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One of the most unique mehndi designs you shouldn’t miss checking out is white henna. Yes. As the name says, this is a henna design that imparts a white color on the skin instead of the traditional red/orange color.

However, it is to be noted that this is a chemical form of henna and does not use mehndi leaves. This is more a kind of body paint that is applied like traditional henna.

13. Script Henna Designs

White henna is one of the unique mehndi designs you shouldn’t miss. Yes. As the name says, this is a henna design that imparts a white colour on the skin instead of the traditional red/orange colour.

However, it is to be noted that this is a chemical form of henna and does not use mehndi leaves. This is more body paint applied like traditional henna.

14. Cartoon and Animation Hand Mehndi Designs

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The easiest way to apply henna without its regular intricacies is to create words or scripts on the hand. Is there a personal quote or the name of someone you want to etch onto your palms or anywhere else in your body? These script hennas are perfect, then.

The mehndi cone can be used as a pen, and words can be written on the skin. This is straightforward to do.

Also Read: Ice Cube Facials – The Best Skin Secret Ever

15. Arm/Shoulder Henna Designs

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While most Mehndi designs are simple and elegant on the palms or feet, some people also enjoy getting other parts of their bodies tattooed with henna. One such commonplace is the arms or shoulders. These henna designs are perfect when you want to flaunt sleeveless clothes and off-shoulder dresses.

16. Henna Wrist Tattoo Designs

While most Mehndi designs are simple and elegant on the palms or feet, some enjoy getting other body parts tattooed with henna. One such commonplace is the arms or shoulders. These henna designs are perfect when you want to flaunt sleeveless clothes and off-shoulder dresses.

17. New Mehndi Designs for the Legs

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Looking for a mehndi design that is simple, quick, yet extremely attractive? Consider getting just your wrist henna tattooed. This is the art of creating a bracelet-type mehndi design on the wrist and leaving the rest of the hands bare.

This looks beautiful on the wrist; you don’t have to wear wrist accessories until the stains stay in.

18. South Indian Traditional Easy Mehndi Designs

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Seventeenth on this list is mehndi for the legs. There was a time when only the brides got mehndi designs for their feet. Right now, though, there are so many new mehndi designs for feet that anyone can try out if they want something different.

19. Tattoo Style Latest Mehndi Designs

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Seventeenth on this list is mehndi for the legs. There was a time when only the brides got mehndi designs for their feet. Right now, though, there are so many new mehndi designs for feet that anyone can try out if they want something different.

Some people apply mehndi designs only on the toes; others like covering the ankles with tattooed anklets. You can even apply mehndi on the thighs. This is a trend that’ll look great with shorts and miniskirts.

20. Stencil Mehndi Designs

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The easiest way to get intricate and detailed mehndi designs that are simpleon the skin is to use stencils. Stencils are thin plastic sheets with patterns cut out. You must keep the sheet on your skin and apply the mehndi.

The mehndi paste gets imparted to the skin through the cutout layers when the pattern is slowly removed or peeled off.

This is very easy to try out at home, and so many kinds of these cutout patterns are available in the market right now.

Conclusion

Mehndi has been a part of Indian culture for centuries now. It is the basis of modern-day ideas like tattooing, body art, and alta. According to science, the mehndi leaves supposedly calm down the body, and that’s why brides and bridegrooms get them the day before the wedding to get rid of the stressful days of preparation and festivities.

All these 20 mehndi designs are simple yet very interesting to try out. Try your hands painting with mehndi if you are interested, or get a professional to do it for you. Either way, seeing your palms and feet stained with beautiful mehndi colour is pleasing to the eye and very refreshing.