henna

thumb|An elderly Bengalis|Bengali man in [[Dhaka with a beard dyed in henna]]

Henna is a dye made from dried, powdered leaves of Lawsonia inermis, producing reddish stains used in body art. It has been used since at least the ancient Egyptian period as a hair and body dye, notably in the temporary body art of mehndi (or "henna tattoo") resulting from the staining of the skin using dyes from the henna plant. After henna stains reach their peak colour, they hold for a few days and then gradually wear off by way of exfoliation, typically within one to three weeks.