The Indian cosmetic art form that uses Lawsonia inermis paste to stain the skin is mehndi.
Mehndi is the practice of creating temporary decorative designs with henna paste, especially on the hands and feet. Lawsonia inermis is commonly called the henna tree, and its leaves contain lawsone, a natural dye molecule that binds to keratin in skin and produces an orange, red, or brown stain.
The designs are applied as wet paste and deepen in color over several hours as the paste dries and is left in place. Traditional patterns may include flowers, leaves, vines, geometric shapes, and intricate symmetrical motifs. Mehndi is widely associated with weddings, festivals, and other celebrations across India and South Asia.
Mehndi is often confused with a bindi or kumkum. A bindi is a forehead mark or ornament, while kumkum is a colored powder or paste commonly used for religious or cultural marking. Rangoli is a decorative floor-art tradition, not a skin-staining practice.