Indigo has been used as a body adornment almost as long as henna, since the neolithic period.  Indigo can be derived from three plants:  indigo (Indigofera), which grows in tropical climates, woad (Isatis tinctoria) and Dyer's Knotweed (Polygonum tinctorum) which grow in temperate climates.  All three have the same dye molecule: indigo.

Indigo has been used for body adornment in Arabia, Egypt, Yemen, Oman, Iran, and indigo from woad was used in Britain, Scotland and Ireland.  Persian women stained their eyebrows into one graceful double arc with indigo. Is indigo safe for you?  This technique is too new to be certain there is no problem. Indigo for body art is alkaline, like a harsh soap or wood ash, and should not be used in full body applications, and should not be used on the face, genitals or on broken skin.  Other than that, there is no present evidence that indigo body art is likely to be harmful.  FD&C Blue No. 2, FDA approved blue coloring are purified indigo.  Indigo is in your food, in your soaps and shampoos, in your cosmetics. Most people have had their skin accidentally stained blue with indigo at least once, from wearing new Levi's, or other indigo dyed clothing, on a hot day.

Download free ebooks on Celtic woading and indigo blue body art:

Finding Blue ~ History examines the historic record of Celtic woading and  indigo body art

Finding Blue ~ Science explains how blue body art is created with woad and indigo

Finding Blue ~ Technique shows you how to create woad and indigo patterns 

Finding Blue ~ Patterns  has more patterns for woad and indigo

See instructions for using indigo as body art:

• Introduction: http://www.indigopage.com/how/skin.htm
• Application Technique:  http://www.indigopage.com/how/skin2.htm
• Step by Step Guide:  http://www.indigopage.com/how/skin5.htm
• Stain Characteristics and Demise:  http://www.indigopage.com/how/skin4.htm
  

See galleries of indigo body art:

• http://www.indigopage.com/how/skin7.htm
• http://www.indigopage.com/how/skin8.htm
• http://www.indigopage.com/how/skin9.htm
• http://reverndbunny.sphosting.com/indigogalleryindex.html
  

Discuss indigo body art on a forum

See step-by-step videos of indigo body art

Click on the images below to view videos of "How To" do indigo, step by step.
File sizes average 10 MB

Carmel's Hands:  http://www.hennapage.com/henna/how/indigo/carmel_001.wmv

Leah's Hand:  http://www.hennapage.com/henna/how/indigo/leah_001.wmv

Mandy's Hand:  http://www.hennapage.com/henna/how/indigo/mandy_001.wmv

Tish's Hand: http://www.hennapage.com/henna/how/indigo/tish_001.wmv

Get supplies for safe indigo body art
at Mehandi.com,
and *almost free* samples!

Learn much more about indigo at IndigoPage.com