Where does henna originate from?

The earliest solid evidence points to ancient Egypt being the point of origin for the use of henna as a dye. Henna stains appear on the hair and nails of Egyptian mummies. The origins of henna being used as a dye are somewhat controversial.

The shrub that the reddish-brown dye derives from is of the loosestrife family. It grows as a native species in northern Africa as well as in Asia and Australia. The dye is the plant's chief usable product, but the shrub is also an ornamental plant. Arabs and Indians, among other cultures, have used the henna dye as a bodily adornment and a hair dye for millennia.