It can be applied like Henna, washes off and can even last for a day or two if not washed.
• “Tattoos are made using needles, henna is a paste.”
• Tattoos are typically single images while Henna is a series of patterns which in India and Morocco traditionally cover the arms, hands, legs and feet like a lace glove.
Henna has been around for over 5000 years and dates back to the Egyptians. The prophet Mohammed used Henna to color his beard, Henna was found on mummies as well. Tattoos are comparatively a much more recent art. (17th or 18th c)
*As far as I know, tattooing is not a group activity as is Henna, which traditionally has been used for celebrations and rites of passage. (weddings, births, etc)
1 Michael Schneider, A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe, p23
2 The Olympic rings as a symbol of continents is debatable from a historical perspective, but we do know the provenance of the colors of the rings.