When you think of body art, tattoos and henna jump to mind. These body art trends have become ubiquitous in the 21^st century, with tattoos especially shedding their negative image to become an acceptable part of urban culture. But what kind of body art is right for you?Henna Henna is a dye that comes from a plant called lawsonia intermis or hina. The ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra used it to adorn her skin. The art of decorating your skin with henna is known as Mahindra and was popular in ancient India during rites of passage ceremonies. The ancient tradition found its way into modern Kenya as a form of decoration during wedding ceremonies. Women from the Coastal regions and Kenyan-Somali women are generally considered to be the best at applying henna. This art of decoration is favoured for its affordability and temporary nature. The cost of applying henna on both your arms ranges from Ksh 800-1,000 and it lasts up to a month on your skin. The dye is all natural, so no side effects are expected on the body.TattoosFrom temporary markings to permanent ones: tattoos. The increasing number of tattoo parlours are testament to the growing popularity of this form of body art. Tattoos started in 18^th century Polynesia. The word 'tattoo' comes from the Samoan word tatau which means to write or mark something.  Getting one will cost you anything from Ksh 1,000 to Ksh100,000 depending on the size and design. There are three types of tattoos: symbolic, decorative (those with no meaning) and pictorial (portraits and images). When getting a tatto, don't compromise on the professionalism of the artist and the sanitation. A fresh tattoo requires two weeks of care to heal. Tattooing is not for the faint-hearted as the procedure can be painful- but then again nothing good comes easily.TrendingThe latest trend in body art involves using tattoos to beautify body imperfections such as scars and keloids. Body art that blends in nicely with the imperfection is a cheaper and creative alternative to reconstructive surgery. The procedure is done very carefully taking into consideration the health of the client and the healing time. Most tattoo artists are conversant with the human body and skin; I like to call them artsy doctors. Not only do they cover up scars, but artsy doctors can also cover up tattoos that you now regret.