Is henna medieval

Answer 1

Yes. Henna use on skin can be easily documented in paintings and decorated ceramics back to at least the 1100s CE in Persia. There is also textual evidence of its use on hair, skin, and as a perfume in the Levant back to Biblical times.

In the medieval period, it was popular for all three of these uses by many women and some men in all countries around the Mediterranean. It was not limited to Muslims, either- Christians and Jews also used henna extensively. Later, although it was still used on hair, henna use on skin went out of fashion among Christians as intolerance for the other religions grew, and as the northern areas grew colder and henna wouldn't grow well there anymore.

I'm uncertain whether the henna plant grew in India before the Mughals (Persians) invaded, but there is no evidence that henna was used on skin by Hindus until around 1600 CE.