Long lines are unavoidable at summer festivals for beer, to use the restroom (if you're a woman) and this year, if you wanted a henna tattoo. In fact, many Summerfest-goers waited more than an hour just to have their body adorned with a temporary henna tattoo.

"I heard about henna from a friend in California, and I really wanted one," says Kim Bleeker, who got a henna tattoo at Summerfest. "I'm too scared to get a real tattoo, I guess."

So what is henna? Henna is a small shrub found in hot climates like India, Pakistan, Morocco, Egypt and the Middle East. The leaves, twigs and flowers are ground into a powder, mixed with hot water, put into a cone similar to a frosting sleeve and then applied by an artist to the skin.

The art of applying henna in a decorative way is called mehndi, and, boy, is mendhi trendy.

Renee Simone is a Milwaukee henna artist who has been practicing for five years after a friend from Chicago taught her the art form. Chicago, like most large cities, has henna salons.

Simone currently works at the East Side Farmer's Market in the Beans and Barley parking lot on Saturdays and has a private business offering "henna parties." She is also taking henna art to canvases other than the skin, and recently, painted henna murals in private homes and made wedding cakes topped with henna designs.

The origin of henna is sketchy and information varies greatly. What is known for sure, however, is that it's been used for cosmetic and healing practices for at least 5,000 years. Traditionally, and still today in Indian and other cultures, henna is applied to women before major life events, such as marriage. Simone says men in Milwaukee, however, are just as likely to get a henna tattoo.

"I have a variety of henna designs for men," she says. "They're much less scripty and flowery."

Henna tattoos are usually applied to the hands and feet, where they last the longest. When the paste is initially applied it's chocolate brown, almost black, but after a couple of hours it dries, flakes off and stains the skin brown, orange or rust depending on skin color. Henna lasts anywhere from one to three weeks, depending on how long the paste is allowed to dry and the wearer's lifestyle. For instance, scrubbing or swimming in chlorinated pools will cause henna tattoos to fade prematurely.

The medicinal affects of henna are debatable, but some believe applying mendhi can treat certain skin conditions, stop the thinning of hair and protect against evil.

Because henna is pain-free, temporary and embraced by loads of recording artists and Hollywood stars -- including Madonna, Drew Barrymore and Prince -- it has become very popular in the Western world. Henna is also much cheaper than getting a "real" tattoo, and although prices vary from artist to artist, a 15-minute henna tattoo will cost some where between $15 and $25.

"I love body art," says Simone, who has multiple permanent tattoos. "I really love the smell, the temporariness and the traditional aspects of henna. And as a henna artist I basically get to doodle for money. Luckily, I'm a really good doodler."

Renee Simone's e-mail address is moonunitluna@hotmail.com.