About the artist
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If you're interested in getting a henna tattoo and live in the Tampa Bay or Sarasota area, you can e-mail me at blinki1080@hotmail.com or IM me on AIM at iburntoemerge. Prices are tentative, but usually range from $15-$65, depending on how big/intricate the design you'd like is.
Look at some of my henna work here.
I am also a traditional artist-- view my art here.
Henna FAQ
What is henna?
The art of henna (or mehndi as it is commonly known) starts with the henna plant. Its leaves are ground up to make a powder to which lemon juice, tea, or water is added. The paste is then applied to the skin, and when the paste dries and cracks off, it leaves behind a stain. The color of the stain will vary depending on where the paste was applied (palms of the hands and feet stain darkest and longest) and where the henna is from (Indian henna is a redder color, while Moroccan henna is known to be more of a brownish hue). Usually, though, the color will be anywhere from a rusty orange to dark red. There is no such thing as a black henna stain, though it is possible for very dark brown colors to be achieved.
How does henna dye the skin? Is it dangerous?
Henna contains a natural dye molecule called a Lawsone; it's small enough to penetrate a person's outermost layers of skin (called the stratum corneum). Henna will stain darkest where the stratum corneum is thickest because the skin will have more outer layers for the henna dyes to go into. Unless you have an allergy to the Lawsone molecule (also called hennotanic acid), henna itself poses no threat to your health; however, some people add certain oils to their paste that may irritate sensitive skin. Products that claim to be "black henna" actually contain PPD, a harmful black hair dye.
How long does the henna design last?
Depending on where it was applied and how long the paste was left on, the henna tattoo will last from 1-4 weeks. As the skin layers exfoliate, the dyed layers rub off until there are none left; then, the design is gone.
Where did henna come from?
Henna has been used since ancient, pre-Biblical times as a way of adorning one's body, curing sickness, and paying homage and reverence to the gods. The traditions of henna continue today especially in the Middle East, where it is used on special occasions. In many Eastern cultures, henna is used to decorate a bride before her wedding day. Her feet and hands are covered in elaborate bridal mehndi designs, and it is said that until they fade, she is like a guest in her own house-- her new husband does the chores for her! In Moroccan culture, henna is often used to ward off the evil eye. Henna has been used for everything from protection to worship to decoration and still is today.
Follow these tips to get a great stain.
- Let the paste dry for at least 1 hour; depending on where the tattoo is, overnight (if possible!) may be best.
- Don't wash the paste off! Instead, scrape it off using your nails or something like a credit card.
- Rub off extra bits of henna with olive oil, not water.
- Try not to get the hennaed skin wet for 12 hours after you remove the paste.
- If the stain isn't very dark when the paste is removed, don't worry! The natural dyes in henna oxidize and the stain will darken over the next 2-4 days.
- Also, avoid pools and/or chlorinated water. These make the skin exfoliate faster, thus making the tattoo fade faster. Try not to scrub too hard in the shower!
If you're interested in learning more about henna or doing it for yourself, look at some of these sites:
hennapage.com
TheHennaGirl.net