What is henna?
Henna is a common name for
the shrub Lawsonia inermis. Henna is also known as mehandi or mehndi. Henna
leaves are harvested, dried and crushed, then mixed in to a paste to be used
for temporary body adornment or to colour hair. It is the one of the oldest
cosmetics, and the henna application results in red to red/brown marks left on
the skin.
Who uses henna?
Anyone can use henna! It
can be used to mark celebrations of all kinds - weddings, pregnancy, birthdays or
other special occasions. Henna can be applied to men, women and children. It is
believed to draw good luck and ward off evil.
Is using henna safe?
Yes! Henna has been used
for centuries, and is all natural! In an age where most over-the-counter
cosmetics are laced with chemicals you may or may not know about, henna offers
a wonderful, natural option for temporary body adornment! Allergic reaction to
henna is extremely rare. If you are concerned, please contact Hennasphere Body
Art for ingredients of the paste, or to arrange a patch test.
Does it hurt?
No! Henna is applied using
a cone, similar to decorating a cake. No needles or any scary stuff! Henna
application is a relaxing enjoyable experience.
How is henna art different from a tattoo?
Henna stains the first few
layers of skin in the colour range of red/brown only. Henna application does
not pierce the skin. Henna decorations are temporary, fading naturally with the
exfoliation of your skin.
How long will my designs last?
Designs will last anywhere
from 1-4 weeks, depending on several factors. These include the area that has
been hennaed, the amount of time the paste was left on, how much the design
area is scrubbed and washed. Hennasphere Body Art provides an extensive
aftercare sheet to help you keep your design as long as possible!
How long does the paste stay on?
Henna paste should be left
in place for a minimum of 2-4 hours, but the longer you can be patient, the
deeper the stain, and the longer lasting the design!
Why are some design pictures red/brown and some black?
Any images on this site
where designs appear black have been photographed while the henna paste is
still on the skin. Pictures with red/brown designs indicate the tone that the
design matured to. Pure natural henna never stains black.
What is Black Henna?
Black Henna is not henna
at all… but rather a paste containing potentially deadly chemicals and dyes.
The main "bad" ingredient is PPD (Para-phenylenediamine).
All Artists from
Hennasphere Body Art use natural Henna ONLY!!!
Our supplies are purchased from Amerikan Body Art so we are absolutely
sure it is natural and safe for you and your loved ones.
Is henna related to religion?
Henna is a cultural
experience. Henna use is celebratory in nature. It is used to beautify the body
and provide its own meaning to the person being hennaed. You will not offend
anyone by wearing henna!
Why have henna designs applied?
Being celebratory, henna
has many uses in the USA as well as other countries today. Henna to celebrate
an anniversary, formal function, birthday, wedding, vacation, bat mitzvah,
pregnancy, rites of passage, team spirit, picnics, corporate function, grand
openings, charity fundraiser, girls night out or just hanging out - the reason
can just be because !
How did I get "into" henna?
Erika Harrison from
Amerikan Body Art introduced me to henna.
I took her classes and did some local events with her. Hennasphere Body Art now has many Artists
that can do henna, face painting, airbrush and glitter tattoos.
Where do I find my designs?
Most of my work is
inspired and adapted from several wonderful henna pattern books I own. Each piece however is hand done, not done
with a stencil so no 2 are ever alike.