By Lakota

August 7th, 2017

I remember the first time I ever found out henna existed, I was in Florida with my parents and grandmother on vacation, my dad went into a tattoo parlor and received a Chinese style symbol on his arm in Henna. I was already 14 at this point and obviously very interested in tattoos and the like. To find out there was an alternative to a tattoo that included no pain was pretty interesting.

I stumbled upon Henna over and over again as a young (and broke) adolescent at each and every event and fair I went to. It wasn’t until I was 18 living with my now husband that I ended up actually getting one for myself. My husband and I went to a renaissance fair in our local town. I noticed a henna tent and with my own money (that I now had a little bit of) I went into that tent and picked out a design for my foot. Below is that very design from 5 years ago. I paid $20 for the tattoo and it lasted a good 14 days or so.

Henna or Jagua

Ever since that first henna tattoo, I was hooked. It wasn’t until a year later my husband surprised me with a Christmas gift that was everything I needed to make and do Henna myself. My husband is such a giver, he spent hours researching to find the best brand of Henna powder, the best place to get cones to fill with henna and tattoo transfer paper! He also had youtube videos saved of how to mix the henna and what the consistency should look like.

I was indebted to him for all his hard work. I was also excited/nervous to make my first batch and apply it hoping I had done everything right.

Henna Journey

My first couple tattoos you could tell nerves had got the best of me and I was a bit uptight with the cone and letting go with design. Honestly thats something I struggle with, with art in general. I am learning more as time goes on, to let go slowly though.

Who doesn’t want a burger and fries meal on their skin for a couple weeks?

 

I had a friend expecting her second baby and at her baby moon I did this freehand design for her.

As time went on I continued to practice on myself and watched more videos and gaining more inspiration from other work. The darker images are with the paste still on and the lighter more orange tinted images are with the paste removed after about 6 hours or so.

 

I started actually using the transfer paper my husband gifted me so long ago and was able to make really large designs with a very precise hand and flow for the body.

I began to do some henna for a local shop as well as at a spiritual retreat.

I began gaining more confidence in free hand work and letting the Henna flow through me. This is me working on the foot of a friend at the retreat!

Another piece I did from a photo reference for a friend.

Self practice was always key as disappointing myself was no biggie if the design didn’t flow just right, I was able to really gain confidence in working on myself.

  

I did a pregnant belly quite some time later for my aunt who was expecting her first little one and It was an honor! This one was also done freehand with a photo reference.

 

I absolutely love henna and the beautiful process it can be of applying it, I love the smiles clients have when walking away and the delight of the stain upon their skin the next day! The learning curve has been long but I absolutely appreciate every bit of it all! What about you? Have you ever heard of henna, or had henna applied? Share with me your stories!

 

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