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 Henna Gallery |
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Bridal Henna Packages
Samina can create the following types of henna, Bridal henna,
Simple henna,
-Half palms including wrists up to 3 inches,
1 strip on back of each hand including wrists up to 3 inches,Simple design on feet,
Intricate henna, Full palms including wrists up to 3 inches, 1 strip on back of each hand, including fingers and wrists up to 3 inches, Intricate design on feet and ankles up to 3 inches
Extreme henna, Full palms and forearms up to elbows, Full backs of hands and arms up to elbows, Extreme design on feet and legs up to the knee
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Additional Designs
Please note if you would like tattoo's on the body these will be charged for separately to the bridal package. Naval, back, arm bands - £10 each
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Additional Charges
An additional charge of £10 for every 15 minutes will be applied if Samina is kept waiting.
Travel charges may be payable, depending on location. This will be confirmed on booking. Only cash payments will be accepted. Outstanding payments must be cleared on the day.
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What is Henna?
Henna comes from the fragrant henna plant (Lawsonia Inermis) which is grown in hot climates. The leaves are picked and then dried in the sun, they are then crushed into a fine powder. The henna is then sifted to remove bits of bark which can block the henna applicator. It is mixed with essential oils to accelerate the colour. In the past people would leave the henna to mature for several hours before using it. With the use of essential oils the henna can be ready to use in as little as one hour.
The henna paste is transferred into a plastic cone shaped applicator which can be made at home. The tip is then snipped off and a henna tattoo can be applied to the skin (it’s like icing a cake).
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Designs
Designs can vary from one region to the next. Moroccan and Arabic designs are simple. Pakistani and Indian designs are more intricate. They are usually tattooed on the hands, arms and feet on special occasions such as weddings, Eid and Diwali. Some bride’s opt for extreme henna which can cover the hands and arms up to the elbows, others go for a single design on the palm or a strip on the back of the hand for a more contemporary look. Some bride’s decide not to have any henna.It isn’t just a tradition anymore, it’s a personal choice.
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Henna in the West
Henna is very popular in the west. It has been made popular by celebrities like Madonna who like to set trends. She had her hands tattooed for her ‘frozen’ video. Western designs are usually tattooed on various parts of the body such as the naval, back, top of arm, ankle etc and they are usually simple. Although some people can go a bit crazy, the other day I saw a picture of a woman with a tattoo covering her shaved head!
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Henna After Care
Once henna has been applied it is left to dry completely and then sealed with a mix of lemon and sugar. This helps the tattoo adhere to the skin for longer which helps to deepen the stain.
The henna needs to stay on for at least 4 hours or over night. Infact it develops better on warm skin. Body temperature goes up whilst we sleep so it’s best to keep it on overnight. If you have cold hands and feet due to poor circulation, sleep in a warm room.
Some people wrap their hands with cling film to stop the henna from coming off! This is unnecessary, some of the henna may flake off but it won’t stain your clothes or sheets. It is possible for the henna to transfer on to another body part, so if you sleep with your hand under your face you could end up with a stain!
When removing henna, just rub it off over a wash basin. If some bits still stick to the skin use the end of a spoon to scrape it off with.
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What to look for in a Henna Artist
When you look for a henna artist, take a good look at her portfolio designs and colour results. Make sure she is passionate about her work.
Also make sure your henna artist isn’t rushing, After all it is your bridal henna and not a race. Slower application ensures a neat finish. Free hand application can be a little faster and a bit more random. Your bridal henna needs to be immaculate. I know beautician’s who don’t do henna anymore because they just don’t have the patience. They prefer just to do the hair and make-up. Others just go in and do a rush job because they just want to get out of the door.
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Black Henna
There is no such thing. If you are going on holiday abroad do not fall into the trap of having a black henna tattoo which is more appealing than the brown stain. The black stain looks more like the real thing which might explain why it’s so popular.
A chemical called Para-phenylenediamine or PPD which is used in hair dyes is used to stain the skin. Problem is it’s not safe to use on the skin as some people may have a reaction to this chemical.
If this happens you could be left permanently scarred. It is possible to make the tattoo black by adding more oils but this is not advisable as it could cause a skin reaction.
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Is Henna Safe?
Henna is a natural product and it is possible to have a reaction although this is unheard off. You are more likely to have a reaction to the essential oils. It is possible to feel a stinging sensation especially on the backs of the arms, this usually subsides quite quickly.
Avoid getting henna on your clothes and upholstery as it is a stain. If you do get some on any fabric just wash it off immediately with warm soapy water.
Make sure your henna artist is using fresh henna. The pre-mixed stuff may not give you the desired results and it is full of chemicals. It is left sitting on a shop shelf for months in which time the colour fades. I use Ash Kumar henna, the colour is guaranteed. See portfolio for henna colour results.
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How to tell natural Henna from PPD
So how do you know if somebody is using natural henna when you are on holiday? Well if it is henna it will be applied with an applicator and it will be of a thick consistency. Also natural henna is fragrant. PPD is applied with a stick and is runny it also has a horrible chemical smell.
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Other Uses for Henna
Henna is used for medicinal purposes, in the east when it gets very hot people apply henna paste to the soles of their feet. Henna has cooling properties. In fact if you have a henna tattoo anywhere your skin will feel cold.
It is used in hair products such as shampoo and hair colour.
Some muslim women use henna to stain the nails instead of using nail polish which has to be removed for prayer. It stains burgundy and turns a horrible orange colour as it fades.
Some people apply henna to the hair but if you have a large quantity of grey hair, don’t use henna or you’ll end up with orange hair.
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Henna Products
Henna is available in powder form, in ready to use cones and tubes. A range of glitter gels, glitter powders, gems and coloured henna are available to accentuate natural henna designs after application or after removal, they can also be used on their own. Stencils, design books and henna kits are also available on the market.
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Henna Stain
The stain should be a deep orange colour if you take the henna off after 4 hours and a deep brown colour if you leave it on overnight. The colour takes 48 hours to develop fully. The final colour should be a deep burgundy colour. The stain tends to be darker on the palms and lighter elsewhere to begin with but it catches up over several hours. If you have a thick design the stain will be very dark, but a fine design will be less dark. Some people apply mustard oil or balm containing essential oils to help to enhance the colour, this is not essential.
Try to avoid washing tattooed area too much. Wear gloves when doing the housework. Household chemical’s can fade the henna. A former bride cleaned her bath without wearing gloves. The tattoo faded just on the fingertips so I had to re-apply the henna. Emergency henna is available should this occur!
Henna fades gradually between 1-3 weeks. It fades quicker on the palms as the hands are washed more frequently.
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Caffeine
If you want to have a go at doing your own henna, lay off the tea, coffee and other caffeinated drinks. As excessive caffeine intake can make your hand shake slightly. Enough to make you draw wobbly lines! Don’t serve your artist too many caffeinated drinks either!
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