Amy - owner/artist
I was first introduced to henna in 2009 by a dear friend. Immediately I fell in love with the designs, the aroma, the feeling of being adorned and the joy it brings to others.
I also have a passion for breastfeeding and from that came the collaborative design of the hennaed breastfeeding shirts :) HennaHenna, or Mehndi, as a form of body adornment, has been practiced for thousands of years to dye hair, nails and skin. Almost every religion and culture have used some form of it in their traditions at one time or another. Now henna is being enjoyed across the world for many reasons, including for the pure beauty and joy it brings!
To create the henna paste the henna plant (Lawsonia Inermis) leaves are finely ground and then mixed with a mildly acidic liquid, often lemon juice or tea. The paste then sits for several hours while the dying properties activate. I make my own henna paste using only 100% natural henna and other natural ingredients, like lemon juice, sugar and essential oils (often frankincense, lavender and/or cajeput). The color achieved from using natural henna is typically a reddish brown color. Within that is a range depending on a few factors like the area and thickness of skin. (Black henna stain is created by a paste mixed with chemicals that can scar and burn the skin. Avoid black henna! If the design in the photos look black the paste has been left on.) |