I have always been an artistic type and I have a dual major in both graphic design and fine art. In my day job, I head up the international packaging design division for a leading Personal Care appliance company in Connecticut (CT).  In my spare time, aside from doing henna or Mehndi, I have multiple creative projects that range from jewelry, to mask making, to clothing design. But my favorite activity is henna!

I had my first henna experience about 10 years ago and fell in love! Later I learned how to do Mehndi (Mehandi, Mehendi, etc.) from the artist who originally did my first henna and I've now been a Mehndi artist for about 5 years.  Not only do I do henna for myself,  but I've been doing henna parties and festivals throughout Connecticut (CT) and New York (NY).

Everything I do is freehand (I do not use stencils) and I am able to copy almost anything in henna. So if you have something in particular that you'd like to have done in henna, I will probably be able to reproduce it for you. I have even had clients who wanted to try out a design for a future permanent tattoo in henna.

My henna is imported from India and I mix it with all natural ingredients such as lemon juice and tea tree oil. The stain is a dark brown red and can last from 2 weeks to a month depending on where on the body you get the henna.

I'm one of the few henna artists in Connecticut (CT), and New York City (NYC) is only a train ride away for me.

Indrani is a Goddess of India whose name means Queen of the Gods. Traditionally in India, when a woman had henna on her hands she was not allowed to do housework. I'd say that is very queen-like. This is why I chose the name Indrani's Mehndi!

What is Mehndi? (Mehandi, Mehendi, etc.):
Mehndi is the practice of using henna as skin decoration for festivals, special occasions, or just for fun!

What is Henna?:
Henna is a flowering plant that when dried and mixed with other natural ingredients creates a paste that will leave a red-orange-brown stain when used on skin, hair and fingernails. Because of the Keratin in our skin, the color in Henna creates the stain that you see once the paste has dried and flaked off. Most henna is cultivated in the Western India area and has been used for body art and hair dye since the Bronze Age. Since I mix my henna with all natural ingredients only, no one has ever had an allergic reaction to my henna. You could eat it, though the taste isn't all that great!

Designing and Drying:
I have a large book with a variety of designs to choose from, or if you prefer to bring your own design with you, that is good too - I can copy most anything! Some of the smaller and simpler designs will take only 10 to 15 minutes to put on your skin. The more ornate and intricate designs will take upwards of 25 to 40 minutes.

The amount of drying time varies from 10 to 25 minutes depending on the humidity, heat and fill-in on the henna design. The thicker the henna design the longer it will take to dry, and moist, rainy days will extend the henna drying time.

It is good to have a longer drying time. This will allow the henna to soak in which will give you a darker, longer lasting stain. I also recommend that you wear comfortable clothes since you may be sitting around with exposed henna for a while.

Tip to obtain a longer lasting stain: When you go home, you should wrap your dry henna in plastic wrap and sleep with it over night. The heat from your body and the contained moisture under the skin will help the henna darken and soak in.

How long it lasts:
Though I live in Connecticut, I purchase very good quality henna from India to make sure that the henna leaves a deep, dark stain. Henna will last from a week and a half to upwards of a month, depending on what part of the body the henna is applied. Most of the time, hands and arms will last about a week and a half to two weeks. Ankles and feet will last up to about a month. Your henna will darken for about 2 days after the paste is removed. Using chemical cleaners, bleach, or swimming in a pool will reduce the amount of time your henna lasts.

What's the best place on the body to have henna done?
Henna will be darkest and last longer on thicker skin areas, such as palms, hands, feet and ankles. Henna applied to upper legs, backs, necks, and chest are a light stain and will last about 1 week.

Caring for your henna:
Since henna stains the top of your skin, over time as your skin flakes off, and so will your henna. The best way to care for your henna is to apply moisturizer or oil to the skin. This keeps the skin moist and healthy. Do not rub your skin with an exfoliating cloth or product, this will take off the top layer of henna and reduce its life span.

 

What is "Black Henna"?
WARNING:
Look at that photo to your left. That is what's left of a black henna (PPD) tattoo.

I will never use "Black Henna". "Black Henna" is not Henna and is not natural. It is a hair color chemical called PPD (Para-phenylenediamine) which can cause chemical burns on your skin! The black dye will first look like a tattoo, but if you have an allergic reaction, the skin will begin to itch and blister, leaving behind open sores and even scarring!

Don't subject yourself to black henna. It can damage your skin for the rest of your life.