Henna: Appointments & Walk Ins Friday 5/20 at The Midnight Sun

Try it! You'll Like It. The ancient body art of henna tattoo can be quickly and easily applied for everyday wear.

You don't have to wait for a wedding to enjoy this beautiful body art. Here is a $15 design on the back of the hand. Easy to wear, flattering to the hand, and offering a lovely dark stain once the paste is gone.

New to Henna...... no worries. I have a FAQ page to answer almost every henna question you may have, pattern books AnD and informed consent that will help you have the best possible experience.

So.... come see me this Friday, 5/20 at The Midnight Sun, 1055 Park Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32205. I will be there from Noon 'til 5:30 PM. 

Quick Henna Tattoo - Henna Patterns

This graceful design is a perfect compliment to the jewelry & mala my henna clients was wearing.

The pattern is simple, but elegant.. easy to keep an eye on, and easy to work with throughout the day.

This is a sample of the $15 chef's choice henna tattoo available in Five Points at The Midnight Sun. Henna tattoo will be available through the fall on Saturday afternoons.

Please contact Spirit Vision Henna for more information.

Simple Henna Tattoo for the Feet

When coming for a henna tattoo on the foot, please be sure to wear sandals that leave enough room to fit the kind of tattoo you want.

This photo is a good example of a sandal that leaves enough room to place a small henna tattoo that flatters the foot as well as the toes.

Luckily, the little peacock design also is flattering to the golden sandal my client chose to wear. When getting a tattoo on the foot, it is important to leave the sandal on, so that I am sure not to draw your design too close to the shoe.. that way the henna will not rub off with wear.

If you want a tattoo that covers more of the top of the foot, then a little slide on shoe, or mule might be a better choice. This henna tattoo cost $15 dollars and took about 15 minutes from start to dry time. Stop by The Midnight Sun this Saturday between 11:00 Am & 5:00 PM for your henna tattoo. We will be leaving early this Saturday!

Henna Tattoo - Back & Shoulder Henna Pattern

The goddess of henna muses came by for a back piece yesterday. In the spirit of all great patrons of artists everywhere, Miss Nancy gave me a general description of what she wanted in general and the complete freedom to henna as I pleased.

We talked about styles & energy.. paisley and peacocks, and the wonderful ideas of someday doing full body henna. I hope to create a unique design/ pattern/ moment of art in the near future.

However, as we were in a shop window, we opted for a henna pattern for her upper back. The first photos is of her henna design seen from the back. I was very happy to be able to use negative space in this design, as well as the "drops" effect to enhance the natural beauty of her neck & shoulders.

The pattern began on her right shoulder, moving across the upper back and then down the left arm. At some point, we thought to try for the half sleeve tattoo effect that is so popular for ink...
but this pattern flowed so well, and "dripped" into a graceful modern tribal sort of style that she likes & wears so well, that we opted to let the henna end as you see it here.

If you are interested in this type of henna tattoo, it is critical that you wear an outfit that will accommodate the paste. For those new to henna, please visit the FAQ page of my site for answers to most of the frequently asked questions.

It can take anywhere from ten minutes to apply a simple henna tattoo, and up to 45 minutes for a more complex henna pattern. If you are in a hurry, please add about five or six minutes of drying time to your schedule, as it is best to sit and allow the paste to dry a bit on the skin before you return to shopping at The Midnight Sun.

Henna paste is applied to the skin to stain the skin... and the longer the henna stays on the skin, the longer the natural vegetable dye can interact with the skin, creating a darker stain when the final color is revealed. Therefore, wearing clothing that will allow the paste to rest undisturbed on the skin is necessary for an successful finished pattern.

Now that it is indeed henna season, it is best to call ahead and make an appointment for a complex henna design!

Henna Tattoo FAQ

Mehndi, or henna tattoo, is a natural form of temporary body decoration. Henna Tattoo will always be some shade of reddish brown. The finished color depends on your skin type & how long you let the paste stay on your skin. The longer the paste remains the deeper the finished color. Your design will darken over the first 48 hours.

To prepare your skin for Mehndi, please wash the skin surface to remove any oils, lotions and dry skin. Mehndi works best on the palm of the hands, the feet & the tender skin of the inner arm. Designs on the back of the hands, arms, or other parts of the body do not last as long, nor does the color take as well. After your design is completed, a glaze of lemon-sugar may be applied at regular intervals to secure the paste to the skin and enhance the final color.

Please try to leave the paste in place for at least three hours. For best results leave the paste in place for 6 hours, or overnight. To remove, scrape the hardened paste off the skin. Use a vegetable oil to remove any remaining paste before washing the design.

Aftercare: If possible, avoid wetting the design area for at least 12 hours. Moisturizing the design twice daily with a vegetable oil will help make the design last. The design can remain visible on the skin for one to 3 weeks. This is a photo of henna paste On the skin. The finished color will be a shade of red to reddish brown.

Tips for successful henna tattoo on the feet

These are photos of henna paste on the skin. The natural dye in the henna is staining the skin UNDER the black paste you see in the photo. When the paste is removed, the stain is visible and will darken over the next 48 hours. The quality of finished color depends in part on how you care for your design.

The peacock pattern is very popular, and is one that works great with flip flops! Of course, it's best to leave your shoe on when getting your henna so we can be sure the flip won't flop into your paste.

The second design is great for henna parties where you are free to wander barefoot in your home or other party venue. Bare feet enable the artist to get creative, make henna sandal designs, and all sorts of wonderful art.

There are more photos of henna designs for the feet in this blog, and on my new henna website. I am sure I have a good link to some bridal henna on myspace!

Here are a few tips for good color and a successful henna design on the feet:

• Have your pedicure before you come for henna.
• Wear flip flops or shoes that leave lots of room for your new tattoo.
• Leave the paste on as long as possible.
• Avoid air conditioning (really.. henna gives the best color in hot weather).
• Be sure to protect your finished tattoo with olive oil before getting it wet.
• It is best to stay out of the pool for a day or two so that your henna has time to darken.

If you are feeling really relaxed & indulgent, you can always have henna on the soles of your feet. I will have a few photos of this fabulous art online in my new galleries soon.

Of course there are lots of wonderful artists publishing all kinds of pattern books. Some are available online at Amazon.com, but be sure to visit Tap Dancing Lizard for more great ideas.