Re: How did you(friends) became hennaartists?????

Posted by Kenzi on July 31, 2000 at 18:37:25:

In Reply to: How did you(friends) became hennaartists????? posted by Erfan on July 29, 2000 at 19:02:57:

What a great question from your granny! It's been interesting
reading everyone's stories.

I first saw henna when I was living in the Western Sahara about 5
years ago. They do pretty crude designs but I was still intrigued. A
friend of mine had a Polisario (rebel group fighting for independence
of the Western Sahara) flag on her palm when she was at the Polisario
camps. I was amazed watching it fade over the weeks.

After I left the Sahara I visited Morocco many times and stayed
several months each time. Henna was everywhere and I got to see all
sorts of beautiful designs and I was even more intrigued. I finally
got my courage up and had my hands done. This was way before Madonna
was showing off her henna on national TV so I was a freak, even in
NYC. I had them done again on a subsequent visit, watching closely
the technique.

I finally decided to try it myself using a premade cone (Shelly) and
was very disappointed. I gave up on henna, but then decided to try
again with the Moroccan henna I brought back with me...I just mixed
it with alcohol (don't ask why!) and used my little jacquard bottle
to draw a simple design. I scraped off the paste after an hour (so
impatient!) and my jaw dropped to the floor when I saw that there was
actually a stain and that I had made it! From then on I have just
hennaed and never looked back.

• Moroccan henna

Follow Ups:

• Photo, again Kenzi 18:39:22 7/31/00 (3)
  • Exquisite Design! Cathererine Cartwright Jones 07:51:50 8/01/00 (0)
  • That's a very beautiful design. Great photo!!!(N/T) Eve 07:49:59 8/01/00 (1)
    • Thanks! Kenzi 20:48:23 8/02/00 (0)