Re: My Approach - Introducing henna to the masses (slight rant)

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Henna Page Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Anne Beltestad on May 29, 2001 at 18:39:37:

In reply to: My Approach - Introducing henna to the masses (slight rant) posted by Anne Beltestad on May 29, 2001 at 18:37:49:

: Perhaps you're dealing with a bad crowd?
: We did a huge festival this weekend and we ONLY USE REAL HENNA. Our
: goal is to educate people that henna is not a tattoo, it's not a
: substitute for a tattoo, but it's an ancient, relaxing, transitory
: art.
: On Sunday especially we were slammed with teenyboppers who wanted
: kanji, dragons, etc on their bellies and backs. We also had to do a
: lot of touchups. It was really annoying, but you have to be patient
: with them. Most of them had never seen henna before. I ask you -
: which is better: that they experience this traditional art in all
its
: natural glory, are encouraged to be creative and to put it on the
: places where it stains best, or that they think of it as a "fake
: tattoo"?
: By yesterday we ended up telling all the teenagers that we
discouraged
: them putting henna on places that aren't meant for henna. It seemed
: to be a slightly different crowd, and many listened and also let us
: "do whatever" in their price range - and on their hands!
: We also started charging people to re-do designs they smear. This
was
: very effective and did help them decided they wanted it somewhere
: better than the belly or the neck.
: There's a fine line between pleasing your customers and making
: yourself unhappy. My approach is to be positive and upbeat while
: explaining, firmly but gently (and over and over again) why henna is
: best in the traditional places (hands, feet, wrists). Henna is
NEVER
: going to be a "quick and easy body art". That's part of its joy. I
: think Catherine put it well when she said (a long time ago) "softly,
: softly catchy mehandi monkey!" - in other words, you will be
rewarded
: for your patience.
: In this culture we have learned to want speed, efficiency, etc.
: Again, that's part of why henna is so relaxing and healing. We set
up
: our tent as a lovely oasis and invite people in to relax for fifteen
: minutes or so while we introduce them to this ancient art. I think
we
: make a convert to real, timeconsuming, magical henna each time we do
: this. Selling it as a "temporary tattoo" fails to capture this
: essence of henna.
:
:
: However the people
: : want black , and if i can apply it safely then it may save them
from
: : going to get ppd put on them.
:
: This is false. People ask us "does it come in black" because they
: have been encouraged to think of henna as a fake tattoo, but when we
: tell them that black henna isn't henna, and that it involves
: chemicals, they don't want it. I have never seen anyone still want
: "black henna" after 30 seconds of education.
: I also think that promoting "colored henna" miseducates people and
: leads directly to the use of PPD, stupid glittery stickers, etc.
And
: if I see anyone using anything that isn't henna, and calling it
such,
: at a festival that I'm at, you can bet your right hand I'll do
: something about it.
:
:
: I am confident that Navaids pre-mixed
: : coloured paste is safe and it does leave a nice dark stain, it
last
: : well for 10 days and more. I for one am grateful to Navaid and
his
: : product.
:
: Yes, but it's not henna. Stop calling it henna, because it's not.
:
: I was about ready to opt for Temptu body paint which will
: : last apparently for 2 to 5 days. Trying to do little temporary
body
: : art geckos and Kanji and Dragons on peoples Bi-ceps ,chest ,backs
: etc.
: : with henna is madness and it doesn't work, the after care is
insane
: : and people sit glassy eyed as i explain all they have to do to try
: and
: : make it work.
:
: Why not have aftercare sheets? Look at Catherine's business
: suggestion page - it covers all of this.
: I also think you should examine your views on henna. Why do you do
: henna? Are you interested in the history and traditions? Or are
you
: interested in making money?
:
: Then they come back and say it didn't take and i have
: : to do it over again. No the people here don't want henna , they
: want
: : quick and easy temporary body art that looks real, dries fast and
: : requires little or no after care. Thankyou Navaid, cause i don't
: : think i could go on using the henna powder that i was using even
: : though i bought fresh, best quality henna at 30. US$ per 200 grams
: : from a reputable company. Now i can work and supply customer
: demand.
: : and they won't be coming back saying
:
: Again, I think you should examine your approach to henna. I'm not
: saying mine is the only way, but if people aren't satisfied with
real
: henna, something's wrong.
: People do want henna if it's sold as henna. It doesn't really work
to
: sell it as a fake tattoo, because it's not a fake tattoo, so it
won't
: fulfill the need. If you want to focus on kanji and tribal tattoo
: style and barbed wire and the like, why not take up body painting?
I
: only ask that, if you do, you don't sell other mediums as henna. I
: wouldn't call my tattoos "mehndi", and I don't call my henna
: "tattoos".
: Good luck making henna work for you. I agree about Navaid, I just
: found the stuff very runny with a weird smell, and wasn't too
: comfortable with it.
:
: Anne

Follow Ups

Post Followup

Name:
E-Mail:
Subject:
: : Perhaps you're dealing with a bad crowd? : : We did a huge festival this weekend and we ONLY USE REAL HENNA. Our : : goal is to educate people that henna is not a tattoo, it's not a : : substitute for a tattoo, but it's an ancient, relaxing, transitory : : art. : : On Sunday especially we were slammed with teenyboppers who wanted : : kanji, dragons, etc on their bellies and backs. We also had to do a : : lot of touchups. It was really annoying, but you have to be patient : : with them. Most of them had never seen henna before. I ask you - : : which is better: that they experience this traditional art in all : its : : natural glory, are encouraged to be creative and to put it on the : : places where it stains best, or that they think of it as a "fake : : tattoo"? : : By yesterday we ended up telling all the teenagers that we : discouraged : : them putting henna on places that aren't meant for henna. It seemed : : to be a slightly different crowd, and many listened and also let us : : "do whatever" in their price range - and on their hands! : : We also started charging people to re-do designs they smear. This : was : : very effective and did help them decided they wanted it somewhere : : better than the belly or the neck. : : There's a fine line between pleasing your customers and making : : yourself unhappy. My approach is to be positive and upbeat while : : explaining, firmly but gently (and over and over again) why henna is : : best in the traditional places (hands, feet, wrists). Henna is : NEVER : : going to be a "quick and easy body art". That's part of its joy. I : : think Catherine put it well when she said (a long time ago) "softly, : : softly catchy mehandi monkey!" - in other words, you will be : rewarded : : for your patience. : : In this culture we have learned to want speed, efficiency, etc. : : Again, that's part of why henna is so relaxing and healing. We set : up : : our tent as a lovely oasis and invite people in to relax for fifteen : : minutes or so while we introduce them to this ancient art. I think : we : : make a convert to real, timeconsuming, magical henna each time we do : : this. Selling it as a "temporary tattoo" fails to capture this : : essence of henna. : : : : : : However the people : : : want black , and if i can apply it safely then it may save them : from : : : going to get ppd put on them. : : : : This is false. People ask us "does it come in black" because they : : have been encouraged to think of henna as a fake tattoo, but when we : : tell them that black henna isn't henna, and that it involves : : chemicals, they don't want it. I have never seen anyone still want : : "black henna" after 30 seconds of education. : : I also think that promoting "colored henna" miseducates people and : : leads directly to the use of PPD, stupid glittery stickers, etc. : And : : if I see anyone using anything that isn't henna, and calling it : such, : : at a festival that I'm at, you can bet your right hand I'll do : : something about it. : : : : : : I am confident that Navaids pre-mixed : : : coloured paste is safe and it does leave a nice dark stain, it : last : : : well for 10 days and more. I for one am grateful to Navaid and : his : : : product. : : : : Yes, but it's not henna. Stop calling it henna, because it's not. : : : : I was about ready to opt for Temptu body paint which will : : : last apparently for 2 to 5 days. Trying to do little temporary : body : : : art geckos and Kanji and Dragons on peoples Bi-ceps ,chest ,backs : : etc. : : : with henna is madness and it doesn't work, the after care is : insane : : : and people sit glassy eyed as i explain all they have to do to try : : and : : : make it work. : : : : Why not have aftercare sheets? Look at Catherine's business : : suggestion page - it covers all of this. : : I also think you should examine your views on henna. Why do you do : : henna? Are you interested in the history and traditions? Or are : you : : interested in making money? : : : : Then they come back and say it didn't take and i have : : : to do it over again. No the people here don't want henna , they : : want : : : quick and easy temporary body art that looks real, dries fast and : : : requires little or no after care. Thankyou Navaid, cause i don't : : : think i could go on using the henna powder that i was using even : : : though i bought fresh, best quality henna at 30. US$ per 200 grams : : : from a reputable company. Now i can work and supply customer : : demand. : : : and they won't be coming back saying : : : : Again, I think you should examine your approach to henna. I'm not : : saying mine is the only way, but if people aren't satisfied with : real : : henna, something's wrong. : : People do want henna if it's sold as henna. It doesn't really work : to : : sell it as a fake tattoo, because it's not a fake tattoo, so it : won't : : fulfill the need. If you want to focus on kanji and tribal tattoo : : style and barbed wire and the like, why not take up body painting? : I : : only ask that, if you do, you don't sell other mediums as henna. I : : wouldn't call my tattoos "mehndi", and I don't call my henna : : "tattoos". : : Good luck making henna work for you. I agree about Navaid, I just : : found the stuff very runny with a weird smell, and wasn't too : : comfortable with it. : : : : Anne
Optional link URL:
Link title:
Optional image URL: