Re: My Approach - Introducing henna to the masses (slight rant)
Posted by Doug on May 30, 2001 at 14:42:06:
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
: I have been up and down like a yo-yo between pure henna and other
I learned and started with pure henna, then someone came along and
introduced ppd in my area and everyone was using it including me.
That was last season. Then in the winter i became computer literate
and found the henna page and became aware of the extent of harm of
ppd. So i put all my energy into relearning henna and gearing my
business and advertising towards magical, healthy , healing ,
beautiful, 100% real traditional henna. Trying to find a product that
works and doesn't clog a jaquard bottle consistantly. It was
frustrating and difficult . I posted a message on the forum stating
that i wished there was a product that worked like ppd without the
harm and danger or hazard of ppd., Navaid responded and introduced me
to his product. So i got my wish, and am happy about that.
When i used ppd i did not call it henna, i called it temporary body
art, i did not use the word henna or mehndi anywhere in my signs etc.
cause it wasn't henna. Now all my signs ,cards etc. were designed
towards using 100% henna then i found Navaids pre-mixed coloured henna
and am using it . It is henna so don't ask me to not call it henna,
it is henna mixed with safe dyes and preservatives, and it works well
for my needs.
You ask me to examine my motives for doing henna, I am an ex-carpenter
and have learned the lesson long ago about doing things for money, now
i will never do anything solely for money, but will do what i desire
for the love of it and the money will come. I am trying to supply
customer demand and to compete in the marketplace.
I have tried putting the aftercare instructions in a brochure so
that i wouldn't have to explain it everytime, but that doesn't seem to
work either, it is just too much.
Maybe your oasis tent works for you, but my table is crowded with
impatient waiting people, and i am pressured to produce. Sure i
suppose i could change that by raising prices and changing designs and
signs etc. So i am torn between traditional henna the history and
culture and magic etc. and temporary body art. Body paint only last 2
to 5 days and i like using a jaquard bottle ,not a paint brush or air
brush. Navaids stuff works for me and my customers, it is henna
mixed with safe dyes and preservatives, so i can do henna and
temporary body art. I never used the term tattoos .You did.
Your comment about being at the same fair with someone using something
other than henna and calling henna "you can bet your right hand i
would do something about it" Doesn't scare me, i am a big boy and am
strong , and i don't mean just physically. I understand how you feel
cause i also have struggled with henna and seen people using ppd and
calling it black henna. it makes me sick and angry and i would do
something also. But i am now using Navaids 100% safe to skin coloured
henna. I love people and wish to do no harm, i want to provide a
product and service that is in demand. I love doing body art and need
a medium to work with. It may or may not be henna, i also love the
history, tradition and culture of henna, but it is not my main focus.
You are you
Follow Ups
- Hmmm...can I offer some advice?
Anne Beltestad 20:40:54 5/30/2001
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