Hmmm...can I offer some advice?

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Posted by Anne Beltestad on May 30, 2001 at 20:40:54:

In reply to: Re: My Approach - Introducing henna to the masses (slight rant) posted by Doug on May 30, 2001 at 14:42:06:

Congratulations to you for deciding not to use PPD!
I just found out that the Indian lady who was the other artist at the
festival we did this weekend was putting ppd on people...and she
seemed so nice...
I'd second the idea that you may not be sifting/straining your henna,
or tea mix, or lemon juice, enough. The Fred-o-Matic is great for
henna, but personally I just use an old nylon.
I had the same problems originally using jaqcuard bottles...just like
you describe, "spits and starts". Very annoying. Sifting and
straining cleared this up. Also make sure your bottle is clean.

: 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.

You sound like you're right on about it...and I think that real henna,
done well, will be competitive in the marketplace. It is for us,
Catherine, Kenzi, etc...
: 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.

One thing we do is actually hire someone to keep the crowds at bay,
manage a sign-up sheet, and answer questions. Maybe you have a friend
or family member who'd volunteer to do this?
We spent this past weekend more crowded with teenagers wanting
non-henna designs than I think I've ever seen. OUr booth was like a
slightly less stressful island in a packed sea of people as far as the
eye could see. IF we hadn't had our schmoozers, it would have been
unmanageable.

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.

And that's an OK mix, as long as people know the difference.

: 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.

Sorry you took that the wrong way. It is a moral imperative for me to
stand up for what I believe in. Now I find out that someone was
selling poison at the same fair we were at, and was too busy to find
that out at the time! Hopefully Kree will contact her...

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

Me too, and I wish people would stop. I am really upset with myself
that I didn't take the time to look and see that the Indian lady this
weekend was only using real henna...but I had talked to her before,
and she's a good artist and was using real henna only a year ago.
It's hard to govern yourself and also watch out for others. I think
as henna artists our job is to promote real henna, but we can't be
eternally vigilant. In retrospect I should have done something, but I
will forgive myself.
Please try the suggestions myself and others have offered about real
henna! It works really well for us even at the most crowded
festivals, and yes, we're a big group of henna artists, but it also
works for Kenzi and she's not so big, and others too. We all want to
see you succeed at using real henna, and at your other body art too...

good luck, sift often,

Anne

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

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: Congratulations to you for deciding not to use PPD! : I just found out that the Indian lady who was the other artist at the : festival we did this weekend was putting ppd on people...and she : seemed so nice... : I'd second the idea that you may not be sifting/straining your henna, : or tea mix, or lemon juice, enough. The Fred-o-Matic is great for : henna, but personally I just use an old nylon. : I had the same problems originally using jaqcuard bottles...just like : you describe, "spits and starts". Very annoying. Sifting and : straining cleared this up. Also make sure your bottle is clean. : : : 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. : : You sound like you're right on about it...and I think that real henna, : done well, will be competitive in the marketplace. It is for us, : Catherine, Kenzi, etc... : : 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. : : One thing we do is actually hire someone to keep the crowds at bay, : manage a sign-up sheet, and answer questions. Maybe you have a friend : or family member who'd volunteer to do this? : We spent this past weekend more crowded with teenagers wanting : non-henna designs than I think I've ever seen. OUr booth was like a : slightly less stressful island in a packed sea of people as far as the : eye could see. IF we hadn't had our schmoozers, it would have been : unmanageable. : : 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. : : And that's an OK mix, as long as people know the difference. : : : 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. : : Sorry you took that the wrong way. It is a moral imperative for me to : stand up for what I believe in. Now I find out that someone was : selling poison at the same fair we were at, and was too busy to find : that out at the time! Hopefully Kree will contact her... : : 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 : : Me too, and I wish people would stop. I am really upset with myself : that I didn't take the time to look and see that the Indian lady this : weekend was only using real henna...but I had talked to her before, : and she's a good artist and was using real henna only a year ago. : It's hard to govern yourself and also watch out for others. I think : as henna artists our job is to promote real henna, but we can't be : eternally vigilant. In retrospect I should have done something, but I : will forgive myself. : Please try the suggestions myself and others have offered about real : henna! It works really well for us even at the most crowded : festivals, and yes, we're a big group of henna artists, but it also : works for Kenzi and she's not so big, and others too. We all want to : see you succeed at using real henna, and at your other body art too... : : good luck, sift often, : : Anne : : 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
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