Not exactly face-painting, but curious if anyone else here works with Henna?

Not I. It might be fun to do it for adults, but I don't think most parents would appreciate it on their own children. It takes a while to wear off.

Right, you're likely not going to get kid's party gigs with it, but it's a big turn around at festivals. For a few bucks, you can mix enough Henna to do dozens of tattoos that go for $30+ (on occassion people want a small tattoo that is much cheaper than the $30 - that's rare and you get just as often, the request for the $100+ piece).

I prefer festivals and such to party work personally, and beginning to market towards an older audience actually. I'll still do a balloon or magic gig from time to time, but have been working less visual stuff of late: draw me a tree, bionic mnemonic, etc...

A festival I was at this week had one Henna pavilion and 2 face painting tents as well as a third face painter on and off. Henna guys easily outworked the other tents in customers and cash. Face-painting has its place for sure, and I don't want to take anything away from them; but the two are completely different and Henna in my experience does great at festivals. (It's easier to walk around with a dye that you won't notice as opposed to a texture based paint when it's 100 degrees!)

Anyhow... not the point of my original post ;)
Just curious how many, if any others were out there...

and by relation - does anyone else here work festival circuits?

I've considered doing it at some point in time but not presently. I think it's great for festival, my daughters alway like to get one at the beach, because it last for several days, longest we've had stayed on a week before you could recognize it any more. Big hit and they make $$$$$ for those things.

A good mix can leave a henna tattoo for a month (sometimes more, sometimes less).

Sue - if/when you decide to give it a go, drop me a line and I'll point oyu in some directions that will make your intro to henna a bit easier and save you some cash on the dyes...

I too am seriously considering ordering some henna. I can't imagine doing it for money yet (I'm not good enough, face painting is fun but I'd be horrified if I made a mistake on a design that was going to last two weeks!). But on my little cousins (my favorite little practice friends)? It'd be a blast and Becca (my cousin) really wants to try it when I told her about it.

Are those little kits Silly Farm has any good to just do a few designs with to try my hand at the stuff?

I'd suggest mixing your own Henna as opposed to buying pre-mixed cones. It takes a little more effort on your part, but it has several advantages...

You have some control in the quality of the mix.
Some distributors take short cuts which can not only lead to poor quality Henna, but in some cases can be dangerous with additives.

It will save you money.
A lot of money actually. What it costs to order a kit to make a couple dozen tattoos, you can mix enough on your own to do many more

The Henna Page - The most complete henna information resource! (http://www.hennapage.com) is a web/forum I'm involved in that should have all the information you need to get started and sustain your henna projects; and as always -- feel free to ask any questions you may have and I'll do my best to answer (or find an answer to) your questions.

Any suggestions on which of the many places listed to buy from?

I buy local most of the time, so have no experiences with the vendors listed there. I imagine any of them would be okay, but I cant give testimony of it.

If you have a local indian restaurant or such, they should have it. I have known people that have gotten okay henna from their local grocery store as well, but it's probably hit or miss there...

Yes! I've not done it professionally before, just on friends and family, but that link you gave is great, especially for learning basic patterns. I have a notebook full of my henna patter practice :3 I'm also curious to try indigo and gilded henna. My main focus is to try and get into the festival and carnival circuit (most notably renaissance faires), and henna is definitely something my fellow Ren Faire geeks love.

Just curious as to the direction you go with your "henna patter." It's something I don't do much of, save for the relevance on say; Birth Blessing Henna (with the relevant design on a pregnant belly).

Basically what I do is work something relevant into the Yurt along side the Henna work. Often something like the "Draw me a Tree" system that has an "earthy" feel to it. The two work well in setting an atmosphere with the right presentation.

Well, I have to admit I am not as well read on the symbology of it as I would like, I generally just work in the same way as i would when I do abstract paintings. I pick from my "database" of known elements a few that combine well, and then I work them into a design, then try to reproduce the design until I get it down, then do it on hands. Right now I work from a purely aesthetic perspective.

Henna is awesome... Jolly Did you practice on Chas' belly?? lol.

Henna actually helped me decide which tattoo I wanted in real life.

for a couple of years before I turned 18 I thought about tattoos. When I turned 17 I attended a music festival where a Henna Artist was present. There I looked at the books and designs and noticed a treble clef (which I was already considering to be my real tattoo) ... So I had him henna tattoo the clef to my right arm. I decided that if I could live with it for a few weeks and still liked it after that, then I could live with it as a real tattoo.

in August of 2006 a couple of months after my birthday and after I graduated I got my treble clef tattooed on my right arm and I still love it today.

So Be careful... lol Henna might lead you to more serious ink.

I have over a dozen real tattoos. You were too late on your warning!!!

Probably because you were only a few years old when I got most of them, but still - you should have seen it coming!!! ;)

I'm trying to get a former ringling clown to join our forum here. If she makes it on board, maybe she can give you some insight into what you're looking at when you get on board!

How old are you Jolly?... I didn't think you were that much older than me.

Gosh, you all keep saying "When you get on board," "When you get in," "When you come to my town....'

You're going to make my ego explode lol. Just don't get your hopes up too high. They might not like me.

I'm 33.

As for using when instead of if --- Keping a positive attitude is a good thing, and a little ego isn't bad either. Just don't let it get out of hand or the orangutan gets it!

Any idea how long the appllication process takes from start to end?

Henna is awesome... Jolly Did you practice on Chas' belly?? lol.

Henna actually helped me decide which tattoo I wanted in real life.

for a couple of years before I turned 18 I thought about tattoos. When I turned 17 I attended a music festival where a Henna Artist was present. There I looked at the books and designs and noticed a treble clef (which I was already considering to be my real tattoo) ... So I had him henna tattoo the clef to my right arm. I decided that if I could live with it for a few weeks and still liked it after that, then I could live with it as a real tattoo.

in August of 2006 a couple of months after my birthday and after I graduated I got my treble clef tattooed on my right arm and I still love it today.

So Be careful... lol Henna might lead you to more serious ink.


Oh a treble clef, I have one too, but it's small and right behind my right ear, the bass clef is behind my left.

Markie, before i decided to start face painting i was curious about HENNA and i ordered a box to try from Ebay. Never have used it yet but as soon as i get some spare time and a willing girl friend i'm gonna give it a try. It's very beautiful. I hear that red is the natural color not black but i do like the look of the black ink better!

Markie, before i decided to start face painting i was curious about HENNA and i ordered a box to try from Ebay. Never have used it yet but as soon as i get some spare time and a willing girl friend i'm gonna give it a try. It's very beautiful. I hear that red is the natural color not black but i do like the look of the black ink better!

There is no such thing as real black henna. There is stuff that says it's black henna, but really it is a chemical dye used on hair, and has been known to cause serious health risks, including chemical burns. If you'd like to try a darker color try something called indigo.

Here's a website with more info: Indigo Page (http://www.indigopage.com)

Black "henna" is very dangerous PPD dyed henna. VERY dangerous.

For a safe, though not quite as long-lasting alternative, look at using Temptu or Kryolan Body Illustration Colors black alcohol-activated paints.

I painted my hand with Henna i bought from the mall... it's easy to get Henna in Singapore... it's been in our tradition to use Henna ... during wedding and other festives. Somehow it's been violated...the last time Henna only be worn only by the bride and groom only so as we know they are newly weds..but nowadays... everyone been wearing them.. u can get Henna tattoo at very cheap price.. a tube of Henna only cos a dollar... and can do it at home at ur own convenient. I remembered the last time our parents have to buy the leaves and pound them into powder and mixed them with water and a boit of charcoal to get the 'redness'. Then... things got easier.. the Henna powder was sold in the market.. it's easier..just mix it with water... but now... everything is ready to be used/paint.. it's the most convenient...came in tube/cone form. It even easier to pay someone to paint it. The last time i used was 9 yrs ago on my wedding :) .. and have to pay someone to 'put on' and have to keep it overnight. Now even 4 yr old kid paint Henna on their hand :) here are some pics i took last nite.. before and after ... sorry for my chubby hands :):oops:

Jolly thx for the link.. i saw that link before too .. it's great...
I don't think I would add in Henna tattoo to my gig.. just not doing well with the pattern :)

I just bought henna... my daughter and I have done it on ourselves and the kids in the neighborhood. I love it. Its not very expensive either! I used 3 tablespoons and got 5 little bottles of it. I ordered mine through a woman in New York.

Hopefully we can get better at it and use it this next summer at gigs on top of face painting and balloons.

Hennapage.com is a great source for information and http://www.AmerikanBodyArt.com (http://www.amerikanbodyart.com/) (http://www.amerikanbodyart.com/)is a place you can order it also.

I used to use Henna all the time when i was little, i'd paint my hands and face and use it in my hair, it is awesome stuff. I haven't really used it for years now.