Henna all natural temporary body art, is a blessing, a wish of good luck, and a simple act of self-love. Henna marks the occasion and has been part of rituals, celebrations and rites of passage in numerous cultures throughout the world for centuries. Henna is multi-cultural and has a long tradition of being shared from one person to another, from one culture to another. Henna used for temporary body art and beautification has transcended differences and physical boundaries throughout history and has a magical way of easily becoming part of many of life's celebrations and our daily lives.
What is Henna?
Henna is a shrubbery.... Yes, it is a shrubbery! The henna plant is also known as Lawsonia Inermis. The leaves of the henna plant are dried and ground into a powder. The powder is mixed into a paste, and when applied to the skin it will stain the skin and leave a temporary tattoo. A henna tattoo will fade as your skin exfoliates. Henna can also permanently stain or dye other materials like animal skins on a drum, fabric and wood. Henna is also a wonderful natural dye, treatment and conditioner for hair.
Ingredients used to mix the fresh all-natural henna powder into a paste may include water, black tea, lemon juice, sugar and essential oils. The henna paste stains the top few layers of skin. The henna tattoowill be a bright orange color within the first few hours, then will develop into a darker reddish/brown color over the next 24-48 hours. An all-natural henna tattoo will last 1-4 weeks, depending on where it is applied and how well you follow the henna aftercare instructions.
Henna is never black! In fact, Black Henna is dangerous and contains chemicals known as PPD from black hair dye that can cause severe allergic reactions in some people. Please visit The Henna Page for more info about the dangers of black henna. And always make sure your henna artist is using fresh all-natural henna!
Where does Henna come from?
Henna comes from planet Earth! Henna prefers to grow in dry, desert climates found in India, Southwest Asia, Middle East and North African countries. Henna has a medicinal quality as well. Henna will drop your body temperature and cool you down. Henna is perfect to do on a hot day.
Henna used on hair and skin for body adornment and beautification are ancient practices. The earliest evidence of the use of henna has been found in the tombs of Queen Hatsheput and Ramses II from approx. 3400 B.C. Both ancient Egyptian mummified royalty were found with henna dyed hair, finger tips and toes. There is other evidence that henna was a staple crop traded during the Bronze Age throughout the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa. As people moved about the globe, they brought the henna plant and henna traditions with them. Henna is part of many different cultures and traditions throughout India, Pakistan, Middle Eastern and North African countries. Today, henna is used by many people throughout the world.
All-natural henna body art is a special addition to any ritual, ceremony or rite of passage, and is a beautiful way to mark or bless an occasion. It can also be a tool to assist you through a healing process. You can choose designs or symbols that represent your intentions, and place the design on areas of the body that you want to focus on or send healing energy to. Connecting with the Tree of Life symbol on your ankle with the intention of grounding more fully into your life purpose, or adorning your arm with paisleys and butterflies to strengthen positive transformations in your life, are beautiful, temporary and all-natural ways to invite healing into your life.
The natural process of receiving henna encourages you to be quiet and still and to meditate with your intentions. Your henna tattoo will then last 1-4 weeks, as a gentle reminder of your intentions.
The intentions are in the mix ~ For special private appointments, healing henna sessions or sacred ceremonies, Robyn Jean will create formulas of essential ingredients to use in the henna paste that will help you to ground more fully and absolutely with the intentions you would like to set. The henna paste is made with all-natural organic henna powder and other organic ingredients including: sugar, black tea, lemon juice and custom blends of essential oils. Water infused with crystal energy healing is made for special healing henna sessions. This crystal-infused water is used in the tea and blended into the henna paste. Custom remedies may include garnet, rose quartz, larimar, amethyst, citrine, bloodstone, selenite, and hematite among others. Essential oils may include cajeput, ravensara, palmrosa, clove, cardamom, cypress, lavender, rose geranium, frankincense, palo santo or jasmine.
I have been an artist all of my life. My creativity and talent were recognized and fostered from a very young age. I grew up in suburbs South of Boston, MA and moved to California in 2006 to see how life could be different on the West Coast. San Diego was my first home in California and where I was hired at my first job as a Face Painter. This is also where I first started to learn about the beautiful and ancient art of Henna. I immediately recognized the healing qualities of Natural Henna, Face, Body Painting and body adornment in general as a transformative experience that speaks to our more primitive ancestral lineages. I have attended many henna conferences in California and learned from masterful henna artists from all over the world. I founded and continue to run a company based in San Francisco, www.bayareafacepainters.com, that became a leader in the body art entertainment industry in the Bay Area. I have mentored and led the way for many other artists to make their living as artists. My life's journey eventually took me to the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho where I now live with the love of my life along the South Fork of the Payette River.
I studied art and design at Rhode Island School of Design, Art Institute Boston, Museum of Fine Arts Boston and have a Certification in Graphic & Web Design from Clark University. I am a Reiki II practitioner and a Priestess of Goddess and Avalon. I have received intitiations and training through Blissfull Spirit Healing in Massachusetts, and The Goddess Temple in Avalon, Glastonbury UK. I gave a presentation "What is Tribal Body Art: A Herstory" for the Goddess Conference in 2021. I have taught numerous Henna Workshops and love to create classes based on your personal interests.
I am available in Lowman Idaho, Boise and the Treasure Valley to adorn you with Natural Henna, Face & Body Painting. Please come find me at festivals in Stanley, Boise and surrounding areas. I look forward to adorning you!