About Bess:

I am a professional henna artist who has always been interested in this ancient art form. I started learning about the different designs and cultures at an early age and have consistently worked to perfect my own craft and style. I've been creating henna body art for many years now, constantly refining my skills in experiences across the US and while living abroad in Nepal. More about me may be found through my web pages listed on the Contact page.

About Henna:

Henna is a plant, crushed into a paste and applied as a temporary form of skin decoration. The crushed plant is used to stain the hair and skin. Mehndi is the name for the designs painted on the skin. The application of henna has been part of the cultures of South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa for thousands of years. In particular, henna is applied for special occasions, such as weddings and births. Mehndi symbolizes beauty and in ancient times was an easy way to decorate the body for a special event in the place of expensive jewelry. In most traditional forms, it is particularly applied to women as a personal expression and bonding experience. However, for some occasions, such as weddings, the groom may also have mehndi done as well. Wedding mehndi symbolizes the long-lasting love between the bride and groom. Over time, intricate designs have been created, many with symbolic meaning and all with artistic flair.

In modern times, henna art and mehndi has spread to all corners of the globe, with many different people enjoying the beautiful art form. Contemporary designs can be of any subject, although the traditional designs are still heavily popular. Bess enjoys creating both traditional and modern designs and is always happy to hear what you envision for your beautiful body art.

About the Application Process:

The henna paste (I make mine from scratch, using all natural ingredients) is applied to clean, dry skin with a variety of drawing tools – cones, tipped bottles, toothpicks for the most intricate designs – in many different patterns. I'm happy to create or replicate whatever art you would like to get. The application process time depends on the detail of the work and the size of the design. I am skilled in quickly drawing with henna paste with a steady hand, although sufficient time should still be given for the process. If the design is especially intricate, sometimes it may be first outlined on the skin in watercolor pencil and then drawn with mehndi (the pencil marks wash right off). However, most of the time, I do my work completely freehand. After the henna dries on the skin, I set it further with a citrus juice mixture. Then, the area is wrapped to seal in body heat, helping to create an even deeper stain. Ideally, the wrap and paste should be left on overnight, for maximum staining potential. Once at least a few hours have passed, gently rub the dried paste off. The reddish brown color will continue to stain the skin layers deeper and deeper over the next couple of days, reaching its maximum color on day two or three. The life of your mehndi design will depend on a number of factors, including location on the body, skin type, and how often the area is washed (and with what type of soap). Henna permanently stains the skin layers. The mehndi design will fade as your skin naturally exfoliates. Typically, mehndi lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. I make my paste as strong as possible, to ensure maximum length of time with the design. If you would like a lighter design or one that is shorter-lasting, I am able to do this as well.