How to Become A Henna/ Mehndi Artist

I have always been mesmerized by the beauty, creativity and intricacy of the ancient art of henna body design also known as mehendi or mehndi.

Some years ago, I ventured deep into the southland of Trinidad at the home of a mehndi artist to attend a workshop where I learned about this beautiful artform.

In a few short hours, I was taught about the history and use of henna, how to mix the paste and how to create simple designs. That was a class I thoroughly enjoyed.

Now with the ease and access of the internet, you can learn how to do henna designs at home and even start your own Mehndi business where you can make between US$50 to US$100 per hour (and more).

From India, and the Middle East to North Africa, this art has been practised since ancient times, mostly by women, for times of celebrations, festivals, bridal showers, weddings as well as sacred and auspicious occasions such as Divali and Eid-ul-Fitr.

“With the first line of mehendi, she forgot her troubles and delved into the beautiful world of checkered patterns and intricate lines.”
Sumeetha Manikandan – Love, Again

What is Henna?

Henna is a dye made from the leaves of the henna plant (Lawsonia Inermis).

This plant is treasured in ayurvedic tradition for its medicinal properties but throughout the world, it is growing in popularity as a hair dye.

To prepare the paste, the leaves of the plant are ground into a powder and mixed with any of a variety of mixing mediums such as water, lemon juice, essential oils, brewed black tea, coffee, sugar, beet juice or tamarind concentrate.

An ingredient to fix the dye (called a mordant) is used with the powder – this is what determines the vibrancy of the colour as well as how long the design will last on the skin. Lemon or lime juice is the mordant more commonly used in mixing the henna paste.

From here, the paste is put into a cone, which is then used to apply the dye to the skin in a variety of intricate designs and patterns.

The paste is then allowed to dry and set for up to 24 hours before it is removed and rinsed off.

The resulting design deepens over the following 48 hours to a reddish brown colour. It can last for up to 3 weeks depending on the type and quality of ingredients used to make the paste, as well as the location where the design is placed on the body.

Where to learn Henna Design?

Through the internet, you can learn this unique art from the comfort of your home, and with patience and practice, it is possible to become a professional mehndi artist.

There are a number of videos on YouTube that you can browse to get started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnlm2pviw6o&list=PLf9YikM0vKrYI5gVzG97SV24y8G8ABCm6

Also, here are some online Henna Design Courses

Skillshare – Intro to Henna Art

Udemy – Learn the Art of Henna
Udemy – Mehndi 101 – How To Master The Art Of Mehndi In Just 4 Hours

Where to purchase supplies

Mehndi supplies can be sourced at places such as health food stores, puja stores, Indian, Islamic, Moroccan or Middle Eastern shops.

Be sure to purchase pure, perishable henna powder as there are forms of henna on the market that are chemically processed and not safe for the skin.

Stay away from pre-made henna that is already in cones as well.

It is best to create your own paste from scratch using the powdered henna leaves.

Supplies for mehndi can be found online at:

Where to market your services?

Once you are ready to start working with clients, there are free and inexpensive options to market your Mehndi.

To build your portfolio initially, you could offer to do designs for your friends and family as well as host mehndi parties for free or at a discounted price.

Canva.com has free templates for Mehndi/Henna party invitations.

Instagram is a great platform where your portfolio can be showcased. You can also network with other artists and do collaborations on projects such as a blog or ebook where you share your knowledge and expertise on mehndi designs.

You can create a website to showcase your talent and market your business.

Pinterest is another place where you can share pins of your designs for free which would then lead interested clients back to your website.

Another option is to open a business page on Facebook.

Bear in mind that once you become proficient, you can create an empire by providing products and services to help others become successful in the techniques of Henna design.

A few ideas are: