Time flies! 20 years of henna brings a lot of joy! (touch of grey).

 Hello everyone, 

Yes, I am still at it. Loving the art of henna tattoo and LoVing being at Beauty Junkie! 

Look at all the lovely hair care products, and of course, some of my own art in this photo. 

See you this Labor Day Saturday?  Beauty Junkie, 935 Edgewood Avenue South. 32205 12:30 to 3:30. Call if you need more info. 

For those new to henna, there is not enough interested to support a full time henna artist in Jacksonville.

Please support all the local artist you know. 

Walk In Henna Tattoo • Saturday September 4th!! Happy Labor Day.

Spirit Vision Henna is happy to welcome everyone to our new location with a Walk In Henna Day this Saturday 9/4/2021. 

I am so pleased to show off my new location, inside the Award Winning Salon...... Beauty Junkie,  935 Edgewood Avenue South! Jacksonville, Florida 32205.  

I have fresh & fragrant henna paste, hand made using a proven recipe. The lemon sugar spray I use is made with organic ingredients.  Designs start at $20 and cash is preferred. FMI: 904-993-7466.

Never been to Murray Hill? There is so much to see. Just inside Beauty Junkie there is a perfume bar, a little vintage clothing stash... and nice gifts as well as fabulous hair care products for sale! 

Vagabond Coffee is across the street if you need a bit of refreshment before or after you get some art. We have lots of fun shops in our neighborhood..... so lots to see if there is a wait.  

Henna Tattoo is not offered during downpours! We can be rained out.

Spirit Vision Henna will not be offering henna tattoo today. It was just raining in Murray Hill and various weather forecast services promise rain, severe weather, or more rain for henna time in Five Points. Rain is not good for a happy henna day. 

Many people do not know that henna is a heat activated body art and that the preparation of a good henna paste requires heat and dry weather. 

Our henna is cured outside on a lovely porch. I leave it on the ledge the first day. I will bring it in to rest, and essential oils and put it out to release the dye again the next day.

Just as we were putting the fresh paste into a henna cone, down comes the rain! 

At Spirit Vision Henna we want you to have the best possible outcome. We feel that  applying henna tattoo during a rainstorm is a waste of your money. 

If you are new to henna, you may not know that you have to wait 10 - 20 minutes for your paste to dry. (Humid days the paste takes longer to dry than on the bright sunny ones.) 

Applying henna paste in humid weather really doesn’t work as well as applying henna  in the Summer Sun. The paste seems to absorb water from the air regardless and this results in a poor quality stain. 

If you come in for a henna tattoo, spend time and money to buy a lovely design, Spirit Vision Henna wants you get the best color possible. We want you to take your henna tattoo out in to the sunshine and allow it to cure for several hours.  

Drying your henna in the sun helps you get good color. The hotter you get, the more you perspire, the more your pores will open. This allows the paste to penetrate deeper into your skin. 

Spirit Vision Henna artists do not want to send your new henna tattoo (paste on the skin) out into the rain! Henna will smudge when it is wet. Rain is wet. Getting rain on your new henna can cause the paste to run, and this paste will leave stains we don’t want! 

Henna designs will take 48 hours to develop. After you scrape the paste off your skin you will keep a light layer of oil on the design area to keep henna in and water out. 

To get a good stain there are steps you can take to keep your henna hot while you stay cool:

1. After you scrape the paste from your skin, you may choose to wear a glove to keep your henna warm.
2. Please keep oil on your henna tattoo to keep the heat in and water out. 
3. You may choose to use a blow dryer to heat your henna up from time to time.
4. If you got henna on your wrist or inner arm, you may also use a plastic film to trap heat and help the color develop. 
5. I am hoping next week we will have good weather!

We look forward to a bright Sunny Saturday next week. 

See you soon. 

Spirit Vision Henna.

Henna Tattoo or Jagua? What are you seeing?

I had a few disappointed customers at the shop last Saturday. They brought in samples of Jauga body art and were hoping that I could do a henna tattoo similar to the ones they found online.  Most often the answer is no. 

Jagua is more of an ink.

Henna is a paste. 

Jagua stains the skin a blue/black color and is made from a plant found in the Amazon. 

Henna stains the skin a red to reddish brown (or black cherry red if we are lucky). 

Jagua is shown on the back, thighs, the neck, and the upper arms. 

Henna is for hands, arms, feet and legs! 

I will no longer try to accomodate those who want a henna on the thigh, back or neck. I will do an upper arm band with the statement that you will not get the same rich stain as you would if you put henna on the palms of the hands or the inner wrist. 

Even if I bring the best paste possible to the event, if you do not follow the aftercare tips, then you may not get as dark a design as is possible. 

Please be sure you have No lotion, No sunscreen and No hand sanitizer on your skin. To work, henna has to actually come in contact with your skin! 

Notice the henna is darkest at the fingers. Lighter on the arm.

Please put the henna where you are going to be able to keep an eye on it through out the day. The best color happens when people leave the paste on 4 to 8 hours. 

To get really good color, please sweat?? If you go home to an air conditioned room set at 72 degrees you will not get the same dark stain as someone who wanders about the arts markets or walks by the river for a few hours. 

Henna is a heat activated body art! Heat is good. 

Things that are not good for henna: 

Washing the paste off. ( Scrape off & then apply a natural oil.) 

Removing the paste in less than four hours. 

Cholrine water. 

Swimming pools. 

So, most of the photos you see on my pages are photos of the henna paste on the skin. Sometimes people send me the “affter” photos.  

The best after photos /best color designs are from those women who really work to get the best color. Here are some tricks they use to get good color:

They have the design applied to their hands!
They stay warm.

They may dab the design (or spray it) with their own lemon juice/sugar/water mix through the day. 

They may sleep with a sport sock on their hand. 

They might oil the design and then blow dry it for 5 minutes off an on through out the first day. 

It takes 48 hours for the finished color to appear on the skin. This gives lots of time for you to help the process along. 

Of course many people get great color without doing anything extra at all. 

I write this because I want  you to have the best, darkest, longest lasting henna tattoo possible. Also to emphasize I do not do Jagua. 

Shant!! 

Henna Time is Finally Here! Friday 4/11/14 at The Midnight Sun

It is warm enough, often enough, for a good start to henna season. Recently clients have been phoning for henna appointments. Here are a few answers to the FAQ of temporary body art.

1) Henna is available on Friday from 12:30 pm - 6:00 pm at The Midnight Sun.
2) No appointment is required for Friday service.
3) Henna is never black, the photos of black henna are paste on the skin.
4) Henna tattoo lasts longest if you take good care of your skin after the tattoo is applied.
5) Henna prices start at $15 and go up from there. That is the minimum price for adults.
5) Henna belongs on the hands, arms, feet and legs.
6) I do not put henna on the face or neck.
7) Henna tattoo is actually a heat activated body stain this means:

• The longer the paste stays on your skin the darker the finished color will be.
• The hotter it is, the more your pores open, and the deeper the finished color.
• Keeping olive oil on the finished design helps your color last longest.
• Keeping your design out of chlorinated water preserves the design. 
• Please, no lotion on skin!! Henna does not penetrate moisturizer. 
• Henna can be applied to all skin colors. 

If you have additional questions, please visit Spirit Vision Henna Tattoo! 

Traditional Henna Patterns for the Back of the Hands

I do not offer henna tattoo for sale during cold weather months as it is much more difficult for clients to get good color, however,  I did a henna for a visiting friend.

We were able to keep the paste on skin wet for awhile by applying lemon sugar. As well, once the paste was glazed and dry, I wrapped her hands, first in tissue, then in plastic food service style gloves.

Wrapping henna provides a way for the henna to "heat up" and the pores of the skin to open to receive the dye. Here is a photo of the pattern with paste on the skin.

Henna Tattoo This Friday - 7/12/13 - at The Midnight Sun.

Spirit Vision Henna Tattoo will offer all styles of henna body art for you this Friday, 7/12/13, at The Midnight Sun located at 1055 Park Street in Riverside. Walk-ins are welcome! Artists should be on site @ 2PM.

Pictured here is a quick, traditional henna tattoo for a Mom on the go! Keeping the paste off the wrist ensures that the design will be easy to wear throughout the day.

There is plenty of space around her wedding ring, so no worries there, and the vine pattern moves easily with the fingers.

A little spritz of lemon/sugar ensures that this paste will stay in place and give a nice finished color.

One of the secrets of a successful henna paste is to add herbs and spices that cause the paste to adhere to the skin. I have found that fenugreek is a great addition to help make henna paste easy to work with. Fenugreek also makes it easy to draw nice long lines that don't break.

Of course I am using a combination of three very fine henna powders from the Henna Sooq to ensure you get the best color possible.

Designs start at $15 and go up from there. As always there are plenty of pattern books to choose from, our you can visit my portfolio on line at my website - Spirit Vision Henna. Feel welcome to call to for more information. Th 

Henna for a Friday • Henna Tattoo from 2:15 until.... at The Midnight Sun

Here is a quick and easy henna tattoo, free hand - or "chef's choice" henna. This type of pattern takes about 1o minutes to apply and about 10 minutes to dry. 

With a spritz of lemon sugar, you are ready to wear your "paste on" henna tattoo out into a sunny Friday afternoon. 

Please leave the paste on your skin as long as possible. When you are ready to remove it (after 3 to six hours) simply scrape the paste off your skin using a bit of olive oil and a smooth flexible surface. 

Then, apply a coat of olive oil to moisturize the skin, keep the heat in and water out. Henna is a heat activated body dye that leaves a temporary reddish pattern on the skin.

It will wear off after one to three weeks depending on where you put it and how well you take care of it. For more information about where to put your henna tattoo visit the FAQ page on my site.

To see more samples of henna, visit Spirit Vision Henna on Facebook. Ann George will be offering henna at The Midnight Sun, 1055 Park Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32204 today from 2:15 on. Walk-in clients are welcome. FMI - 904-993-7466.

© ann george studios, inc.

Lovely Henna Pattern for Hand and Arm from Winnipeg Henna

Here is a very popular henna design that is the creation of the fine artist at winnipeghenna.com.

I love the use of negative space in this design. Know that this is a photo of the paste on the skin..... when the paste comes off, the henna will be a deeper richer color on the fingers and become lighter as it moves up the hand and arm.

This is one of the interesting aspects of henna, and one that make your efforts at aftercare most important. The longer you leave the paste on your skin, and the hotter the environment you are in.... the deeper the stain will be.

As well, if you choose to keep your arm and hand warm after you scrape the henna off, apply olive oil to the finished design, you will help the henna develop to its darkest possible stain.

Some clients will wear a stock to bed the first night to help heat up the design.

Henna Tattoo for the Back of the Hand - Quick & Easy

Here is an impromptu henna tattoo pattern for the back of the hand.

You can see that simple design elements were repeated to create this mehandi.

I used 2010 Organic Rajhisthani Henna powder from the Henna Sooq! A very nice powder indeed.

This paste is made with that fresh henna - pulverized a bit with mortar and pestle to ensure freshest and finest of color, and blended with fragrant and relaxing essential oils as well as my henna tea blend.

The stones you see are all for sale at The Midnight Sun at 1055 Park Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204.

Please call me directly to schedule your henna appointment. Design books are on hand, or browse the large portfolio of images on this blog or the galleries on my henna site.

Please know, henna does not take well on the back of the neck, nor on the chest or the side. It is usually difficult for most people to get good color on the lower back, but if you are willing to make the investment in aftercare, you can get good results.

This is a temporary body art that will last at least one week. Only freshly made paste is used... and there are no dangerous chemicals in my henna. I hope to see you soon. Namaste, Spirit Vision Henna. 

So you want a henna tattoo??

Henna season has started again in Jacksonville, Florida. Why? Because it is now warm enough to easily make a good henna paste, and warm enough for you to get good color from the application of a henna design. Henna is a heat activated body stain.

See the photo at the left? This is a picture of henna paste ON the skin. Your finished design will not look like this, it will be a shade of red, reddish brown, brown, or perhaps even light orange depending on how well you prepare for your appointment, and how well you care for your tattoo.

Henna gives the best color on the feet and hands. You may also get good color on the lower arms and lower legs. These are the traditional places for henna.

If you want to have a "joke" tattoo, henna will not fool anyone. It does not come in colors, it will not look like an ink tattoo. Henna, or mehandi, is it's own very lovely, very real body art form.

Please think twice before getting henna on the upper back or lower back. While it seems like a good idea, the results are often disappointing. I have published articles on the blog about lower back tattoo.. so please visit those for more information.

Henna is available by appointment between Noon and 5 PM  Monday through Saturday. Please call ahead to schedule. I do not offer henna tattoo on rainy days. It is too easy for the henna to be washed off when you leave the shop. Henna needs to stay on your skin at least three hours to get a good result.

So... the young lady who had the henna in this picture went barefoot for the rest of the day. If you want henna on your feet, please wear the smallest shoes possible. Thong sandals are often the best choice.

Well...... thanks so much for reading my blog. If you click the link you will get to the FAQ page on my site full of tips for good color. 

Traditional Henna Patterns & Tips for a Great Tattoo

Happy Henna Season to every one! Featured today is a photo of a traditional style henna tattoo by Ann George for the back of the hand. Henna works best on the palms, back of the hands and on the feet.

It does not work as well on the stomach, the back, nor the chest. If you want a temporary tattoo for that part of your body, you are better off buying a decal tattoo. There are lots of nice new Indian design decals for lades  for sale at The Midnight Sun (they are on the counter.)

Also, if you want henna in these places, please be sure to dress in clothing that will not disturb the henna, and be prepared to adjust your day so that the henna may remain on your skin for at least three hours.

For gentlemen, the henna takes best on the inner wrist. I am able to do henna on your upper arms, but please be sure to shave several days ahead of time. It is unlikely that henna will give good color on the chest.

The price of a henna tattoo starts at $15 and fees increase from that point. For example, the tattoo in the photo cost $30.00.  I use only the finest, freshest henna powder mixing the paste myself each week to ensure you get the best color possible.

I have just purchased some organic rajasthani henna, long known for giving deep red color on the palms and look forward to trying that out this weekend. I will offer henna tattoo at the Midnight Sun Friday and Saturday if all goes well and weather permits. 


Please call for more information, or to schedule an appointment. 904-993-7466. (*Please note this is a photo of henna paste on the skin. If you are new to henna, I strongly encourage you to visit my FAQ page. Answers to most commonly asked questions are there.


Namaste.

It's Henna Time Again! Spirit Vision Henna is back at The Midnight Sun

Do you love henna tattoo? Have you been waiting all winter long for the weather to break? Well, the wait is over.

I am happy to say I just made up a very lovely paste, letting it rest in the sun so that the dye would happily release from the mix of henna powder, henna tea & lemon juice.

Essential oils and some tamarind were added, the paste rested another day in balmy sunshine, and I now have a cone of henna to give deep stains on the hands and feet.

For those new to henna, it is a heat-activated body dye, and thus we wait for the warmer weather. The longer you leave your henna paste on the skin, and the warmer the weather, the darker your finished color will be.

I use quality henna powder from reliable suppliers, and the finest essential oils... but you must come prepared as well. Please do not come for henna wearing lotion or sun screen as this will prevent the dye from staining your skin a deep color.

I am hoping you will leave the paste on your skin for at least three hours, so if you want henna on your feet... wear the tiniest flip flops possible. ( Some want to brave 5 Points bare foot, but I don't think this is the best idea. )

Henna tattoo designs start at $15 and go up from there. I bring a good selection of pattern books, and you are welcome to look through the many images posted on this blog, or on my henna site.

I have been doing henna tattoo for over ten years now, all henna is free hand, and I am happy to create a unique design that fits your style and your budget. It is best to call ahead for henna if you want a tattoo during the week. I am not always available on short notice, so best to plan ahead.

I will be offering henna tattoo at The Midnight Sun, 1055 Park Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32205 this Saturday, most probably between 1 and 4 PM. Please call 904-993-7466 for more information if need be. 

Contemporary Henna Pattern - for the active woman

Here is a photo of a henna tattoo (paste is on the skin - not black henna) for the active woman.

You will see that there is a lacy henna pattern on the palm, rather whimsical, yet incorporating traditional components.

However, the fingers and thumbs are free of henna paste, so work can continue for the three to six hours necessary to get the darkest henna color.

The palm will always show the true beauty of henna.. yielding colors ranging from rose, to red.. and in some cases, with good aftercare, black cherry red.

To ensure the darkest color, leave the paste on the skin as long as possible. It is also good to enjoy the outdoors! Heat is good for henna, water is not.

If you want your henna color to last as long as possible, no matter where you put it... the once you remove the paste, cover the design with olive oil to seal in the color & some body heat.

If you must wash anything.. please remember .. a bit of olive oil over the henna tattoo keeps water out and color in. For more information on the henna tattoo process, visit the FAQ page on my site.

Tribal Henna Patterns for Men

Here is an example of a freehand tribal style henna tattoo. Bold tribal henna is a good choice for men who want the experience of henna tattoo.

This design, while seeming very geometric, also has components found in traditional African patterns.

Henna always gives the darkest color on the palms of the hands. This is because of the nature of the skin on the palm - very porous - and fleshy.

The porous nature of the skin enables the paste to penetrate deeply. Also, as we sweat from the palm, the henna paste may stay moist on the skin longer, which helps get a better finished color.

If you would like henna tattoo in the Greater Jacksonville Florida area, please call Spirit Vision Henna.

Full Palm Henna Tattoo - Traditional Henna Design

Here is a photo of a full palm henna tattoo. Henna always gives the reddest, richest, darkest stain on the palms of the hands.

It is traditional to put henna on the palms. If you have never had the experience, a soothing relaxing, aromatherapy moment.. please consider bringing a driver with you for a traditional henna tattoo.

It is pampering in the extreme... and the gorgeous henna tattoo left once the paste is removed is quite exotic, and exciting. This is a photo of henna paste on the skin.

Under this black paste, henna, a heat-activated body dye, is penetrating layers of the skin. The longer you leave the paste on, and the hotter you get.. the darker the finished color.

There are all sorts of aftercare tricks to give you the deepest possible stain.. but most folks choose a simple henna.. and thus it is not as important to push for dark color.

Bridal henna is another matter... but you may visit other posts on this blog to learn more about that. If you are interested in henna tattoo, either for yourself, a party, wedding, gallery opening or other event, please feel welcome to call Ann George at Spirit Vision Henna.

Sweet & Simple - $15 Henna Tattoo

Here you go.. easy to wear, easy to apply.. traditonal henna jewel.

This pattern includes traditional mehndi patterns in an easy to wear design.

Shannon, of Bead Here Now is my lovely model to give you an idea of what a $15 chef's choice henna tattoo looks like.

Click the photo to enlarge. Call for henna - 904-993-7466  which is offered by appointment at The Midnight Sun.

Parties, corporate events.. are possible.

Henna Tattoo Design - When Is a Free Hand Pattern "Finished"?

Here is a  photo of a henna tattoo for the arm. The pattern is from the wonderful "Sangeet" pattern book available from Tap Dancing Lizard, and the henna by Ann George of Spirit Vision Henna.

This pattern took only a few minutes to do, as the paste was very moist, also fragrant, and easy to apply using a henna cone.

You will notice the design is eye-catching because both light & heavy lines were used to create the pattern.

This henna tattoo also make use of the shading technique to fill in the petals of the flowers. However, it just didn't feel quite finished.

Now, please notice this second photo:
You will see that by adding just a few lines at the top of the leaf shaped element on this pattern, the design "comes together" and has a very nice finished look.

Sometimes just a few strokes are sufficient to complete a pattern. For those of you new to henna tattoo, these images are photos of the henna paste on the skin, and not black henna tattoo.

Ann George hand blends here paste fresh for every event, and only pure, natural ingredients are used. If you do have allergies to Indian foods or essential oils, please send a note before coming for your henna tattoo appointment.

Traditional Henna - Freehand Henna Tattoo - It's a Good Thing!

Traditional Henna - Freehand Henna Tattoo

I was so lucky to do this henna Saturday afternoon. The paste was fast & liquid.. my client, a goddess of henna!

This pattern was completed in half an hour. The freedom of Chef's Choice and a traditional order makes it so easy to create a henna design that fits the client, the budget & the esthetics of the art form!

As it is getting "late" in the henna season.. please call Ann to schedule a tattoo.