Tuesday, April 26, 2011

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.

Friday, April 15, 2011

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. 

Friday, July 09, 2010

Henna Powder | Spirit Vision Henna Seeks Henna Supplier.

Spirit Vision Henna is looking for a new supplier of finely sifted henna for Body Art. I prefer Rajistani henna, or Yemeni Henna.

I am able to purchase wholesale, however am not prepared to import very large quantities. If other smaller henna vendors in the USA would like to spilt an order, please feel welcome to contact me.

Thank you,

Ann George
Spirit Vision Henna

Monday, May 17, 2010

Henna Tattoo for the Back

Here is a photo of a henna tattoo on the back. This is a photo of the henna paste on the skin. The impact of the black paste on the white skin is quite striking. However, it is not advised to put henna on the back.

There are several reasons for this, and the primary reason is that the finished color will not be as dark as henna on the hands, arms, feet or legs. In fact, I do not recommend that you put henna on your back unless you are willing to go to extra effort to ensure good color.

Every ones skin type is different, and some people may get a good result for a henna tattoo on the back with aftercare. It is much more likely that I will get a complaint from a client that henna tattoo on the upper back is not very dark. There is very little I can to to correct this.

For most people, the pores of the back are small, the upper back may be oily in nature and these factors inhibit the henna from deeply penetrating the skin. It is also quite easy to smudge the henna when driving home!

Here is a photo of the Phoenix Tattoo 48 hours later. As you can see, my client went the extra mile to get a good finished color.

As henna is a heat activated dye, applications of olive oil and sunshine ( or perhaps a tanning bed ) gave the henna the extra push necessary to get dark color on the back in this air-conditioned Western world.

If you click to enlarge the photo, you will see that the darkest color is in the lower back. Sometimes it is possible to get a good finished color on the lower back... especially for women.

This pattern was a special order for a special occasion, and extra time was spent to keep the henna wet on the skin as long as possible ( lemon sugar glaze with essential oils was applied regularly over a two hour period to help the henna penetrate the skin.)

I do not offer this kind of henna at the Midnight Sun. The fee for this size and quality of work is $85 an hour. There may be some artists who are able to get a better color than I for the back. If you are out there.. please leave a comment on the blog so others can find you.

Or... feel welcome to post a tip to help us all get darker results on the back.  With all best wishes,

Ann George - Henna Artist - Spirit Vision Henna in Jacksonville, Florida

Thursday, May 13, 2010

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.