The Art

Henna (aka. Mehndi)

Henna (also known as Mehndi) is a small flowering plant called Lawsonia Inermis that grows in humid climates called . The leaves of this plant contain a potent dye. Once they are picked, sifted and mixed with other ingredients such as lemon, water, and essential oils, a smooth paste is created. Then it is poured into a henna cone made of cellophane, allowing the artist to create fine, precise lines. After the henna is applied onto the skin, it dries in around 20 minutes. Once it flakes off, a beautiful stain is left behind; the stain continues to darken over the course of 2 to 3 days and the mature stain can last up to 2 weeks with proper aftercare.

Jagua

Jagua Gel is derived from the edible Genipa Fruit from South America, thus making it 100% natural and chemical free. The juice from this berry is mixed with a body-safe gel allowing it to adhere to the body to leave behind a beautiful blue-black stain. Juice from the Genipa plant has been used for centuries in South America while it’s uses in temporary body art are quite modern in North America.

Jagua’s staining process is similar to Henna, in that it stains the top layer of the skin and a mature stain can last on for a few weeks, given proper aftercare. After application, the gel takes around 40 minutes to dry. Once removed, you can watch the stain work with your body heat to darken to a deep, beautiful black color.

White Henna

Unlike Henna and Jagua, White Henna does NOT stain the skin. It is a modern art-medium that is body-safe and people use it to create designs similar to the traditional art, thus giving it the ‘henna’ title. The paste is made up of medical grade adhesive and white body paint. Since the glue is commonly used for prosthetics, it is waterproof, thus allowing white henna to last on the skin for a few days. It sticks and lays flat on top of the skin.