Frequently Asked Questions
What is henna?
Henna is a plant! The shrub-like henna plant grows in hot, arid regions of the world like India, Pakistan, the Middle East and Northern Africa. The leaves contain a naturally occurring reddish dye, lawsone, that readily stains skin, hair and nails. The leaves of the henna plant are harvested, dried and ground into a fine powder. The powder is then mixed with water, sugar and essential oils to make a paste for use on skin and hair.
The henna Process + Aftercare
Getting henna is a very relaxing! Be ready to sit back, slow down and enjoy the experience. Henna paste is applied to the skin using a henna cone (like a mini pastry bag). The paste will take 15 to 30 minutes to fully dry. Once dry, the paste should remain on the skin for at least six hours (or even overnight!) to allow the dye to penetrate as many layers of skin as possible. The longer the paste is left on the skin before removal, the longer the stain will last. To remove paste, scratch it off with your nails or the back of a butter knife—do not use water. Avoid getting a fresh henna stain wet for at least 12 hours after paste removal, if possible. Apply olive, coconut or any plant-based oil to the henna stain to moisturize it and before getting it wet to protect it. Oil may help remove stubborn bits of paste from the skin, too. The stain will appear bright orange at first and darken to its final color 24 to 36 hours after paste removal. Check out our AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS page for more details.
How long will henna last?
A henna stain will stay on the skin for anywhere 5 to 14 days depending on the location of the henna on the body, how long the henna paste remains on the skin before removal and each person’s unique body chemistry. The farther out from the center of the body you go, the longer the stain generally lasts. Henna on the hands and feet will last the longest.
Do you do Bridal Henna?
YES, we definitely do bridal henna! We work closely with you to ensure your henna design is everything you ever wanted for your wedding day. For more information, visit out WEDDINGS page.
Does henna come in different colors?
No, natural henna is only ever a reddish color. Henna powder can be mixed with blue Jauga juice (from the jauga fruit, native to South America) which will make the final stain appear dark purple to almost black in color.
But what about black henna?
NEVER USE OR GET BLACK HENNA. Black henna (often used by inexperienced henna artists at boardwalks, fairs and other tourist areas) contains a synthetic chemical dye to make the stain appear black to mimic the color of a real tattoo. That synthetic dye can cause painful blistering and permanent scarring on the skin. We never use black henna on our clients.
So, how can you tell if a henna artist is using black henna or not? Ask that artist if they make their henna paste themselves and what ingredients they use. A professional henna artist will usually make their own paste and should be able to tell you exactly what ingredients it contains. Natural henna paste contains only henna powder, water/lemon juice, sugar and essential oils. If a henna artist cannot tell you what is in their henna paste, that’s a warning sign and getting henna from that person should be avoided.
What Styles of henna do you SPECIALIZE in?
Elyse specializes in traditional Indian and Moroccan henna art. She does not do tattoo-style or realistic drawing type designs.
Where on the body will you do henna?
Most commonly, Elyse does henna on hands, arms, tops of feet and pregnant bellies. If you have another area of the body you would like henna on, reach out via email to inquire. As a general rule, if you have to take off clothing to expose the area you want henna on, Elyse will probably not be willing to henna that part of your body.
What is your Booking Policy?
All private appointments require payment in full at the time of scheduling. Bookings for all events and weddings require a 50% non-refundable booking fee at the time of scheduling to reserve the time and date in Elyse’s calendar. If the event is to take place within two weeks of scheduling, the entire amount is due upon booking. Individual appointments can be requested HERE and require payment in full to complete the scheduling. Appointment confirmation is subject to Elyse’s availability.
What is your refund policy?
No refunds, either in full or in part, will be given for any reason after henna services have been rendered. Booking fees are nonrefundable.
Where areas do you serve?
Elyse serves Litchfield, Fairfield and Hartford counties in Connecticut and Westchester, Putnam, Duchess and Ulster counties in New York. She also serves Western Massachusetts, too.
Travel fees apply to all booking that are more than a 30-minute round-trip drive from Elyse’s location. Travel is charged at $1 per mile round trip for distance driven.
We also work with a network of talent artists to provide henna services beyond the areas listed above, including New York City, upstate New York, New Jersey and Boston.
Do you travel beyond your usual service area?
Yes! Elyse travels beyond the service areas listed above. The client is responsible for paying the cost of airfare/train/distance driven ($1 per mile round-trip for distance driven), accommodations and meals plus a modest travel fee to compensate for time spent traveling if Elyse it not driving to the destination herself. Please contact us for more information.