About Laura Creatrix
Laura of Shakti Henna, has been doing Henna art since 1999. Laura started doing Henna on herself and friends for Tribal Belly Dance performances. Having had years of formal art training and a BA in Graphic Design and Fine Arts from San Diego State University, her Henna artistry quickly became sought after by dancers and others. In 2002, Laura began vending her costume and jewelry designs as Creatrix Designs and doing Henna at Belly Dance Festivals throughout California. For more info on Creatrix Designs Tribal costumes and Ethnic jewelry, www.CreatrixDesigns.com
What is Henna?
Henna is a Persian term for Lawsonia inermis, a small flowering shrub that grows in very hot and dry climates, such as North Africa, Middle Eastern countries, and India. Mendhi is a Hindi name for the process of applying the Henna. The plant is harvested and processed to create a powder. Henna is used to decorate parts of the body, traditionally the hands and the feet, as well as hair. The Henna powder is mixed by the artist with essential oils and lemon juice to create a paste. The paste is then applied to the skin and left to dry, undisturbed, for 1-3 hours. After the paste scrapes off, the Henna stain will proceed to darken over the next 24 to 48 hours. Henna designs can last from 1-3 weeks. The darkness of the stain depends on the individual’s skin and placement on the body. The hands and the feet are traditionally used for decoration because the stain turns the darkest in these areas. The farther away from these areas the Henna is applied, the harder it is to stain the skin.
Henna is a safe, natural, plant product. No chemicals are ever used in my Henna!!
Henna paste sits on top of the skin, and stains the top couple layers of the skin. Henna designs fade as these layers naturally exfoliate.
Ingredients may include: Pure essential oils, black tea, lemon juice and occasionally, black walnut powder. If you have any sensitivity to any of these ingredients, please let me know before your event so I may omit them from the mix.
Henna adornment has been practiced by different cultures for thousands of years, dating back at least as far as 4000 B.C.E. There are as many different traditions surrounding Henna as there are cultures that embrace it. For a detailed account of the history of Henna, please visit www.TheHennaPage.com.
