All About Henna

Bling is In!

2011-06-12T19:39:00.000-05:00

We all love some glimmer, glamour & shine. We bling our clothes and our accessories – jewelry, shoes, handbags, headbands and even phones!!! If you love bling, then there are multiple ways of adding that little (or a LOT) of shine & shimmer. So, why leave body art out of it, right?

We at All About Henna tried and tested some ways of adding glamour to the traditional Henna Body art form and here are the results!

Option 1 – Ooh Shimmer!

Henna Art by Surinder Marbha, Image Copyright - All About Henna

We pouf some loose micro-glitter to just applied henna paste. The wet henna absorbs the glitter and as long as you have the henna paste on you, the glitter stays on too! This is a quick and fun way to add some shimmer to the henna.
Option 2 – Glitter Gel

Henna Art by Faryal Abbas, Image Copyright - All About Henna

Micro-glitter is mixed with gilding paste to create this lovely creation. This is applied after the application of the henna and is applied in the same way as henna, i.e. through an application tube (cone). This way the glitter is filled in details for flowers, leaves, peacocks etc. The glitter gel needs to be prepared well in advance and is also available in a variety of colors. So, as your henna artist to bring some glitter to add some shine at your henna party!
Option 3 – Bindis

Image Source - Unverified

Bindi or Tikka are worn in India to signify womanhood – married women and eligible bachelorettes wear round red dots on their forehead. Modernization has introduced reusable bindi’s which stick to the skin temporarily. Henna artists use these same bindi’s to add some shine & glamor to the henna. They are usually applied after the henna paste is taken off and Bindi’s are available in a wide range of colors and are fitted with rhinestones too for the extra bling!
Option 4 – Rhinestones!

Henna Art by Surinder Marbha, Image Copyright - All About Henna

Henna Art by Surinder Marbha, Image Copyright - All About Henna

Henna Art by Surinder Marbha, Image Copyright - All About Henna

Rhinestones and Swarovski crystals have unmatched glamour, and hence these are our favorites too! We use cosmetic glue, the same kind used by stage artists for their make-up & props (like beards) to stick these glamorous stones to your body. These can be applied, either before or after henna application. The best thing about this method is that with the use of cosmetic glue, the stones can stay on your skin from 1 to 3 days! We also recommend this form of henna adornment for weddings & special occasions, the stones & henna can be designed and color co-ordinated with the brides dress!

So the next time you get a henna body art tattoo, don’t just stop there – ask your henna artist to Bling it up!

This Valentine - Wear Your Love!

2011-02-09T08:59:00.000-06:00

They say wearing aka tattooing your loved ones name is probably the ultimate symbol of your love!! It's no wonder then that many stars & celebrities have personalized tattoos inked on then.

No, we don't suggest you do the same, but how about getting a personalized temporary tattoo with henna and flaunt your love to the world!!!

Henna tattoos are fun, safe, trendy, quick, painless and best of all - AFFORDABLE.

Here are some samples to get you started on ideas. And if you are the shy type, then you can get a henna tattoo with a special message or meaning, which only you and your loved one knows!

Traditionally too, most Indian brides get their would be husband's name incorporated in the intricate bridal henna. The custom is for the husband to find his name for a 'special' prize!

Book us early for your personalized henna session this Valentine's day - Call 214-620-0758 or email info@allabouthenna.com

Holiday Open House

2010-12-07T15:52:00.001-06:00

We are proud to announce that we are hosting our first Holiday Open House and everyone is invited!

AllAboutHenna had a fantastic year so far and none of this would have been possible without the support and encouragement of our friends, family and customers. We sincerely thank everyone for the same. We are constantly evolving and innovating to bring finest hand-crafted products and to celebrate our work, we are hosting our first Holiday Open House onSaturday, December 11, 2010 !!

At this event, we will be showcasing our largest collection of intricately designed handicrafts - with styles ranging from traditional to contemporary. The range of items include Paintings, Framed Artwork, Candles, Lanterns, and our signature Hurricane Candle Holders. One of the highlights of this event is the unique opportunity to meet our talented artists and get a quick non-permanent body tattoo (Highly recommended!).

So, if you are in the Dallas area, come in to see our new line of products specially designed for your Christmas celebrations !!

So, we welcome all to join us at the Open House and make this event a success while experiencing the true spirit and beauty of this timeless tradition of Henna!!

The Details - All About Henna's Holiday Open House
Saturday, December 11th from 11 am to 7 pm @ La Villita, 1412 Camino Lago, Irving, TX 75039
RSVP : http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149255021789469
Contact : 214-620-0758

Thank You!

2010-11-25T18:09:00.002-06:00

Today, we want to thank all of you for supporting us this wonderful year. Your encouragement has been our motivation to spread the beautiful art of henna.

As your thoughts turn to holiday gift-giving, we invite you to shop with the satisfaction of knowing that each product you buy from us is indeed the most unique piece - a precious valuable piece of art.

We want to extend our gratitude by offering a 20% discount on all your purchases at our online Etsy store. Use coupon code 'HENNALOVE', which will be valid right until November 30th.

Happy Holidays from AllAboutHenna

Refuge House Cultural Fair

2010-10-24T22:21:00.000-05:00

The past weekend, we donated our time and services to a unique foster care / adoption agency here in Dallas called Refuge House (http://www.refugehouse.org) . With the intent to introduce International Culture to the families and children involved with the agency, the event was extremely well organized and a great mix. The event was attended by nearly 60 families and about 200 children.

These lovely and beautiful children got to paint Chinese fans, paint pumpkins, make Mexican paper flowers, got entertained by an mariachi band and saw an astounding performance by a Step Group, among other activities. One of the busiest table was ours!

We were glad to be there for these children - all in exchange for lots of Smiles, Laughs and Hugs!

Goodbye, Urban Street Bazaar!

2010-10-08T10:51:00.000-05:00

The past weekend was the Final Urban Street Bazaar at the Bishop’s Art District in downtown Dallas. As we were wrapping up our wares after the two-day street fair, I was hit by a feeling of sadness, the kind you feel when someone special goes away. I am not really good with Goodbyes and these last moments of make me very nostalgic.

In many ways, one can say that USB was instrumental in the existence of All About Henna. Let me tell you why… About this time, a year ago, was our first ever Craft Fair. So far, we had received a lot of encouragement from our friends and we had just started our Etsy store; however no one really knew about us! When I had researched online for local craft shows, I came across the application for the fair described as ‘Not your mother’s ordinary craft fair’, which really got my interest. I applied and was even selected! On the surprisingly cold Oct day of the fair, we had a very simple booth, but the interest shown by people really got me interested! I said to myself – ‘maybe there really is something here… maybe I really can take my passion for henna to the world!’ Yes, Urban Street Bazaar gave me the nudge, the reaffirmation and the confidence to move ahead.

What do I love most about USB? The human interactions… I have made so many new friends, had so many interesting conversations that I found it to be a truly enriching experience. Some of my favorites – the beautiful Italian lady who loved her henna so much that she was nearly teary eyed… the lovely Hispanic family that came back with more requests and more family to get their henna…. The people who stop by just to share their experience of travelling to India… the two beautiful vendors who got henna at each of the fairs and said ‘it’s now a tradition!’… The young man who bought back his uncle, so he could translate his questions… the little kids who always promise not to touch the henna, but end up smudging it in 5 minutes... the creativity of all those people who come up with unusual ideas for their henna…

The list is endless, and as I bid farewell, I would like to share some pictures from the last bazaar. Adios, Urban Street Bazaar… I will miss you!

Tutorial : How to use our Henna Stencils (Imprints)

2010-09-24T16:06:00.002-05:00

Time and again people express their desire to be able to make mystical henna tattoo’s themselves. To master the art of henna, either you have to be a natural or you need years of practice. Not anymore! We now have stencils that you can use to trace the henna on you. These are re-usable and last upto 3-4 applications. You can purchase these individually hand-drawn stencils from our etsy store and follow the instructions below to get started on this lovely journey to the world of henna!

Although generally safe, these stencils/ imprints are made of dry ink and if you have sensitive skin or allergic to ink, wax or carbon, please use with care or do not use at all.

Front

Back - Ink Side

You will need the following items handy ;

o All About Henna Design Paper

o Henna paste (in cone or jacquard bottle)

o Gel Deodorant like Speed Stix or Water

o Napkin

o Q - tips

Things You Need to Get Started

Step 1: Prepare your skin – ensure the area to be henna painted is free of oils, lotions and clean. If you have alcohol swabs available, use those to clean your skin off any grime or dirt. At this time, also plan the placement of your pattern. Here, I would like this flower on the outside of my hand, with the stems facing upwards towards me.

Planning Placement of the henna

Step 2: Moisten the skin with either water or a gel based deodorant stick like Speed Stick.

Step 3: Place the ink side of the pattern paper on skin gently. The design side, which is darker and in black, should be facing outwards. Ensure there is no pulling or tugging of the paper, as it can easily tear. Gently tap on the top of the paper to ensure smooth transfer.

Step 4: Lift any one end of the paper and peel the sheet away. The tattoo should be now transfereed to your skin. Do note that this will only be the outlines of the pattern. Keep the stencils paper aside for re-use later.

Step 5: Take your henna paste and apply it on the skin, following the lines of the pattern on your skin. You can use our “Fresh mixed cones” or any paste you are comfortable using.

Trace over pattern with henna

Step 6: Thicken the lines and fill in details to your liking, or just leave the tattoo as is. Here I have filled in the flower in two different styles using the same stencils. You can use the Q-tips to fix errors or clear excess henna.

Use Q-Tips to clear mistakes and refine the edges

Step 7: Leave your henna to dry for 4 to 6 hours and follow steps you would normally use for henna after care.

Final Design

If you have any questions, feel free to write to us at info@allabouthenna.com. Happy hennaing!

Henna: An Art or A Dye?

2010-08-25T21:15:00.005-05:00

Henna Powder, which is used to make the dye or paste!

Recently someone who visited our Etsy store, showed surprise on our store’s description that which describes henna as an art form which is centuries old. Frankly, I was surprised at her! But it got me thinking that different people look at henna in so many different ways and to understand this better, let’s understand what comprises a dye and what is art.

The dictionary definition for dye is “a coloring material or matter. Or a liquid containing coloring matter, for imparting a particular hue to cloth, paper, etc. Or color or hue, esp. as produced by dyeing.” (Source : www.dictionary.com). If you look at henna’s natural properties, that is true. Henna leaves a color on your skin, hair, fabric or paper. By that definition, henna surely is a dye.

Now let’s look at art which the site has defined as “the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.” Henna has been used in the past and even today to create lovely shapes, motifs and patterns on your skin. Once the paste is taken off, the skin is dyed in the shapes formed with the henna itself. To me personally, art is just another form of expression. We express in so many different ways, some write, some sing, some dance, and we here at AllAboutHenna… we henna!

Most of the times, I see that we create designs as we feel… if we are happy or sad, it is reflected in the pattern… For me and for our team here, henna surely is an art! Technically it is a dye, no doubt, but any medium that helps us express is an art and hence we call henna our love, and our ART!

- post by - Surinder Marbha (Owner & Artist)

P.S. – I just couldn’t resist J - Dictionary definition of henna is “1. An Asian shrub or small tree, Lawsonia inermis, of the loosestrife family, having elliptic leaves and fragrant flowers. 2. A reddish-orange dye or cosmetic made from the leaves of this plant. 3. A color midway between red-brown and orange-brown.”

Bazaar Days May 8th- Celebrate with Mom!

2010-05-05T15:25:00.001-05:00

Spring shopping has never been this fun. Get ready to shop local in hip Addison Circle. You won`t want to miss this unique shopping experience. Free admission - Free Parking Unique Shopping Experience Mother`s Day Special Addison Conference Centre MAY 8 2010 10 am - 5.30 pm.

Product Collection

2010-04-30T14:03:00.000-05:00

My Mehendi Designs

2010-04-30T13:28:00.000-05:00

Wedding Fever...

2010-04-28T13:59:00.000-05:00

The onset of summer marks the beginning of joy and excitement. Soon there will be a long weekend after a wait for 5 long months …Summer is a favorite time for weddings.. We are getting ready this season with a new unique collection of wedding décor and favors.. we are integrating the theme of the wedding into Hurricane candles and centre pieces, art work and more. This theme will also be woven around the wedding favors for guests to take back as a memory from this special wedding… The whole world is turning green and guess what, we are ahead of the curve and already Green ! J We want everyone to have a chance to bring in a piece of nature into their bedroom’s, living rooms or even work spaces.. Eco friendly wedding favors are in and these favors are in the same spirit as they are reusable…Our favorite part about helping in a wedding is being able to absorb the energy, excitement and love being experienced by the couple and transforming it into something exquisite.. We want the bride to remember the experience of planning her wedding to be an enjoyable as being in it. We have recommended the bride to be to have the henna designs on her hands to be transformed into an art work or even a hurricane candle, whose patterns that will stay longer after the henna stains from her hands and feet fade away.. The start of this collection has been magical and we are expecting that this collection to be a huge success!

The new wave in candles….

2010-04-07T10:55:00.000-05:00

The past few months have had us thinking on ways to enhance our collection to meet the aesthetic demands of our customers and also how to innovate such that we can add fragrances to the candles without burning them down. Inspired form the “Candles are Forever” collection is our new collection of “Hurricane candles”. These Hurricane Candles are made of a special kind of wax that is tolerant to heat, thus enabling us to adorn these with henna patterns, Swarovski crystals and other colored gems. They come is many different sizes and shapes thus suiting the varying demands of our customers. The highlight of these candles is that these are hollow thus allowing us to place different votive or tea lite candles in them to be able to modify the fragrance to suit the mood. This collection helps retain the original beauty of a burning candle and simultaneously preserves the decoration on the candle. The picture displayed is of our first Hurricane Candle with a modern pattern of leaves and birds. It has a lavender fragrance tea lite candle burning inside it which is giving it a vibrant glow! It almost looks like a little lamp. We feel with this new line we will be able to blend in the timeless nature of our candles with endless possibilities in fragrances. Calling all candle lovers to try out our invention or visit us at the Urban Street Bazaar coming up this weekend at the Bishop Arts District to see our entire collection!

Urban Street Bazaar April 10th and 11th 2010

2010-03-26T13:58:00.001-05:00

Our bedazzled line has been inspired from the vibrant colors of India. India is a country with heritage, beautiful colors and rich textures. We have imported colorful crystals from India to incorporate these into the henna patterns to provide you an option to bring in a taste of the far away land of India into your home. We are promoting the handmade movement and believe that all the good things in life are closer than we can imagine. These will feature exclusively in the upcoming Urban Bazaar 2010 on April 10 and 11 in Bishop Arts District. This is an outdoor street market featuring Modern Crafters and Handmade Product in the Historic Bishop Arts District If you love hand made and the Etsy stores you will fall in love with the Urban street Bazaar. The current weather forecast is perfect for the upcoming weekend.. it will be in the mid 70’s with clear skies.. We look forward to seeing you all there..

http://www.urbanstreetbazaar.com/

Vacationing at home

2010-03-23T15:11:00.000-05:00

Many a time I find myself scavenging through numerous websites trying to find that perfect vacation destination with that prefect deal… I even tried to entice some friends for a road trip to make the dollar go further J.. After number of hours spent on the web and countless emails exchanged with friends it was looking like none of the deals exist and that everyone has clashing schedules. I was determined to vacation ...This is what I did.. blocked weekend off from my social calendar planned to spend some quality time at home enjoying it with the luxuries of a hotel and simple pleasures that a usual weekend blocked with social commitments doesn’t allow...I used some aromatic candles in the hurricane shells we had recently created for the living room to give it a nice chic look, booked a massage, marinated some fish for a BBQ by the lake. It was perfect ....I realized that sometimes all you need is a free weekend relaxing at home sipping on some delicious wine by the warmth of a fireplace to create the perfect vacation !

Made for each other ..

2010-03-11T12:07:00.000-06:00

Do you remember the first fast paced heart beat when you met your soul mate? It is feeling that can’t be described something that can only be experienced.. a feeling on being on “top of the world”…love is something that cannot be defined, it is a sensation that can only be expressed…This pair of candles is inspired from love. These designs are from the Mughal era of India, an era which made India one of the richest countries of that time… These designs symbolize wealth, prosperity and happiness. It was this era in which the Taj Mahal was built as a symbol of timeless love and devotion. This pair has been designed with love and for someone who wants to present it to their soul mate as a symbol of relentless love and passion. This pair is one of its kind like the Taj Mahal and is a part of our “Bedazzled” collection. Though every different in their appearance there is an abstract bond between the two.

Candles are forever!!

2010-03-07T16:13:00.000-06:00

We all have heard the phrase that diamonds are forever, one of the most common feedback that we have received from our customers is that our candles are "too beautiful to burn". This inspired us to start our new line of flameless candles adorned with henna art and Swarovski crystals. This one in particular is going to be our show stopper at the upcoming Funky Finds on March 13th in Fort Worth TX. This candle is also inspired by the beautiful colors of spring, we have incorporated flowers and leaves in the form of henna patterns on this flameless candle and added accents of stunning Swarovski crystals. The end product simply breath taking .. when we saw this finished product we was so glad that it was crafted on a flameless candle and this will be something that will last forever and can even be passed down generations ( as long as AA batteries are in production this candle will live :) ) .
Its true elegance is seen in a dimly lit room when the warm glow of the flame reflects off the crystals on the surface, creating a mesmerizing hue in the room... We are sure whoever will end up owning this piece of Art will be showered with compliments for this candle.
We would like to thank all our customers whose feedback has helped us develop this line!

Henna Art

2010-03-04T19:37:00.000-06:00

Henna in its natural forms is green in color. We have however enhanced its appearance by added black color to it so that it contrasts with the background of the candle. It is very important to note that we don’t recommend burning this candle or using back henna on your skin as it may react with skin…However black henna looks beautiful on different medium and we are planning to experiment with it on fabric, lamp shades and even photo frames. We are also planning to introduce Swarovski crystals in the next line which with we are considering naming Bedazzled !!! Stay tuned for updates on the process of making these beauties..

Spring is here - Funky FInds 2010

2010-03-03T16:06:00.000-06:00

The next 2 weeks are going to be very crucial.. this is the first event allabouthenna will be hosting since its birth in January 2010. this is where we are establishing our brand our image the customers we are targeting... who are we ? we are originating from India bringing the culture to distant lands and sharing vibrant colors , henna patters and other art with the rest of the world.. Henna an ancient art has been used by us to create the various forms of At, we have used henna on jewellery boxes, candles, wall art, candle holders..and we have plans to experiment further on so many more forms..At the funky finds in Fort Worth we are setting up a stall where not only will we be displaying these new exciting innovation s with Henna, we are also planning to have a low seating arrangement with ethnic decor Henna Artists we will be applying henna to the body, arms, palms, or anywhere else you can imagine...:) these are temporary tatooes and look absolutely amazing.. we are also planning to have come glitter henna on site to create some dazzling patterns..we are taking baby steps but are hoping for this to be an exciting and successful event. we look forward to all friends and family here to support us in this new venture!!