Things To Know Before Engaging Your Henna Artist.

Henna is known to be a significant symbol and tradition part of the Muslim and Indian ‘Big Day’. Here are some things you need to know first before donning your henna.

Henna done by @sof.sorf

Many brides will agree that planning a wedding is no easy task. There is a lot of thought, process, preparations and planning that goes behind it especially when you have so many traditions to follow, so many people to please (a.k.a the elders and future in-laws) right ladies? The constant pressure of everything to be perfect, the backup plans to come up with, the invites, who to engage especially when there are so many recommended vendors to choose from. Which artist to engage for Bridal Henna? Don’t worry ladies we got you covered.

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Is Henna Important for Your Wedding?

The question lies as to whether it is truly necessary to don the Henna or skip it all together.

“Mehndi adorns the hand, Life takes on a new color”, sums up a bride’s journey to the world of marriage. Henna also known as Mehndi is a body art don on the hands and feet of the bride before their wedding. Its purpose is to beautify themselves for their big day. Indians believe that it is a way of wishing the bride good health and prosperity as she makes her journey into marriage.

Malay Muslims believe it is a symbol of love and a sign of good luck for the bride. Some say that it’s a form of cleansing the couple and signs of blessing. So, is it important? No, but it is however deeply encouraged for brides to do so. Just look at those designs! It is almost impossible to keep your eyes away from it.

Just imagine the henna art on your hands, you will look stunning! Also, fun fact, did you know during Cleopatra’s time, henna beauty is meant for someone of royal or high status? You’re practically royalty when adorning the henna.

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Who should you hire as your Henna Artist?

It is no surprise that with the help of social media, more artists showcase their skills, services and designs. But here’s a quick guide on how to choose your artist.

One golden rule that you must do even before engaging your artist is do your RESEARCH. There are many talented artists out there, but you need to hire the best of the best artists that could cater to your needs and budget for your wedding or event. One common way is to look up on Facebook and Instagram or you can simply Google ‘henna services’ to scout for your artist.

Make use of the convenience of social media and the internet to give you a wide variety of options to choose from. Not only it showcases their works but also their post of clientele’s reviews/experiences with said artist.

Another reliable alternative is referrals from friends, relatives or even friends of people they know who have engaged such services. When you are referred by someone who you can trust, you are almost assured that the henna artist will do a good job. It would be much better if your referrals come from someone who already has henna tattoos on them. When asking around, it is important to be specific on the type of henna artist that you need. There are those who specialize in casual henna tattoos and may not be good with bridal ones.

Henna done by Sof&Sorf Henna

Have you ever heard of brides’ henna horror stories? Or henna artist from hell? Well, you’d be surprised some brides have gone through it unfortunately. To save yourself from that nightmare, the most important question to ask is ‘how long have they been in the business?’. No doubt they may have impressive pictures on their Facebook/Instagram profile and website, but their experience plays apart too.

You should be looking for someone who has at least 2 years of experience and the artist work ethics towards their clients. Always ask what their conditions are for engaging them such as, their charges for transport allowance, how do they charge and do they have any prerequisite on the set-ups.

This is crucial in gauging the credibility of the henna artist. One last tip ladies, never be too shy to approach past clients of those henna artists you consider engaging. Hit them up on their socials if they were mentioned in one of the review posts. Ask them what the experience was like. Ask them what their honest opinion is after engaging the artist or anything that you need to know. Remember, you are not just paying for their skills but also the overall experience. The last thing you need is a problematic henna artist on top of the pressure of wedding preparations.

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How to Budget On your Bridal Henna?

As years goes by, the henna trend gets trendier which contributed to the different price points.

This is the part where many brides-to-be have the urge to pull their hairs out on deciding which henna artist, should they put their trust on and hire. What is so hard to choose your artist? You guessed it right, the BUDGET. That dilemma on whether to stay on budget or go below to save up for things more important (i.e., outfits & décor), or to sacrifice and go above the budget set, to engage on a henna artist you truly want. It’s alright we feel you. Maybe this will help you better to make a sounder decision.

Rule no.1 know what your preferences are for your bridal henna. Bridal Henna is divided to 2 styling categories: Classic, being more simplistic in design and cheaper in price point. And Intricate, being more complex in design and slightly pricey in price point. After deciding what your preferences are, it’s time to decide on the packages that are offered. 2 most common packages that are offered are usually the ones offered by Henna Artist themselves or Collaboration Packages with Photographers, MUA, Wedding Services etc.

The most common packages are: Hands Only, Hands & Feet and Bridal Henna with Henna Party. The main factor in differences of pricing for all these packages is the length of the henna. Typical length that henna artist offer are usually; Wrist, Midway and Forearm. The longer the henna is the pricier it gets. Of course, if you are offered a collaboration package keep an open mind. You never know you might be offered a good deal that might help you save up on your wedding expenses. ‘Every cent counts’, am I right ladies?

The difference in price can be U.P to $150 different. If you are someone who loves anything subtle and simple, then Classic is the way to go. If you are someone who loves a more detailed artwork and wouldn’t mind spending a little bit extra, then you may consider the Intricate style at midway length maybe. Ultimately, it boils down to what is your need and budget that you have set for yourself. Key takeaway is do your research, weigh in your priorities and narrow down those options.

Image credits from Pinterest

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Choosing Your Henna & Henna Aftercare.

Did you know that there is a recommended day to do your henna and the aftercare? And there is 4 different henna stains they usually offer.

Now that we have discussed the importance, budgeting and choosing your henna artist. We’re going to discuss one last thing that most henna artists never touch on. The aftercare of your henna and choosing your stains. Let’s talk about stains. There are 4 stains for brides to choose from which is: Natural Henna, Red-ink Henna, White Henna and Jagua Henna. Unsure which stain to choose from? Each stain has a different outcome. The Natural Henna has a deep dark brown maroon-ish stain, red-ink henna gives off a bright red finish. Jagua henna gives off a black tattooed like finish and as for White Henna, well the name speaks for itself. It is up to your preference on what henna stain outcome you desire.

Disclaimer for Muslim brides. If you wish to pray in between your event, refrain from using red-ink and white henna, it is not wudhu friendly. Don’t let others input cloud your judgement. It’s your henna, your wedding so it’s your say on what goes well for you. We’ll let you in on a secret, if you are still unsure what stains you desire, ask your henna artist if they provide sample stains service on your skin. And decide from there *winks*.

Though many brides will stick to Natural Henna, the timing of the application is often overlooked. For a better and richer payoff, it is recommended to apply your henna 2-3 days before your wedding. After 24hours when dried and washed off, it gives off an orange stain but it gets darker on the 36th hour mark. That gives a deep brown maroon-ish color. That’s the stain many brides chased for. Want that dark, deep, rich stain? Schedule your appointment 2-3days prior to your event date.

Another factor that many brides often is the aftercare. Why is it important? It protects the design from fading and extends the life of henna stains. Avoid contact with water for the first 24 hours if possible. Henna is hydrophobic, water prevents the fresh stain from darkening. Try as much as possible to rub your henna against clothes or shoes when wearing them to avoid the fading of your henna. Invest on aftercare henna balms or products to extend the longevity of your henna stains. We can assure you these efforts pays off.

Thank you for sticking through this far. So ladies, what do you think of our 101 guide on Thing To Know About Bridal Henna? It is a lot to take in we know. Hope this helps you in choosing your henna and artist better. Always remember, you are the bride, what you say goes. You can hit us on our socials for more enquiries.

Comment and share this blog to those you think will benefit from it. Share with us what you wanna read about next? 'How to budget your wedding?' maybe? All the best to your wedding planning journey. XOXO, Sof&Sorf. See you in the next one!