As I'm trying to concentrate on the next motif in a bridal, the questions and compliments start rolling in. How did you learn? Where do you get the ideas from? You're so fast! You make it look so easy! I wish I could get henna done from you all the time! And the list goes on. I figured answering these questions on a blog post would help feed your curiosity before I start hennaing you too ;)
Born and raised in multicultural Toronto, I was exposed to a lot of different backgrounds including my own Pakistani roots. Henna was one of those things that was a must have on Eids and weddings in my family. I grew up having my grandmother apply fistfuls of henna on my sisters and I. Occasionally, my mother would surprise us with a henna cone from her friends who would have recently returned from Pakistan. It was this exposure that really ignited my interest in henna.
Henna cones were a luxury back in the day and there were no professional henna artists that I knew of. My way of learning was by using my own creativity and from practicing, doodling and sketching. I already enjoyed drawing so learning to henna was like pouring milk in the tea.
I still remember the first bridal henna I did on my sister-in-law! Till today she reminds me how I spent half a day doing her mehndi. (I'm so sorry Ammara!) Needless to say, it was a slow learning curve and although I had the passion, I certainly did not have the expertise. Learning to henna is like learning any other skill or trade, you really have to know your stuff inside out. I eventually started experimenting with henna powders, agonising myself with rolling cones and honestly practising on anyone who would let me! A few good friends of mine actually encouraged me to take this on as a side business. They paid me for doing their bridal henna. For the quality of workmanship, I sometimes wonder if it was even worth their money!
I didn't think that providing henna as a service would pick up until I did a little bit of research online only to find out that there was a world of henna out there! There were so many professionals in the field of henna from all over the world. I got in touch with some amazing henna gurus in Toronto like Khadijah from Henna Sooq and Dimple Shah--I'm almost sure they remember me ;) From them I quickly learnt that even though you could be someone blessed with the talent to draw a paisley or flower, you still have room to grow not only as a henna artist but as an entrepreneur too. I pushed myself to learn as much as I could in order to master the art of henna in all its varieties and styles. In 2007, I launched Mocha Henna, where I serve as the leading henna artist and owner.
The fresh smell of henna, the feeling of a sharp henna cone in my hand or a new bridal booking, it all gets me so excited. Becoming a henna artist for me was consequential not intentional. I really enjoy working with henna and sharing it with everyone in my path. Who was it that said, enjoy what you do and you'll never work a day in your life!
{Okay, so this was my first blog EVER! Let me know how I did in the comments below and feel free to suggest what sort or topics you'd like me to share with you :) }
www.mochahenna.com
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