Answers to some of the Frequently Asked Questions about henna. Wanted to know something else, do not hesitate to contact us.
These answers are based on our experience and observations and should not be considered legal or health advice.
The Basics
At its simplest, henna is a paste made from the crushed leaves of the henna plant (Lawsonia inermis), found and grown in South Asian and North African countries. When this paste is applied to skin and left for a few hours, it leaves an orange to dark maroon stain that fades naturally in 7 to 14 days.
Henna contains no chemicals, no permanent dye, and is completely safe for all skin types including children. Our paste is handmade fresh for every session using only natural henna leaves with a trace of eucalyptus and clove oil.
Mehndi (also spelled mehendi or mehandi) is the South Asian and Indian term for the art of applying henna as decorative body art, especially for weddings and celebrations. Henna comes from Arabic; mehndi comes from Hindi and Sanskrit. They refer to the same plant and the same art — the terms are used interchangeably.
The Mehndi ceremony is a pre-wedding celebration in Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi cultures where the bride receives elaborate henna designs on her hands and feet, surrounded by family and friends.
Cost & Booking
Henna is a work of art — pricing is based on the time and intricacy of the design:
| Service | Approximate Price |
|---|---|
| Small / simple design (palm-sized) | $15 – $30 |
| Medium design (hand or forearm) | $30 – $75 |
| Full hand henna (wrist to fingertips) | $50 – $100 |
| Bridal henna (both hands to elbow) | $150 – $350+ |
| Bridal henna (hands + feet) | $250 – $500+ |
| Events & parties | Hourly rates available |
Contact us for a personalized quote — call or text 512-961-6662.
For local weddings in Austin, book at least 4 to 8 weeks in advance. For destination weddings, book ideally 3 to 6 months ahead to allow time to coordinate travel, logistics, and design planning.
Austin's busiest wedding months are October–November and April–June. Popular dates fill up quickly. Call or text 512-961-6662 or contact us here to check availability.
Yes! Nisha Henna Arts is available for destination weddings and events anywhere in the world. We have traveled across the United States and internationally to bring authentic henna artistry to weddings and special celebrations. Whether your wedding is on a beach in Mexico, a villa in Italy, a resort in India, or a vineyard in California — we will be there.
A travel fee applies for locations outside of Austin. Book 3 to 6 months in advance for destination events. Call or text 512-961-6662 to start planning.
Absolutely. Nisha Henna Arts travels to your location across Austin and all of Central Texas — your home, wedding venue, party hall, corporate office, or festival grounds. We bring everything needed and set up a beautiful henna station. We also travel worldwide for destination weddings.
Application & Aftercare
It depends on the intricacy of the design and type of service:
After application, the paste dries in 5–10 minutes. We spray a lemon-sugar solution to keep it moist so it achieves the best possible color.
Henna paste is applied to skin just like writing with a marker — the paste has a toothpaste-like consistency and is squeezed through a fine applicator cone to create intricate designs. No needles. No pain. No permanent commitment.
See it in action: watch our henna videos →
Typically 1 to 3 weeks, depending on your skin type, the body part, and how well you care for it. Palms and feet give the deepest and longest-lasting color due to thicker skin.
To keep the color dark longer: avoid soap on the area, keep it moisturized with natural oil, and avoid prolonged water exposure for the first 24 hours.
Follow these tips for the richest, longest-lasting stain:
For best results, get your henna done the evening before an event so the paste can stay on overnight.
Traditionally mehndi is applied to the hands and feet for special occasions. Today, henna can be applied anywhere on the body — arms, back, shoulders, neck, legs, and even the belly (especially for baby showers). The darkest color will always be on palms and the soles of feet due to skin thickness.
Several factors affect how dark henna stains: the body part (palms give the best color), skin type, how long the paste was left on, and aftercare. Back and shoulder henna will always be lighter than hand henna — that is normal. For the deepest stain, leave paste on overnight and follow our aftercare tips above.
Safety
Yes. Natural henna is completely safe for children. At Nisha Henna Arts, we use only 100% natural henna paste with no added chemicals or synthetic dyes. We have applied henna on thousands of children at birthday parties, school events, and family celebrations with zero adverse reactions.
If a child has a known sensitivity to eucalyptus oil, please let us know before the session as our paste contains a small trace of eucalyptus oil.
Yes — natural henna is widely and traditionally used for pregnant women. The belly blessing (applying henna to the pregnant belly) is a beautiful baby shower tradition in many cultures. Our paste is made from natural henna leaves with traces of eucalyptus and clove oil, with no harsh chemicals.
If you have known sensitivities to eucalyptus oil, please let us know and we will take appropriate precautions.
Black henna is not real henna and is not safe. Natural henna produces an orange to dark maroon color — never black. Black henna contains a chemical called PPD (para-phenylenediamine) used in hair dye, which can cause severe allergic reactions, chemical burns, and permanent scarring.
Nisha Henna Arts never uses black henna. If anyone offers you instant black henna, walk away. Read more about black henna safety →
Events & Services
Yes — corporate events are one of our specialties. We provide henna entertainment for product launches, annual celebrations, trade shows, employee engagement events, fundraisers, Christmas parties, and brand activations.
Past corporate clients include Apple, Amazon, Google, Samsung, Facebook, Lululemon, and Dos Equis. We are also regular providers at ACL (Austin City Limits) and SXSW.
For simple party designs (5–10 minutes each), one artist can typically serve 30 to 50 guests in a 3-hour event. For larger events we bring a team of multiple artists. We have handled everything from intimate 10-person gatherings to corporate galas with hundreds of attendees.
Contact us with your event details and we will put together a plan that works.
Absolutely. Henna is enjoyed by people of all cultures. We regularly do henna at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Sweet Sixteens, graduation parties, pool parties, Quinceaneras, Christmas parties, and Hanukkah celebrations. Henna is one of the most unique and memorable forms of party entertainment — guests love it!
The Mehndi ceremony (also called Mehndi night) is a pre-wedding celebration in South Asian cultures, typically held one or two days before the wedding. The bride receives elaborate henna designs on her hands and feet while family and friends celebrate with music, dancing, and food.
At Nisha Henna Arts, we specialize in making this experience joyful and seamless. We can handle henna for the bride and all guests. We can also help with decorations, music, and a full Bollywood or traditional theme setup if desired.
Yes! Henna can be a beautiful way to temporarily adorn or soften the appearance of scars or faded tattoos. Several of our clients have used henna to decorate areas they feel self-conscious about, with wonderful results. This is a temporary solution lasting 1–3 weeks, but it is wonderful for special occasions or photo shoots.
Of course! While henna has traditionally been associated with women in South Asian culture, men have embraced henna across many cultures throughout history. Today, men get henna for groom ceremonies, corporate events, festivals, photo shoots, and just for fun. We love helping men find designs that suit their style — from bold geometric patterns to tribal designs.
History & Meaning
Henna has been used to adorn women's bodies as part of social and holiday celebrations since the late Bronze Age in the eastern Mediterranean. Henna was regarded as having "Barakah", blessings, and was applied for luck as well as joy and beauty.
In India, there is a beautiful folk belief that the darker the bride's henna stain, the more love and affection she will receive from her new family. Whether or not you believe in folklore, henna is a deeply meaningful, joyful, and beautiful tradition that connects generations.
Henna and permanent tattoos are two completely different things — henna is not a tattoo in the traditional sense and fades completely in 1–3 weeks. The term "henna tattoo" became popular in Western countries in the late 1990s when celebrities began wearing henna publicly and the art form spread as a fashionable temporary body decoration. Since both involve applying art to skin, the word "tattoo" stuck, but there is no needle, no pain, and no permanence.
Classes & Location
Yes! Nisha teaches henna classes for both kids and adults. Whether you want to learn as a hobby or develop professional skills, we offer personalized instruction. Classes can be held at our Austin studio or at your location for groups. Contact us for details and pricing.
We are based in Austin, TX and serve all of Central Texas including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Leander, Kyle, Buda, San Marcos, Bastrop, and Lakeway. We also travel anywhere in Texas and worldwide for destination weddings and special events. A travel fee may apply for locations outside of Austin.
No distance is too far — if you have a dream wedding somewhere in the world, reach out and let's make it happen.
Come to our home studio for experiencing the ambiance and setup for a perfect henna application.
We can also bring Bollywood, Arabic or Mediterranean setup to your event at home or at business. Ask us for colorful decorations and party rentals.