My Approach - Introducing henna to the masses (slight rant)

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Posted by Anne Beltestad on May 29, 2001 at 18:37:49:

In reply to: Navaids l00% safe coloured henna posted by Doug on May 29, 2001 at 03:40:46:

Perhaps you're dealing with a bad crowd?
We did a huge festival this weekend and we ONLY USE REAL HENNA. Our
goal is to educate people that henna is not a tattoo, it's not a
substitute for a tattoo, but it's an ancient, relaxing, transitory
art.
On Sunday especially we were slammed with teenyboppers who wanted
kanji, dragons, etc on their bellies and backs. We also had to do a
lot of touchups. It was really annoying, but you have to be patient
with them. Most of them had never seen henna before. I ask you -
which is better: that they experience this traditional art in all its
natural glory, are encouraged to be creative and to put it on the
places where it stains best, or that they think of it as a "fake
tattoo"?
By yesterday we ended up telling all the teenagers that we discouraged
them putting henna on places that aren't meant for henna. It seemed
to be a slightly different crowd, and many listened and also let us
"do whatever" in their price range - and on their hands!
We also started charging people to re-do designs they smear. This was
very effective and did help them decided they wanted it somewhere
better than the belly or the neck.
There's a fine line between pleasing your customers and making
yourself unhappy. My approach is to be positive and upbeat while
explaining, firmly but gently (and over and over again) why henna is
best in the traditional places (hands, feet, wrists). Henna is NEVER
going to be a "quick and easy body art". That's part of its joy. I
think Catherine put it well when she said (a long time ago) "softly,
softly catchy mehandi monkey!" - in other words, you will be rewarded
for your patience.
In this culture we have learned to want speed, efficiency, etc.
Again, that's part of why henna is so relaxing and healing. We set up
our tent as a lovely oasis and invite people in to relax for fifteen
minutes or so while we introduce them to this ancient art. I think we
make a convert to real, timeconsuming, magical henna each time we do
this. Selling it as a "temporary tattoo" fails to capture this
essence of henna.

However the people
: want black , and if i can apply it safely then it may save them from
: going to get ppd put on them.

This is false. People ask us "does it come in black" because they
have been encouraged to think of henna as a fake tattoo, but when we
tell them that black henna isn't henna, and that it involves
chemicals, they don't want it. I have never seen anyone still want
"black henna" after 30 seconds of education.
I also think that promoting "colored henna" miseducates people and
leads directly to the use of PPD, stupid glittery stickers, etc. And
if I see anyone using anything that isn't henna, and calling it such,
at a festival that I'm at, you can bet your right hand I'll do
something about it.

I am confident that Navaids pre-mixed
: coloured paste is safe and it does leave a nice dark stain, it last
: well for 10 days and more. I for one am grateful to Navaid and his
: product.

Yes, but it's not henna. Stop calling it henna, because it's not.

I was about ready to opt for Temptu body paint which will
: last apparently for 2 to 5 days. Trying to do little temporary body
: art geckos and Kanji and Dragons on peoples Bi-ceps ,chest ,backs
etc.
: with henna is madness and it doesn't work, the after care is insane
: and people sit glassy eyed as i explain all they have to do to try
and
: make it work.

Why not have aftercare sheets? Look at Catherine's business
suggestion page - it covers all of this.
I also think you should examine your views on henna. Why do you do
henna? Are you interested in the history and traditions? Or are you
interested in making money?

Then they come back and say it didn't take and i have
: to do it over again. No the people here don't want henna , they
want
: quick and easy temporary body art that looks real, dries fast and
: requires little or no after care. Thankyou Navaid, cause i don't
: think i could go on using the henna powder that i was using even
: though i bought fresh, best quality henna at 30. US$ per 200 grams
: from a reputable company. Now i can work and supply customer
demand.
: and they won't be coming back saying

Again, I think you should examine your approach to henna. I'm not
saying mine is the only way, but if people aren't satisfied with real
henna, something's wrong.
People do want henna if it's sold as henna. It doesn't really work to
sell it as a fake tattoo, because it's not a fake tattoo, so it won't
fulfill the need. If you want to focus on kanji and tribal tattoo
style and barbed wire and the like, why not take up body painting? I
only ask that, if you do, you don't sell other mediums as henna. I
wouldn't call my tattoos "mehndi", and I don't call my henna
"tattoos".
Good luck making henna work for you. I agree about Navaid, I just
found the stuff very runny with a weird smell, and wasn't too
comfortable with it.

Anne

Follow Ups

Re: My Approach - Introducing henna to the masses (slight rant) Doug 14:42:06 5/30/2001 (1)
- Hmmm...can I offer some advice? Anne Beltestad 20:40:54 5/30/2001 (0)
Right on! Love to hear the voice of experience Kenzi 00:42:25 5/30/2001 (1)
- Yay Kenzi! Anne Beltestad 21:28:50 5/30/2001 (0)
Bravo! Very well said, and an excellent point. Zimra 22:10:44 5/29/2001 (1)
- flyers samantha 17:19:06 5/30/2001 (0)
Re: My Approach - Introducing henna to the masses (slight rant) Anne Beltestad 18:39:37 5/29/2001 (0)

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: Perhaps you're dealing with a bad crowd? : We did a huge festival this weekend and we ONLY USE REAL HENNA. Our : goal is to educate people that henna is not a tattoo, it's not a : substitute for a tattoo, but it's an ancient, relaxing, transitory : art. : On Sunday especially we were slammed with teenyboppers who wanted : kanji, dragons, etc on their bellies and backs. We also had to do a : lot of touchups. It was really annoying, but you have to be patient : with them. Most of them had never seen henna before. I ask you - : which is better: that they experience this traditional art in all its : natural glory, are encouraged to be creative and to put it on the : places where it stains best, or that they think of it as a "fake : tattoo"? : By yesterday we ended up telling all the teenagers that we discouraged : them putting henna on places that aren't meant for henna. It seemed : to be a slightly different crowd, and many listened and also let us : "do whatever" in their price range - and on their hands! : We also started charging people to re-do designs they smear. This was : very effective and did help them decided they wanted it somewhere : better than the belly or the neck. : There's a fine line between pleasing your customers and making : yourself unhappy. My approach is to be positive and upbeat while : explaining, firmly but gently (and over and over again) why henna is : best in the traditional places (hands, feet, wrists). Henna is NEVER : going to be a "quick and easy body art". That's part of its joy. I : think Catherine put it well when she said (a long time ago) "softly, : softly catchy mehandi monkey!" - in other words, you will be rewarded : for your patience. : In this culture we have learned to want speed, efficiency, etc. : Again, that's part of why henna is so relaxing and healing. We set up : our tent as a lovely oasis and invite people in to relax for fifteen : minutes or so while we introduce them to this ancient art. I think we : make a convert to real, timeconsuming, magical henna each time we do : this. Selling it as a "temporary tattoo" fails to capture this : essence of henna. : : : However the people : : want black , and if i can apply it safely then it may save them from : : going to get ppd put on them. : : This is false. People ask us "does it come in black" because they : have been encouraged to think of henna as a fake tattoo, but when we : tell them that black henna isn't henna, and that it involves : chemicals, they don't want it. I have never seen anyone still want : "black henna" after 30 seconds of education. : I also think that promoting "colored henna" miseducates people and : leads directly to the use of PPD, stupid glittery stickers, etc. And : if I see anyone using anything that isn't henna, and calling it such, : at a festival that I'm at, you can bet your right hand I'll do : something about it. : : : I am confident that Navaids pre-mixed : : coloured paste is safe and it does leave a nice dark stain, it last : : well for 10 days and more. I for one am grateful to Navaid and his : : product. : : Yes, but it's not henna. Stop calling it henna, because it's not. : : I was about ready to opt for Temptu body paint which will : : last apparently for 2 to 5 days. Trying to do little temporary body : : art geckos and Kanji and Dragons on peoples Bi-ceps ,chest ,backs : etc. : : with henna is madness and it doesn't work, the after care is insane : : and people sit glassy eyed as i explain all they have to do to try : and : : make it work. : : Why not have aftercare sheets? Look at Catherine's business : suggestion page - it covers all of this. : I also think you should examine your views on henna. Why do you do : henna? Are you interested in the history and traditions? Or are you : interested in making money? : : Then they come back and say it didn't take and i have : : to do it over again. No the people here don't want henna , they : want : : quick and easy temporary body art that looks real, dries fast and : : requires little or no after care. Thankyou Navaid, cause i don't : : think i could go on using the henna powder that i was using even : : though i bought fresh, best quality henna at 30. US$ per 200 grams : : from a reputable company. Now i can work and supply customer : demand. : : and they won't be coming back saying : : Again, I think you should examine your approach to henna. I'm not : saying mine is the only way, but if people aren't satisfied with real : henna, something's wrong. : People do want henna if it's sold as henna. It doesn't really work to : sell it as a fake tattoo, because it's not a fake tattoo, so it won't : fulfill the need. If you want to focus on kanji and tribal tattoo : style and barbed wire and the like, why not take up body painting? I : only ask that, if you do, you don't sell other mediums as henna. I : wouldn't call my tattoos "mehndi", and I don't call my henna : "tattoos". : Good luck making henna work for you. I agree about Navaid, I just : found the stuff very runny with a weird smell, and wasn't too : comfortable with it. : : Anne
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