Bridal henna is one of the oldest and still most popular henna traditions. The decorated hands and feet of the bride not only distinguish her from the guests, but also bring in emotions of happiness and love during a special time of celebration and change. Adorning the hands and feet with intricate designs gives the bride a special treatment as she steps into her new life. Modern bridal henna applications are given just as much importance as photography, attire, food, venue and makeup. Since getting married is an extraordinary time in a woman’s life, everything for the bride should be as perfect as she dreams!
As a bride to be, there should be a few things you should keep in mind when considering your bridal henna options. Read more about finding a reputable artist, having a bridal henna consultation, getting a sample of the artist’s work, and getting the most out of your service!
First of all, find a reputable henna/mehndi artist. Finding a good henna artist is the first step in making sure you have a dream come true wedding. Don’t be afraid to talk to several artists. Book with the person you think will best be able to cater to your needs and wants. Make sure the artist you book with is reliable and will not cancel on you the last minute!
How do you know if the artist you have found is reliable? The artist should at the very least be able to offer a portfolio of designs that he or she has done in the past. In this age of the internet, it is very easy to get one’s hands on photos from the internet. Oftentimes unprofessional artists will copy photos of other people’s work from the internet and claim it as their own. Make sure you meet the artist and are able to browse through their portfolio. The artist should also have business cards, a direct contact number, and references from previous non-family clients. Experience is a must when working with brides, and if your artist has no previous experience, red flags should go up!
Second, make sure you have a bridal henna consultation. For an event as big as a wedding, your mehndi artist should be providing you with a FREE consultation. Red flags should go up if your artist asks you to pay for a consultation. A bridal consultation should always be free, especially since the package you will book won’t be cheap! During the consultation, make sure you get a sample of their work on yourself. This will allow you to determine the artist’s speed, which is very important. As a bride, you should not have to sit for more than 3-4 hours for your bridal henna application. If the artist is experienced with brides, it will not take her more than 4 hours to complete a full bridal mehndi application.
Third, you should get a small sample of the artist’s work to see if you have any allergies or reactions to their henna paste. The last thing you want as a bride is hives and bumps on your wedding day! Make sure the henna artist is using an all natural henna paste prepared fresh. Remember, there is no such thing as “black henna.” {Black henna is a phosphorus based substance which can give you permanent scars, painful allergic reactions, and possibly skin cancer.} There are times when the henna artist will purchase pre-made mehndi cones for your application. There are two major downfalls to this. One—these cones come out of countries such as India or Pakistan, where there are no cosmetic regulations. Most of these pastes contain harsh chemicals such as gasoline, turpentine, paint thinner, and kerosene among many. Two—since there are no regulations, there are times when the mehndi paste has gone bad and will not give you a dark stain. Oftentimes, if someone uses old henna paste, it will give a very stale and dull stain. What bride wants that? 
Finally, when you book a mehndi artist, make sure he or she is able to cater to your needs. This is your big day, and it should go according to what you want! As a bride, do not get sucked into what the artist wants for you. If you don’t like something, tell her! Just with other professional services, quality is the most important thing! You are only getting married once, so go for quality, not quantity. Pay the extra $50-$100 extra to get the bridal henna artist you want and are happy with. You only get married once, so make it worth every penny you spend. The last thing you want is to begin your wedding celebrations with a mediocre bridal mehndi design. Ask for all the bells and whistles with your bridal henna—glitter, stone accents, rhinestones, post-application care, etc.
As a bride, you are the one that controls your dream wedding. So start early, ask lots of questions, and demand what you desire!