HennaArt.ca

Organic Goat Poo Oil aka Argan Oil....

2012-01-31T20:15:00.003-07:00

With a focus on natural products and beauty, we have sourced a completely natural and almost magical oil. Argan oil, if you have noticed in salons, boutiques, and beauty supply stores, is slowly creeping onto shelves.

What is Argan Oil?

Argan oil comes from the nut of the argan fruit tree. This oil is derived from... that's right, goat poo! The argan tree grows only in Morocco, and is not cultivated anywhere else in the world (if you see Argan oil from anywhere else but Morocco, BEWARE!) Mountain goats climb the tree to eat the fruit. They cannot, however, digest the nut from the fruit, so it comes out.... that's right, in their poo. The poo pellets are then picked up by workers. Workers then work to separate the nut from the goat poo, giving them just the nut of the Argan fruit.

The nut is then cracked and ground to extract the oil. There is no Argan essential oil, just a carrier oil. This oil has been used for hundreds of years by Moroccan women as a base for cosmetics, for hair care, and for eating.

Argan oil is food for your skin and hair. It is one of highest oils in vitamin E, fatty acids, carotenes, and antioxidants. It was traditionally extracted by Berber women. With recent exploitation of the Argan trees, it has become an endangered species and under protection by UNESCO.

When you buy Argan oil from Henna Art, you are not only investing in a completely natural beauty product for yourself, but also helping women's Co-Ops throughout Morocco. These co-ops not only employ women in Morocco, but also focus on improving working conditions of rural women, and help generate income for rural families. All the Argan oil sold by us is produced by women's cooperatives that share the profits among the local women of the Berber tribe. The cooperatives have also established reforestation programs so the Argan tree can continue to thrive, and thus, provide the precious Argan oil supply all over the world.

What about other Argan products?
Don't be fooled by the label when you see Argan Oil. Remember to always read the ingredient label to find out what is in your product, instead of falling for clever marketing techniques.

Henna Art's Organic Argan oil can be used on the skin, nails, face, and hair. You can use it as a carrier oil in your natural bath and beauty products, as a deep conditioning hair oil treatment, as a daily and nightly moisturizer, in masks, for cuticle repair, on burns and scratches, and stretch marks!

It does have a nutty smell at first application, but it disappears as the oil is absorbed in the skin and hair.

INGREDIENTS: Organic Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil

COST: $10.00 for 1 ounce (30 mL); $29.00 for 4 ounces (120 mL)

Here is a comparison of Argan products available in the market. Remember, cosmetic regulations in Canada and the US require that ingredients are listed on the label of a product in descending order of quantity. For example, if a product has 25% olive oil, 15% coconut oil, 50% Argan oil, and 10% jojoba oil, it must be listed with the product with highest content first. The label should read as follows: Argan oil, olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil.

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

MoroccanOil Treatment

INGREDIENTS:
Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Butylphenyl, MethylPropional, Argania Spinoza Kernal Oil (Aragan Oil), Linseed (Linum Usitatissimum) Extract, Fragrance Supplement, D&C Yellow-11, D&C Red-17, Coumarin, Benzyl Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

COST: about $40.00 for a 3.4 oz bottle at select salons

One n' Only Argan Spray Treatment

Do not be fooled by marketing techniques of this company. They also have an entire line of "Argan" hair care products.

INGREDIENTS: SD Alcohol 40-B (Alcohol Denat.), Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Water (Aqua, Eau), Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Acetamide MEA, Panthenol, Benzophenone-4, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Hydrolyzed Rhodophycea Extract, Dimethicone PEG-8, Meadowfoamate, Fragrance (Parfum), Butylene Gylcol

COST: about $8-10 at Sally's Beauty Supply

Josie Maran Organic Argan Oil

A great product because it is pure, however a little pricey as well.

INGREDIENTS: Organic Argan Oil

COST: $14.00 for 0.5 oz; $96.00 for 4 oz

Real People, Real Reviews
Argan oil has been used recently by many people. Here is what they have to say about the Organic Argan Oil that Henna Art has.

Paris: This oil is as pure as it gets. I bought other argan oil from different source but is nowhere close to what I received from Henna Art. I love this oil and am using it on my hair. Thanks for this wonderful quality product.

Ali: I use this oil on my body and face, every single day. I just dilute a dime size with water, and it is plenty to use all over my body. I am a hairy man, and so it is hard for me to find natural products that are not-greasy, but this oil does the magic!

Ashley: I received my arganMaran argan oil, and although I do really like it, my last bottle cost me $58 plus tax for 50 ml!! That is way too much. For this price, I can use argan oil all over my body, whereas before it was relegated to my face, hair, and hands (and neck). Thank you so much for offering this wonderful carrier oil at affordable prices

Sharon: This a tonic oil in so many ways. It does wonders for the hair: as a pre-treatment, it nourishes; can also be used after shampooing for shine, body, and protection. A little goes a very long way, with no greasy feel. For the face, it leaves a smooth feel, without disrupting the skin mantle. The scent only seems noticeable when used at full strength.

Stephanie: This oil is exceptional! I am using this oil as a night serum and it does wonders for my skin. In the morning, my skin is nourished, moisturised and soft. Combined with tea tree EO, this is an excellent treatment to keep my acne under control since argan oil regulates sebum production. Apparently, it is also an excellent treatment for the hair when rubbed in the hair and scalp 30 minutes before shampoo. I need to try that next time.

Samantha: I am so happy to able to work with this oil, it is amazing for the skin and hair. I was definitely satisfied with this product, and so happy I am getting the one that does not contain silicones. Very happy!

Henna Art and One! International

2012-01-30T16:41:00.003-07:00

Hello everyone! Hope you all had an amazing weekend!

Just wanted to share a great organization with all of you.

On Saturday night, Henna Art was at the ONE! International Charity Gala and we were honored to be there supporting the cause and provide henna to willing participants! As we did henna on many people, we listened to the speeches by the presenters and watched as the whole audience skyped on a large screen with students, families and teachers in India who thanked One! International on how their lives have impacted each other. It was a moving experience hearing directly from the children on how their lives have changed through the organizations support.

One! International is a volunteer organization working toward the betterment of life in Mumbai (Bombay), India. It is a non-governmental (non-profit), non-sectarian organization that depends on financial support primarily from individuals as well as businesses and other organizations. Here is there webpage if you would like to support them! http://one-international.com/

Take care,
-Nina

P.S. Here are some of the art we did!

Henna-spiration

2012-01-25T15:18:00.004-07:00

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to share an album I made as inspiration for henna art I want to try out. None of these designs are mine but I definately really loved some of the artwork and the placements on the body.

I just wanted to show everyone how there are so many different designs out there and places you can put it on your body whether your more into the traditional indo-arabic designs or not.

Check it out and enjoy! Click on the title of the blog or go to the link below

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150389308910426.346946.516110425&type=3&l=4194b70147-Nina

PS - Keep checking back our blog as I will be updating some neat stuff a couple times a week!

Witch-craft

2011-12-26T02:00:00.004-07:00

Young Dead Witches from Radu Babos on Vimeo.

Henna body is an ancient as the idea of witches. Wonder what henna would have been like at Hogwarts or Salem, Massachusets if the idea of it had traveled out West that early? (yes, in the west, the idea of henna body art is only a maximum of 20 years old).

While this video was shot back in October, it is a pleasure to also add that one of the witches is now a henna artist with Henna Art. You will have to just book an appointment with Nina to meet her personally.

A special thanks to all who helped make this film, and to Radu for capturing it all!

My Love for Henna

2011-12-02T10:00:00.004-07:00

I have been working lots on Henna designs here's a little bit of an add on to Nitasha's original line that was drawn on the paper, I added around it; Learning so much about different techniques. What a beautiful Art.

Henna Virgins

2011-10-06T23:16:00.002-06:00

You must get flowered at least once in your life! For all those who have never had henna… What are you waiting for? Are you scared? Don’t know enough about it? Think you would be offending a culture?

Here are 10 things you should know about henna!

FIRST, and most importantly..... There is no such thing as “black henna.” Black henna is a term given to a harsh phosphorus based chemical, often used in hair dyes, called PPD (para-phenylenediamine). This is actually a skin irritant which can cause lifelong scarring, blistering, skin irritation, and is a potential carcinogen. The reason people use this chemical is because the stain gives a tattoo look within 30 minutes. However, what they don’t realize is that the application of this chemical can cause permanent scars.

#2 While we are talking about being safe.... The henna paste should be prepared with natural products only. Henna should only be mixed with liquids such as lemon or lime juice, teas, and other acidic juices. While liquids like ammonia, turpentine, paint thinner, kerosene etc. help release the dye quickly, they are unsafe for the skin and should not be applied to the skin. The henna paste may include essential oils, but be cautious when there are essential oils in the paste. These must be pure essential oils and not alcohol based fragrance oils.


Stain after two weeks

#3, the henna stain can last on the skin from 3 days to 3 weeks or longer. Get your henna design on your body in places like the hands, arms, feet and legs. Henna stains these areas the best because they have the most layers of skin (dermis). Henna likes to penetrate through the various layers of the dermis. The more layers there are, the deeper the molecule will penetrate.

#4......Henna should be left on the body and hair for a minimum of 4-6 hours, or overnight in order to give a dark stain. The stain needs to oxidize over 48-72 hours before the stain peaks. The longer you leave the paste on your skin, the darker the stain will be.

#5....Exfoliation, harsh chemicals and excessive washing can make your design fade away faster. Stay away from excessive washing and exfoliation when you have a henna design. Exfoliating the skin before application, and having moisturized skin will ensure a deep, long lasting stain.

# 6 Water is the enemy of henna for the first 24 hours. Stay away from water for as long as possible. You want to make sure that the area of application does not touch water for the first 24 hours in order to get a nice dark stain. While sometimes it is necessary to wash the area of application, apply an aftercare balm or moisture rich oils like argan oil or olive oil to protect the design. Stay away from mineral oil/baby oil and petroleum based products.
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And a little about the background

#7 Henna is applied as a paste on the body and hair. There is a dye molecule in the henna plant called “lawsone.” This molecule, when exposed to acidity is released to dye the keratin in skin and hair.

#8 Henna was actually used as a means of air conditioning thousands of years ago in the deserts. Henna started off as a way to cool the body down in the desert. People would make a paste out of the henna leaves, apply it to the palms of their hands, soles of their feet, and tops of their heads. Of course this dyed the skin and hair, but it also kept the body cool in the desert heat. Pretty soon, women got tired of having their hands covered with the henna stain, so they just did a circle in the centre and dipped their hands in the henna paste. This is what started pre-mature henna designs. Of course with an advancement in technology, methods and designs of mehndi application became more modern and contemporary

#9 Henna is known to have originated in Egypt. There have been traces of henna on mummified pharaohs. In ancient Egypt, henna was regarded as a beautifying agent, and still is today. Thus, henna was applied to the toes of the deceased kings and pharaohs before they were mummified.

#10 Henna is not religious, so you would not be offending anyone! It is a cultural idea, used at times of celebration. Sometimes, these celebrations include religious holidays, but also include childbirth, weddings, coming of age, and re-integration into society after death in the family. You can choose any design for application. Some muslims prefer not to have animals in their designs, while Indians love to use peacocks in their designs.

Shop for henna products

2011-10-05T16:47:00.000-06:00

Here is what Henna Art has to offer.

Getting the Right Green--Common Errors with Henna Powders

2011-10-03T05:05:00.002-06:00

When you look at henna powder, it looks green. Depending on where it comes from, it might be slightly yellower or browner, but it will be in the green family. However, with a lack of information and perhaps for the sake of naming products, there are many errors made when labeling and marketing henna powders.

Read more about (1) black henna, (2)how indigo is mislabeled as black henna, the truth about neutral henna, and how to find out if there is green dye in the henna powder.

(1) One common error is "black henna." Let's begin by stating the fact that there is no such thing as black henna. "Black henna" is a name that has been attached to 2 different types of substances in the henna industry. The first substance is a harsh chemical which contains para-phenylendiamine (PPD). PPD is a phosphorus based black hair dye that causes blistering, rashes, sores, and is a potential carcinogen. Unfortunately, some people apply this substance to the skin in order to get a design that looks black, and similar to a real tattoo. Health Canada warns against black henna.

(2) The second substance is in powder form and is derived from the indigo plant. Indigo, when used as hair dye in conjunction with henna can give you a jet black stain, thus, distributors of indigo labeled it as black henna. For the sake of keeping things simple, distributors label indigo as black henna, because it can give you a black stain (on the head only).

(3) Another common error is "neutral henna." Again, there is no such thing as neutral henna. This time, distributors made a mistake by naming this neutral henna. In all reality, "neutral henna" is either the henna powder with very low levels of the dye molecule (lawsone), or a powder derived from a plant called cassia obovata. Cassia obovata is a powder that looks very much like henna powder, but generally does not stain the hands or hair. Cassia is an excellent conditioner, making the hair glossy and thick, promoting a healthy scalp and hair growth. Because of its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, cassia conditioning treatment is perfect for dandruff. Henna Art now has cassia for hair available! Please do not be mistaken: "cassia" by itself is the name for cinnamon, whereas "cassia obovata," also commonly known as "senna" is the product used for the hair.

(4) Finally, there is "green" in henna. Sometimes, farmers/distributors of henna powder spray a green dye on the leaves while they are drying. This green dye is supposed to enhance the look of the henna powder, making it more aesthetically pleasing. However, the only thing this does is add a chemical dye to the henna leaves. Since some people think greener is better, distributors of henna powder often sell powders with green dyes, in hopes of increasing sales. In all reality, "greener" does not mean its better. As mentioned previously, some of the best henna powders are more yellow or brown instead of a bright green. While the green dye is not detectable with the naked eye, you can test your powder to see if there has been artificial dyes added to the henna leaves. This can easily be done by mixing a small amount of henna powder with water or lemon juice. Place a quarter size amount of paste in between two pieces of plastic. Wait 10 minutes and check for results. If there is a visible green dye separating from the paste, then there are artificial dyes added to the powder. If there is no bleeding of green dye, and all you see is the paste, then you are good to go! Remember, with henna powder--you get what you pay for! Buy quality henna powder, always triple sifted for body art!

With this information, it will be easier to choose the right henna powder, and distinguish the differences among commonly made errors associated with henna.

Happy henna shopping!
www.HennaArt.ca

Bridal Henna for a Dream Come True Wedding!

2011-09-29T15:11:00.000-06:00

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!

Will Henna Make my Hair Fall Out?

2011-09-29T10:57:00.001-06:00

Healthy, hennaed hair after 6 months

Henna will not make your hair fall out! That is a common misconception people have, but it is false! Henna actually makes your hair stronger and shinier! The reason henna dyes the hair and skin is because it contains a tannin. A tannin is an astringent, and the use of henna helps tighten the surface of the scalp, strengthens the follicles' grasp on each hair, thus making your hair stronger. Henna penetrates the hair shaft, strengthens it, smooths the cuticle, thickens and volumizes the hair, and makes your hair more resistent to breakage.

Some people who dye their hair with henna notice increased shedding. This is because of two reasons. One--there is noticeable shedding if your hair was lighter, and you have dyed it with henna. This makes your hair darker, and you begin to notice the shedding of your hair. Each day, everyone sheds between 75-200 hairs. A darker hair color makes this shedding more visible. Another reason one may notice increased shedding is after the first application, you are strengthening your hair. The hairs you notice would have loosened into your hairbrush or shower. These are just your weak hairs falling out, as henna cannot cause additional healthy hair to fall out.

On the other hand, you may actually notice less shedding after multiple henna applications. Henna thickens and increases volume in the hair by giving it strength. It protects the hair shaft and follicle, promoting healthy and strong hair.

Skip the drug store dye in a box, and go natural with henna for hair! Photo shown is the result of hair after 6 months use of our Raj henna for hair.

Find out more about natural, healthy hair or visit our website for more information: www.HennaArt.ca

How do you make your henna design last longer?

2011-09-28T16:15:00.001-06:00

Stain two weeks after application.

When you have henna applied to the skin, it is important to leave the natural henna paste on your skin for as long as possible. Henna needs to absorb through all the layers of your skin in order to give you a dark stain. Once the paste is washed off, the stain darkens over the next 24-36 hours, as the design oxidizes. This is the process for natural henna. If you are told to only leave the paste on for 10 minutes to an hour, it is NOT henna! Please be careful of chemicals mixed with henna, or false henna claims. The henna artist should be able to tell you exactly what is in the paste (including which essential oils and liquids being used).

Special Edition Aftercare Balm

To make your design last longer, avoid excessive washing on the area of application. Remember, water is the enemy of henna for the first 48 hours.
Henna likes well moisturized skin. Keep your area of application well moisturized after application. Using an aftercare balm is ideal.

An aftercare balm should have ingredients that will help protect the design, and moisturize your skin. Our aftercare balms are made with beeswax and moisture rich ingredients such as shea butter, olive oil, coconut butter, mango butter, argan oil, or almond oil. We also add a touch of 100% pure essential oils for fragrance and to remind you of your henna experience. Our aftercare balms are made with all natural ingredients, so they are safe to use anywhere on the body!

Purchase your aftercare balm on our website: www.HennaArt.ca

Henna for a Halloween Costume!

2010-10-30T03:40:00.000-06:00

Andrea is going to be an Indian bride for Halloween, so she didn't want to miss out on the total bridal experience. Along with her sari, bindi, and jewelry, Andrea will show off her hands, filled with henna for Halloween. See all the photos here.

Contact us to book your event!

Spa Night in Beaumont

2010-10-24T21:35:00.000-06:00

I had a wonderful time doing the Spa Night in Beaumont on Saturday, October 23, 2010.

Lots of wonderful women, with positive energy, and appreciation of henna body art!

Some pictures from the evening: View all the photos.
For complete viewing of our portfolio, please visit our website: www.HennaArt.ca

Question: Where can I buy good quality henna paste?

2010-10-14T22:47:00.000-06:00

Answer: You will find to be the best quality henna paste when it is fresh. If you make your own paste, you know the freshness. Otherwise, ask the vendor the following questions:

1. When the henna paste was prepared

2. Which crop

3. What ingredients are used

If the paste is made anything more than a week before your use, the quality will not be the best. If the vendor cannot tell you which crop the henna powder came from, chances are quality will be low. The best crop to use would be the latest harvest of the same year. If the vendor cannot tell you which ingredients are used, chances are he/she did not prepare the paste. Paste quality can also depend on whether only water was used, or a combination of lemon juice and essential oils.

For 100% quality and results, you can always buy freshly made henna paste from Henna Art. Henna Art will not make you the sale unless we can create a fresh batch of henna paste for you. For more information, visit www.HennaArt.ca