Simple Henna Pattern - Design for the Back of the Hand.

This simple henna tattoo is a modification of a design by Kim of  Hasina Mehndi. She has generously offered free henna tattoo designs for other artists to use.

If you visit her site, you will certainly enjoy a very elegant style of henna tattoo! and beautiful examples of gilding.

This elegant henna is just a bit of one of those free henna patterns adjusted to please the client.

The body art of henna tattoo is used to enhance the natural beauty of the hands and feet.

I believe this pattern, in this position, accomplishes that goal. For henna tattoo this summer, please call for an appointment.

Henna for Summer Sandals!

Stop by this Saturday, relax and enjoy the cool, air conditioned ambience of The Midnight Sun after a day of shopping for just a touch of henna tattoo! This photo shows how a bit of mehandi can really create a dramatic look when properly applied.

This client wore a lovely golden sandal to The Midnight Sun, and had only a few moments to spend getting henna. Her pattern took no more than 10 minutes from start to finish.. including the lemon sugar glaze I use to ensure that your henna tattoo stays in place.

Most henna tattoos start at $15 and go up from there. Spirit Vision Henna uses fresh henna paste, carefully prepared to be safe for all ages, and of course to give a deep, lasting stain. For more information on when, where and how to get a good henna outcome, please visit the FAQ page.

Full Palm Henna Tattoo

Here is a quick pattern for a full palm henna tattoo with a floral feel.

My customer wanted a traditional henna look without bridal pricing... which is when the use of negative space makes a henna tattoo come alive, seem very full & traditional, without requiring more than 15 minutes or so.

This pattern starts at the wrist & then uses two double paisley patterns to contain the bulk of the design. Henna rings were used on the fingers, with little ring jewels on the tips.

Henna will naturally flake off over time, and of course with movement, so the rings were placed between the finger joints. Placing the henna paste away from the joints of the fingers made this an easy to wear henna pattern for a busy shopping day. The henna tattoo was sprayed several times with a a lemon sugar glaze to help it stay in place.

As it is now henna season, it's best to call ahead to schedule your henna tattoo at The Midnight Sun. Visit Spirit Vision Henna for more information. This month's special is one full palm tattoo, similar to the one you see here, for $25.00. If you want both palms done, then it is best to have a driver.. or to choose a pattern similar to this second pattern.

This client had to drive for the little party that stopped by the shop. As you can see the henna design makes use of "negative space" to enhance the peacock pattern and to leave plenty of room to handle the steering wheel while driving a stick shift car.

If you have another style of henna tattoo in mind, no worries. There are lots of pattern books to look through, however the special pricing is for "Chef's Choice" henna. This means that your artist will create a custom design based on your preference for tribal, floral, Arabic or Indian styles.

Quick Henna Jewel for Everyday Wear

Here is a lovely example of a traditional henna pattern that works well for everyday wear in Western culture. The pattern is from the "Sangeet" pattern book.

This quick henna took about 10 minutes from start to finish, and fit perfectly on the wrist. It is a "tiny" tattoo, but a lovely example of the traditional art.

I am using a "wetter" paste this year, which means that the henna flows very quickly from the cone and is easier to work with. The wetter paste does take a bit longer to dry on the skin, so you may need to wait a bit longer for the henna to dry.

However, this extended drying time helps you get darker color in your finished henna tattoo. Stop by the Midnight Sun, 1055 Park Street, Jacksonville, Florida on Saturdays to get your henna art. Remember if you want to have henna on the lower back or belly, wear hip huggers & a crop top.

For tattoo on the feet, wear the tiniest sandals possible! More skin = more color.

Henna Season At The Midnight Sun - Appointments Welcome

Henna Season starts today at The Midnight Sun. Spirit Vision Henna will offer henna tattoo from Noon 'til 5:00m today.. Saturday 3/7/09.

There are lots of pattern books to look through, or you may order a chef's choice henna like the one pictured on the left. Chef's choice makes it easy to get a design you like at price you can afford.

Simple patterns start at $15.00 this year. If you just want some tiny little jewel tattoo, also fine. Those are $10 and take under 5 minutes.

Please visit the FAQ page for quick answer to all those first henna questions such as l where can I put a henna tattoo, how long does it last, what colors does it come in.

You will receive aftercare instructions as well so that you get the best color possible. Walk-in clients are welcome!

Henna Tattoo at the Midnight Sun today - 9/6/08

Here is a quick little henna for the back of the hand. Now the fabulous pattern was inspired by the very talented artist at Mirage Body Art in Tallahassee, Florida.

Be sure to visit her site for some lovely art & great inspiration. I did not complete her design, as my client just wanted a touch of henna to celebrate First Friday. This henna tattoo is a "Chef's Choice" pattern.

This means your order "somehing like this" but I only have $10.00 to spend. That way, you get the look you want at a price you can afford.

This weekend is also the Riverside Art Festival.. and there may well be other henna artists out to play. I will be at Midnight Sun.. I think in the window, but if not, please look for me to be set up in the lovely rattan furniture area.

Gilded Henna Tattoo - Simple Patterns with Jeweled Color

Here is an example of gilding. Notice the jeweled colors in the henna tattoo? This is not colored henna, rather it is gilding paste, a very temporary form of body art that lasts only as long as you don't wash your hands.

Gilding is a great way to embellish your henna design. And, while simple henna tattoos are very fashionable, and are created to accent the natural beauty of your hand, the gilding is just a bit of fancy for the day. Many times people will choose gilding colors to match the outfit they are wearing when they have their henna applied.

The gilding paste is made from glitters, jewel powders and sometimes cosmetic powders mixed with a neutral carrier gel. Gidling is applied with a cone, just like henna, so you can easily get the very same effect as a henna tattoo using only gilding paste. It is very important to wait for your henna paste to dry before adding the gilding, your artist will help you with that.

For examples of gilding, visit the gilded henna gallery at Spirit Vision Henna Tattoo.

No Henna Today - 8/23/08 - at Midnight Sun

It is just tooo wet to come out & do henna tattoo today!

Henna works best when it's warm, sunny, and dry as we are able to let the paste stay on the skin, undisturbed, for along time. During a tropical storm, or the remnants of one.. it is often too wet to be sure that your henna paste won't get wet as well.

For those new to henna, the reason this is important is that henna works by penetrating layers of the skin to stain it some shade of reddish brown. If water gets on the paste ( the photo shows henna paste still on the skin) then the paste can run, thus smearing the pattern a bit.

For best results you want to have the henna paste on the skin at least 6 hours, some leave the henna overnight. Let's hope next weekend will be brighter!

Henna Today at the Midnight Sun - Rain or Shine Henna Party

I will be at the Midnight Sun today between 1:15 and 5:15 PM, rain or shine, to do some henna tattoo.

Pictured here is a quick little pattern that took about 6 minutes to complete, is easy to wear, and just in case in rains today, easy to keep dry.

Of course, tattoos on the feet & ankles are very popular, but not the best choice for a rainy day.

I will bring lots of pattern books to choose from, but this is a "chef's choice" design created to fit the wearer.

If you have a tattoo pattern you want, please bring it along. See you soon?

Dark Red Color in Arabic Henna Tattoo - Jamila Henna 2008

Here is a bold Arabic style henna tattoo for the palm and inner wrist. The wonderful dark color is a sample of the fine red that is available when using the 2008 harvest of Jamila henna powder.

Of course, to get the best finished color, one should leave the paste on as long as possible. In this case, I applied the henna at 10:30 PM. I was able to apply several treatments with lemon sugar glaze to keep the paste wet, and therefore active for about half an hour.

Afterwards, I gently wrapped the henna tattoo in tissue and then wore a plastic glove ( the soft food service kind ) over the pattern for the rest of the night. This process of wrapping in tissue and plastic really helps to get the darkest color possible because henna is a heat activated body dye.

It is also clear in this photo that henna gives the darkest color on the palms of the hands. The henna stain is lighter as it moves up the arm although the same paste was applied to both areas. Some people get darker color on the arm than I do. It is really a matter of skin type, body chemistry and some times, the color of the skin.

The nice thing about this palm tattoo is that it leaves much of the hand free for everyday tasks. So.. if you want a simple henna tattoo on your palm, this kind of pattern will work well for you. 2008 Jamila henna powder is still available for $8.50 each 100 gram box with free shipping in the USA.

Kissing Fish Henna Tattoo - Henna by Ann George

Here is a great tattoo pattern from the collection of Catherine Cartwright-Jones, rendered as best as possible by yours truely, Ann George... aspiring henna artist.

This tattoo was chosen for its meaning as well the visual beauty of the design.

These two fancy goldfish are kissing in a little spray of bubbles. I love the flowing detail of their fins and tails. This is a great tattoo for a Pisces woman. I used a liquid paste & fine tip on the plastic cone to make this design possible.

If you are new to henna tattoo and are trying to find some great patterns to share with your customers, please be sure to visit Tap Dancing Lizard! The Sangeet book is a favorite!

You may notice a little bit of color that seems to be running from the tattoo. This is just the lemon sugar glaze dripping a bit. Be sure, I dabbed up the excess with a cotton swab before my client left. The lemon sugar glaze helps the henna stay on the skin! The longer the henna stays & the warmer the client is.. the darker the finished color.

Quick Henna Tattoo - Peacock Pattern for Back of Hand

Many thanks to Ron & Rachel for this foto of the finished color of a henna tattoo design inspired by the little henna booklets I received from India.

Of course this design is not as intricate as the one in the photo, but we were having "First Friday in Five Points" so everyone got a little something. On Saturday afternoons at Midnight Sun I usually have a bit more time to spend with everyone. If you want a more complex design, it is best to arrive @ 1:30 ... before the late afternoon rush.

I always bring plenty of patterns for you to choose from, or you can order "Chef's Choice" which may be the best way to get a quick henna tattoo that fits your style & your budget.

Henna Pattern Books - Artist's Picks

Tribal Henna Tattoos from Midnight Sun

Here are three little photos of tribal style henna tattoo people ordered at the Midnight Sun on Saturday June 7, 2008. The henna patterns for the back of the hands are derived from traditional components from African patterns.

The bold snake & bird tattoo is a favorite of one of my favorite customers! This pattern is made possible for her by the generosity of Catherine Cartwright-Jones who has published so many patterns for henna artists to use! Just click the little photos for a larger view.

Photos by Ann George Studios, Inc. and Spirit Vision Henna. All rights reserved.

Gilded Henna Tattoo - simple & elegant

Here is an example of the exotic beauty possible with just a bit of gilding added to your design. We started with a simple, flowing floral pattern, not too busy, not too bold, and then, once it was dry, added a bit of golden gilding to highlight the tattoo.

Notice how the golden color compliments the clients hand!! as well as her nails. This gilding paste was made with a stiff setting gel & some fine golden (jewel tone) cosmetic powder from a good costume shop.

You may want to click the photo to enlarge it for a better view. It is possible to see the tiny spots of gold added to the pattern at the tip of the finger. This was a "chef's choice" pattern, and I am sure you can see it is a popular floral motif, modified to fit the clients hand.

Gilding pastes come in a variety of colors... but it is important to know that they will only last for the day. When you take your henna paste off, the gilding comes away, and unlike the henna, there is no dye left after the paste is removed. For those of you new to henna tattoo, the dark paste you see is NOT black henna, but a photo of the tattoo with the paste still on the skin.

Henna Tattoo for the Lower Back

It's summer time here in Florida, and we are starting to tattoo the lower back. This bold pattern is taken once again from the "Sangeet" pattern book by Neeta Sharma available on line at Tap Dancing Lizard.

Her bold designs are very popular for henna parties. Her henna patterns offer the traditional feeling of henna in bold lines that are visually very compelling.

For lower back tattoo, be sure to wear a crop top and low rider pants so that there is plenty of room for your design. It is also important to let the design get good and dry before going out into the afternoon heat as too much sweating can cause a design to "melt" or to run if the paste is not sufficeintly dry.

I would love to see you all when I return to Midnight Sun on Saturday, May 24th. Please feel welcome to visit Spirit Vision Henna for henna tattoo photo galleries & more information.

Henna Pattern Books - Too Much Fun!

How wonderful to Henna Twins!

I had a wonderful time at Midnight Sun today, and met many wonderful people. I wish I could have taken photos of all the henna, but I was busy.. and we are all happy.

I did maange to take this photo of sisters, who were twins and chose similar, almost identical tattoos. Ok. They chose the same basic design, but henna has a way of negotiating with a human canvas. Here are the results.

I will not be working on Saturday, September first, but will be back on the 8th. See you soon.

Om Armband - from Catherine Cartwright Jones

Here is a fun little Om arm band tattoo. Traditionally, henna is applied to the palms of the hands, back of the hands, forearms, feet and ankles. The deep red to brown color of premium henna is best in these places.

Most drop-in customers choose patterns for the back of the hands, belly and the lower back.... similar to where one might put ink.

If you choose to put your henna in one of these locations, please remember to leave the paste on as long as possible & to get as warm as you can. You will get the best finished color if you Do Not wear moisturizer, sun block or other body lotions on henna day.

Henna Tattoo: Lower Back Henna Pattern

Here is another great henna pattern from Sangeet. Of course I modified it a bit so that there would be enough paste to give good color on the lower back. I like the way elements in the henna pattern compliment the design elements in the woman's belt.

If you come for a lower back tattoo, be sure to wear a low cut pant & a midriff top. It's best to come early for a lower back tattoo so you can browse all the great Five Points shops, sun your henna & get the best color possible.

(Click the photo for the full sized image.)