The Henna Information Archives:
by Heather Caunt-Nulton
Here is where you will find all of the articles I have ever written about henna. This is an ongoing project of creating a useful directory to all of the articles I have written, FAQs I have compiled, personal henna blogs I have written, questions about henna that I have answered, henna science experiments that I have performed, henna conferences and events I have organized and attended, and more. This website contains content from before YouTube was a thing, and even before MySpace was a thing, so finding it all and organizing it well is going to be quite an ongoing project.
The things you’ll find here currently only go back to 2013, with very few exceptions. One of the notable exceptions is my piece on how to candy violets originally from 2011, updated in 2026, because I still think it’s one of the most thorough resources on how to do this available online. That one, I hunted down special and recreated for you from the archives FIRST!
- About Henna | recent | all
- Henna Artist Tips: | recent | all
- Information for Clients: | recent | all
- Dear Heather Series | recent | all
- Thriving Artist Series | recent | all
- Thriving Artist: The Business of Henna | recent | all
- all categories | recent | alll
About Henna
- Hennaing your Hair: Learn How To Do It from Joni Rae aka Tales of a Kitchen Witch
Check out this article my friend Joni wrote on hennaing her hair!: http://jonirae.com/learn-it-henna-your-hair/ Oh right, you can’t anymore 🙁 That was from waaaay back in 2010!!! When she still lived here in Rhode Island and was my neighbor!Now she lives in Missouri and is mega super internet famous as Tales of a Kitchen Witch. Originally… Read more: Hennaing your Hair: Learn How To Do It from Joni Rae aka Tales of a Kitchen Witch - Henna FAQ Part 2What is Henna? Is it the same as Mehndi, Mehandi, Heena, etc? Henna is a plant; the leaves of this plant have a dye called lawsone. The art of applying the plant leaves to the skin is typically given the same as the plant itself. If you have a henna tree growing in your yard,… Read more: Henna FAQ Part 2
- Henna FAQHenna By HeatherHenna FAQ copyright 1999, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2024, 2025 Heather Caunt-Nulton Continue to FAQ Page 2 Check out our About Henna category for all related content.
- Troubleshooting Your Henna Batch – Not Getting Good Henna Stain Color?
Dear Heather, I’m having trouble getting my henna batch to stain like I’d like. I’m a professional artist, and have been doing this a while – I know how to mix a good batch of henna. I’m also quite confident that I’ve got excellent henna supplies – I bought them from a reputable supplier, and… Read more: Troubleshooting Your Henna Batch – Not Getting Good Henna Stain Color? - How to mix lemon sugar sealant for sealing your henna designsThis lemon-sugar how-to was written for Lisa of Michigan! I also have said I might get around to making a YouTube video…but for now, here are some typed-up how-to instructions for you. What you need: -bottled lemon juice (or squeezed, strained lemon juice if you want to be fancy…which I never do) -sugar (just plain… Read more: How to mix lemon sugar sealant for sealing your henna designs
Dear Heather…
You can think of the “Dear Heather” column as a lot like “Dear Abby”, but specifically about etiquette, procedures, and practices for henna clients and henna artists. Heather takes actual letters (emails, Instagram DMs, contact form submissions, Facebook comments, etc) that she receives from mehndi lovers – or fictionalized summaries of one or more such letters – and answers the burning questions about henna and mehndi that are on people’s minds.
As a henna artist who has been working in this medium since the last millenium, as well as a certified public educator, Henna Gathering conference and community founder and longtime organizer, and writer with a (quite obvious) penchant for verbosely yet kindly explaining things she is passionate about, the Dear Heather column was a very organic development that she is happy to share with readers. In the early years of the internet, when forums like The Henna Page and Henna Tribe dominated the scene, she was a frequent and passionate participant in the vast majority of conversations that mattered most as henna was gaining rapidly increasing cross-cultural popularity in the United States and around the world. Back then, it was common for many perspectives to be shared on a single topic, with conversations that were rich in critical thinking and deep dialogue.
While those days have now long since passed, Heather remembers those days, and always strives to consider as many other henna artists’ voices and perspectives as possible when coming to her own conclusions.
In the current age of easy answers being just a quick query or prompt away, Heather hopes to elucidate some of the more nuanced social, scientific, artistic and historical questions about henna for the humans who care to take the time to investigate further and delve more deeply.
- Henna artist tipping guidelinesDear Heather: What should I tip my henna artist? People often ask me what they should tip their henna artist, and it usually feels a bit awkward to answer that question, as they are often basically asking me what I would like to be tipped… So I figure I will write up some guidelines here… Read more: Henna artist tipping guidelines
- Dear Heather: Can I get some white henna, please?
Dear Heather, I’ve seen lots of images of white henna on the interwebs lately, especially on Instagram, Pinterest, and the like. It’s so pretty. Can you hook me up? Sincerely, Trendy Henna Lover If you just came to find a source of white henna – skip on ahead. Dear Trendy, Thanks for coming to me… Read more: Dear Heather: Can I get some white henna, please? - Keeping Henna On Overnight: Tape, Plastic Wrap, or ?
Dear Heather, Do you have any recommendations for keeping henna on overnight? I’ve been getting conflicting information about aftercare for my bridal mehndi from my friends, family, and the interwebs. What do *you* think I should do? Gratefully,Excited For My Wedding Henna Dear Excited, Thanks for checking in! I’m so glad to hear you’re interested… Read more: Keeping Henna On Overnight: Tape, Plastic Wrap, or ? - Dear Heather – Do I Need Insurance to Do Henna?Dear Heather, I’ve got a confession. I’ve been running a henna business for a while now, but I still don’t have insurance for my business. Am I terrible? Should I get it? This one event says I have to have it or else I can’t participate… I realize that it is the legit thing to… Read more: Dear Heather – Do I Need Insurance to Do Henna?
- Troubleshooting Your Henna Batch – Not Getting Good Henna Stain Color?Dear Heather, I’m having trouble getting my henna batch to stain like I’d like. I’m a professional artist, and have been doing this a while – I know how to mix a good batch of henna. I’m also quite confident that I’ve got excellent henna supplies – I bought them from a reputable supplier, and… Read more: Troubleshooting Your Henna Batch – Not Getting Good Henna Stain Color?
Thriving Artist Series
- Henna artist tipping guidelinesDear Heather: What should I tip my henna artist? People often ask me what they should tip their henna artist, and it usually feels a bit awkward to answer that question, as they are often basically asking me what I would like to be tipped… So I figure I will write up some guidelines here… Read more: Henna artist tipping guidelines
- Walking as Creative Practice – And So It BeginsI go on walks quite often. It’s my main form of exercise – especially when I can’t go out dancing, because during a pandemic, that is no longer a thing. Truth be told, I usually try to find a way to make the walk “useful” in some way. Listening to podcasts and calling family are… Read more: Walking as Creative Practice – And So It Begins
- Tax Tips for Artists and Other Small Business Owners
Note: The author is not a tax professional, just an artist and small business owner relaying her own personal experiences. For professional tax help, visit your nearest Certified Public Accountant (CPA). It’s tax time! As a small business owner or artist, what are your obligations, and what can you expect? What is the best way… Read more: Tax Tips for Artists and Other Small Business Owners - How to Find the Best Festivals
There are so many different venues where you could offer your art, so how do you decide which ones are best for what you do? If you create something that is easy to carry around, and have at least some pieces priced in a way that are impulse-buy friendly, you just may find success selling your art… Read more: How to Find the Best Festivals
Thriving Artist: The Business of Henna
- Dear Heather: Can you teach me to do henna? A private henna class, a mehndi workshop, a one on one how-to henna lesson perhaps?Dear Heather, I’ve seen your henna content online, and you seem to really know your stuff! I would absolutely love to learn from you! Do you teach any henna classes I can join, or do workshops or private lessons? Sincerely,Your Super Enthusiastic But Also Very Concise Totally Made Up Would-be Student Dear Enthusiastic Would-be Henna… Read more: Dear Heather: Can you teach me to do henna? A private henna class, a mehndi workshop, a one on one how-to henna lesson perhaps?
- Henna artist tipping guidelinesDear Heather: What should I tip my henna artist? People often ask me what they should tip their henna artist, and it usually feels a bit awkward to answer that question, as they are often basically asking me what I would like to be tipped… So I figure I will write up some guidelines here… Read more: Henna artist tipping guidelines
- RI Henna TV Segment on the Rhode ShowCheck it out! Me on The Rhode Show – WPRI, Providence, Rhode Island Henna Body Art Gains Popularity – The Rhode Show – WPRI, January 2010www.HennaByHeather.com It was previously located here, but has since been taken down:http://www.foxprovidence.com/rhode-show/henna-body-art-gains-popularity Perhaps some day I’ll reach out to Fox Providence / WPRI and see if they have it archived… Read more: RI Henna TV Segment on the Rhode Show
- Hennaing your Hair: Learn How To Do It from Joni Rae aka Tales of a Kitchen WitchCheck out this article my friend Joni wrote on hennaing her hair!: http://jonirae.com/learn-it-henna-your-hair/ Oh right, you can’t anymore 🙁 That was from waaaay back in 2010!!! When she still lived here in Rhode Island and was my neighbor!Now she lives in Missouri and is mega super internet famous as Tales of a Kitchen Witch. Originally… Read more: Hennaing your Hair: Learn How To Do It from Joni Rae aka Tales of a Kitchen Witch
- The Cyclical and Seasonal Life of a Henna Artist
How does the seasonality of henna work affect professional henna artists? first published: 2011. Updated 2015, 2021, 2025, 2026. The Henna Season – all professional henna artists experience it and know it well. For me personally, I’ve come to realize that my year and my feelings about how my year flows around it – how… Read more: The Cyclical and Seasonal Life of a Henna Artist
About Henna: Client Information
- Henna artist tipping guidelinesDear Heather: What should I tip my henna artist? People often ask me what they should tip their henna artist, and it usually feels a bit awkward to answer that question, as they are often basically asking me what I would like to be tipped… So I figure I will write up some guidelines here… Read more: Henna artist tipping guidelines
- The Cyclical and Seasonal Life of a Henna ArtistHow does the seasonality of henna work affect professional henna artists? first published: 2011. Updated 2015, 2021, 2025, 2026. The Henna Season – all professional henna artists experience it and know it well. For me personally, I’ve come to realize that my year and my feelings about how my year flows around it – how… Read more: The Cyclical and Seasonal Life of a Henna Artist
- Troubleshooting Your Henna Batch – Not Getting Good Henna Stain Color?Dear Heather, I’m having trouble getting my henna batch to stain like I’d like. I’m a professional artist, and have been doing this a while – I know how to mix a good batch of henna. I’m also quite confident that I’ve got excellent henna supplies – I bought them from a reputable supplier, and… Read more: Troubleshooting Your Henna Batch – Not Getting Good Henna Stain Color?
- Booking by Text Message ScamFYI, there’s what seems to be a book-by-txt scam out there for entertainers / henna artists. “This is —- how are you doing ?, i will like to know your availability day in September, 2015 just 5 hours service, i will like you to get back to me with your availability day in September its a… Read more: Booking by Text Message Scam
- How to mix lemon sugar sealant for sealing your henna designsThis lemon-sugar how-to was written for Lisa of Michigan! I also have said I might get around to making a YouTube video…but for now, here are some typed-up how-to instructions for you. What you need: -bottled lemon juice (or squeezed, strained lemon juice if you want to be fancy…which I never do) -sugar (just plain… Read more: How to mix lemon sugar sealant for sealing your henna designs
About Henna: Henna Artist Tips
- Henna artist tipping guidelinesDear Heather: What should I tip my henna artist? People often ask me what they should tip their henna artist, and it usually feels a bit awkward to answer that question, as they are often basically asking me what I would like to be tipped… So I figure I will write up some guidelines here… Read more: Henna artist tipping guidelines
- The Cyclical and Seasonal Life of a Henna ArtistHow does the seasonality of henna work affect professional henna artists? first published: 2011. Updated 2015, 2021, 2025, 2026. The Henna Season – all professional henna artists experience it and know it well. For me personally, I’ve come to realize that my year and my feelings about how my year flows around it – how… Read more: The Cyclical and Seasonal Life of a Henna Artist
- Troubleshooting Your Henna Batch – Not Getting Good Henna Stain Color?Dear Heather, I’m having trouble getting my henna batch to stain like I’d like. I’m a professional artist, and have been doing this a while – I know how to mix a good batch of henna. I’m also quite confident that I’ve got excellent henna supplies – I bought them from a reputable supplier, and… Read more: Troubleshooting Your Henna Batch – Not Getting Good Henna Stain Color?
- Booking by Text Message ScamFYI, there’s what seems to be a book-by-txt scam out there for entertainers / henna artists. “This is —- how are you doing ?, i will like to know your availability day in September, 2015 just 5 hours service, i will like you to get back to me with your availability day in September its a… Read more: Booking by Text Message Scam
- How to mix lemon sugar sealant for sealing your henna designsThis lemon-sugar how-to was written for Lisa of Michigan! I also have said I might get around to making a YouTube video…but for now, here are some typed-up how-to instructions for you. What you need: -bottled lemon juice (or squeezed, strained lemon juice if you want to be fancy…which I never do) -sugar (just plain… Read more: How to mix lemon sugar sealant for sealing your henna designs
Archive: All Articles from Henna by Heather
- Henna artist tipping guidelinesDear Heather: What should I tip my henna artist? People often ask me what they should tip their henna artist, and it usually feels a bit awkward to answer that question, as they are often basically asking me what I would like to be tipped… So I figure I will write up some guidelines here… Read more: Henna artist tipping guidelines
- The Cyclical and Seasonal Life of a Henna ArtistHow does the seasonality of henna work affect professional henna artists? first published: 2011. Updated 2015, 2021, 2025, 2026. The Henna Season – all professional henna artists experience it and know it well. For me personally, I’ve come to realize that my year and my feelings about how my year flows around it – how… Read more: The Cyclical and Seasonal Life of a Henna Artist
- Troubleshooting Your Henna Batch – Not Getting Good Henna Stain Color?Dear Heather, I’m having trouble getting my henna batch to stain like I’d like. I’m a professional artist, and have been doing this a while – I know how to mix a good batch of henna. I’m also quite confident that I’ve got excellent henna supplies – I bought them from a reputable supplier, and… Read more: Troubleshooting Your Henna Batch – Not Getting Good Henna Stain Color?
- Booking by Text Message ScamFYI, there’s what seems to be a book-by-txt scam out there for entertainers / henna artists. “This is —- how are you doing ?, i will like to know your availability day in September, 2015 just 5 hours service, i will like you to get back to me with your availability day in September its a… Read more: Booking by Text Message Scam
- How to mix lemon sugar sealant for sealing your henna designsThis lemon-sugar how-to was written for Lisa of Michigan! I also have said I might get around to making a YouTube video…but for now, here are some typed-up how-to instructions for you. What you need: -bottled lemon juice (or squeezed, strained lemon juice if you want to be fancy…which I never do) -sugar (just plain… Read more: How to mix lemon sugar sealant for sealing your henna designs