Business & Tech

Local Henna Artist Gives New Twist to Ancient Art

Fareeha Bakhrani, owner of Elegant Henna Tattoos, launched her Plainfield business last year.

Fareeha Bakhrani taught herself the art of henna. She has studied it for a couple of years, but recently took it to the next level.

"I started doing it officially as a business last year," Bakhrani said.

Her business, Elegant Henna Tattoos, is located at 23835 Cahills Way in Plainfield. You can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/ElegantHennaTattoos.

Bakhrani, a Plainfield resident, moved to the United States from Pakistan when she was a year old. Although she is from the Middle East, henna has no symbolic significance. She will paint traditional designs, but also said she will take specific requests from clients that do not have traditional art ties or inspiration. She also said henna can be painted on more than just hands.

"You can do it on your ankle, shoulder, back," she said.

Bakhrani said she is asked most often about how henna is made.

"It's all-natural," she said.

Henna is derived from a plant whose leaves are dried and crushed and then mixed with sugar, lemon juice and essential oils. Bakhrani prefers Tea Tree Oil because she said it helps the designs have staying power.

Once henna is applied, it dries to a paste that flakes off after a couple hours. To care for your henna, leave it to dry on its own and apply lotion after the paste has flaked off. The henna will last about a week.


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