Mehndi Artist Sees Surge In Demand Ahead Of Divali
Mehndi is the ancient art of adorning skin with delicate henna designs, encapsulating a story of beauty and tradition.
Cassie Jagmohan-Joseph, owner of Mehndi by Cassie, says she has been practising Mehndi for the past 14 years, becoming a part of many clients’ most cherished celebrations and milestone moments.
« I do mehndi for all occasions, Divali, Eid, Weddings, Mehndi nights, everything basically, and I also supply henna cones to other artists year-round. »
Cassie also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts, which is evident in her intricate artwork, some conceptualised from scratch, while others are replicated to satisfy her customers’ inspiration pictures.
« This is something that the client brought to me. This is a mandala with vines, and then we have some very traditional coloured fingertips. »
She recalled how the art has evolved over the years, with human portraits, preferences and unique attributes being reflected in the final piece.
Mehndi carries great cultural significance, with the ability to convey joy, luck and even prosperity. But for many of her customers, like Ricalda Dean, it’s simply the final touch to complete their Divali look.
« I think this is part of the culture here in Trinidad now, around Divali time. That’s the reason I’m getting it for aesthetic purposes. »
Cassie explained how the stain is made.
« Henna is made from a plant, and the leaves of the plant are dried and ground into a powder, which is what we use. And we mix that with sugar, essential oil and water to create the paste, and the henna binds with keratin to create the stain, and as the stain oxidises, it gets darker. So natural henna takes about 24 to 48 hours to fully develop. »
The artist said that if aftercare instructions are properly followed, the art could last well over one week.
« So with proper aftercare, as in, you’re not in a lot of water, you’re not in a lot of chemicals, like cleaning solutions and whatnot; it will last about a week to a week and a half before it starts to fade. »
To meet her Divali demand, Cassie works up to 14 hours per day as a henna artist but also puts in extra hours to ensure she can fulfil orders as a supplier, providing henna cones to fellow artists and aftercare supplies to customers.
She said the commitment is worth it, as it leaves her customers satisfied.
