Mehndi by Melanie

I will meet the client at the venue, dressed professionally, with my henna or painting supplies.

If your party is themed, such as a Princess party, I can dress to match the occasion. My costumes include Princess, Gypsy, Mermaid, or Fairy. If you have another theme you would like me to accommodate, we can discuss this and plan accordingly.

After receiving payment, I will set up my supplies and begin. All clients can expect freehand, professional henna or paint designs, as well as application of lemon and sugar water to the henna, which will help keep the paste moist and make for a longer lasting result. My henna is hand-mixed, with no added chemicals, and my paints are skin-safe and hypo-allergenic.

Set up usually takes about ten to fifteen minutes, the same goes for take-down.

I have had an interesting journey into the world of henna and body art, starting in Tallahassee for a party company and eventually coming to work for the Moroccan company of Restaurant Marrakesh. (You might have heard of them, they are part of the Morocco section of EPCOT.) I have learned henna from a variety of people, including Kim Brennan, an established henna artist all throughout the US, Canada, and more importantly, the Middle East.

I started face painting with the same company, learning from the established teacher and artist at the Face and Body Art International Convention, Julie Rose. I have won an international award in the face painting category at FABAIC, and I continue to learn from the multiple award winning artist Mandi Schiff. I love art and am so thankful to be doing it as a career! I strive to always provide the best quality in everything I do, especially in my art. I enjoy creating designs unique to each person, aligned with whatever style they prefer, be it more traditional or more modern. For any event, whether a small party or a huge festival, I promise to show up prepared and ready to work.

I will bring myself, my henna or paints, and any other tools I might require. All that is required from the customer is a space in which to work, a chair or two, and a table. I am willing to charge by the hour or by the person, depending on the customer's preference and financial capabilities. Mehndi by Melanie guarantees a professional, patient artist and quality art, every time.

The henna does take 30 minutes to dry, and will be fully colored within the next 24-48 hours. I use natural, red henna, NOT black henna, but it does contain lemon juice. Please make sure that I know how many people I will be doing henna for, so that I can bring the right amount of supplies. Please specify what style would be preferred, whether it be traditional, modern, Indian, etc.

Body paint usually dries within a minute or two, and can be applied by hand or airbrush. It is skin-safe, hypo-allergenic, and rinses off with water. I do have water-proof paint, if your event requires it. Please let me know!