thePULSEBy Annette Cinelli
A tattoo can be a pretty cool accessory, but a little too permanent for some of us. The solution? A henna tattoo! Aastha Kathuria, a graduate student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, is just the person to do it. Although she is getting her Masters in Computer Science, Aastha is an “artist and entrepreneur by nature.”
Aastha hails from Bombay, India and has been doing henna since she was in 7th grade. For those of you unfamiliar with the product, henna is a plant that grows in hot climates. When the leaves are dried, crushed, and ground into a powder they can be used as “a natural dye.” It is applied using a cone similar to the tip you’d use to ice a cake. Aastha was taught to make the cone, but she taught herself to design and apply the henna.
Henna is a “natural product that doesn’t harm anyone,” and while allergic reactions are possible, they are quite rare. Typically, the henna tattoos are applied on the hands and the feet. Aastha adds that “They are safe enough to be used on a pregnant belly,” so they’re a great way to spruce up your tummy (pregnant or not!) with a cute design! For hundreds of years women in India and other parts of the world have been using henna to decorate their bodies, and now the trend is coming to Worcester!
Getting a henna tattoo can take as little as 2 minutes and as long as a half an hour depending on how detailed the design is. When you visit Aastha for your henna tattoo you have several options: you “…can select something from the collection of designs I have or I can do something out of my head!” She can also copy a design from a paper. In addition to the traditional geometric henna designs, Aastha has also done animals such as cats, dolphins and monkeys, and her most unique design is a huge pattern that she started creating as doodles. It began with a heart, then she added a half moon and it just took off from there. It took her a day to sketch it out because she was experimenting with it so much!
Before the henna is applied to the top of the skin, the base is a greenish brown color. It applies brown and eventually stains to a darker brown. Aastha adds that real henna takes 7 to 8 hours for color to fully develop; it starts off lighter and then darkens the next day. She warns that any artists claiming their henna will show up in 2 or 3 hours are using PPD, a potentially harmful chemical. The tattoo fades to orange and as you loose skin cells, goes away completely.
The key to making the design last as long as possible is how you care for it afterwards. You should allow it to dry as much as possible and avoid water application as long as you can. Once it is dried, dab a solution of lemon juice and sugar onto the henna. This helps the henna stick to your skin. The longer it stays, the deeper the color gets.
Aastha can also add color to your henna tattoo, although since this will only last a day or two, it is best used for special occasions. In India and Morocco brides will often add color to the henna on their hands and feet to match their outfits for their pre-wedding event as well as for the actual ceremony. A new trend that Aastha has started incorporating is the addition of Swarovski crystals, which “…brings out the beauty of the henna design.”
The cost of a henna tattoo is very reasonable and varies depending on the design; it can be as inexpensive as $8 and goes up from there depending on the size and detail. Aastha also does henna parties where a group can get henna done for a bridal shower, special event, or just a girls’ night out. She is available for an hourly rate but can also charge on an individual basis if you get a big enough group together.
In addition to her henna tattoos, Aastha has also incorporated henna designs on greeting cards, wooden boxes, and wooden frames. She also works on clothing and jewelry. Her clothes are a blend of Indian and American traditions; everything is handmade and very comfortable. She sells tunics, skirts, and saris and many of the clothes are one of a kind. Her jewelry includes necklaces, earrings, bracelets and all different sorts of bangles.
These clothes and pieces of jewelry are available online at www.trendylibas.com, or you can contact Aastha at aastha@trendylibas.com. And be sure to check her henna creations out at out at www.hennadesinging.blogspot.com.
Aastha’s henna paintings are on display at the Bean Counter on Highland St. in Worcester for the month of June. She will also be showing her work at the Southbridge Festival on June 9.
