How to choose your Mehendi Artist

Indian weddings are incomplete without a Mehendi or henna ceremony. The bride as well as other women in the family look forward to this occasion. The bridal Mehndi will not only be seen by all the guests but will also be the focus in some of the wedding photographs. Therefore it is important that you select a Mehndi artist who will be able to deliver the gorgeous Mehendi you have always dreamt off.

Since Mehndi is done in every Indian wedding, you can consult with your friends and family who have used professional artists for their Mehndi. You can look at their Mehndi photographs and ask for their experiences and feedback on the artist. Of course, your wedding planner will always have suggestions and options for you. Once you have narrowed down your options, you can set up a meeting for a bridal consultation, depending on the availability of the artists for your dates. You can have a look at their work portfolio and judge the color, detailing and quality of their designs. In case of any doubts, you can also request for a free Mehndi sampling so you get a firsthand experience of their work.

The charges for the Mehndi usually depends on the style – Arabic or Indian, intricacy of the design and how much portion of the hand is the Mehndi applied – full palm, up to wrist, elbow length etc. Once you have decided on a design, you can discuss the rates and other details. If possible, make sure that the Mehndi artist you select does not have multiple clients booked for the same day or around the same time otherwise it might lead to confusion or haste. While deciding on the time for bridal Mehndi, remember that it takes around 3-4 hours to apply bridal Mehendi and must be kept overnight or for at least 4 to 6 hours for maximum effect. Also you may have to wear your Mehendi attire before application to avoid spoiling your Mehndi, which means sitting for that long in an outfit! Quite often, the bride gets most of her Mehendi done before the function and gets the remaining done at the function. This way the bride gets her bridal photographs applying Mehndi and doesn’t have to be seated throughout the function, missing out on all the fun.


While the bride gets her Mehendi done, her friends can be kept occupied doing their own Mehndi. You can inquire with your artist for special package rates for Mehndi for your guests. Depending on the number of guests and the type and quantity of Mehndi to be applied, the package includes a team of artists who apply Mehndi for the guests.
Ensure that your Mehendi artists make their own Mehendi paste a couple of hours before application. The freshly made paste gives good quality designs and enhances the color unlike pre made Mehndi cones. Also check with the artist on aftercare of the bridal Mehndi. To ensure a dark color of the Mehendi, the henna is kept moist by dabbing a mixture of water or lemon juice with sugar.


Now, you can sit back and relax a fun filled Mehndi celebration.


Images Courtesy : robandlauren.ca