‘I wear henna as jewelry, but also to give myself strength’

“At children’s parties, I am often 1-0 ahead when I arrive. A henna workshop is simply more surprising than the umpteenth trampoline park. However, parents are sometimes hesitant, because there are stories that henna is bad for your skin. But that’s the chemical stuff. Henna that I prepare myself, with natural ingredients, is very safe and fades after ten days.

Before decorating children’s hands, I show them the leaves and powder of the henna plant that makes the paste. “Ee, it smells like the petting zoo!” someone shouted once. The smell is earthy, spicy – ​​now I’m used to it, but as a kid I didn’t like it either.

Henna

I was four when I first got henna. In Morocco, where my grandmother lived, a girl next door put a herringbone pattern on my hands with a stick. I immediately started glowing. It was beautiful and felt like something magical: now I really belong to the women’s community.

When I was fourteen I wanted to try it myself, with a syringe, just like professional henna artists. Despite clogged needles and problems with the color not getting dark enough, I got the hang of it after a lot of practice. I eventually became so addicted to it that I made it my job. I put henna at weddings and festivals and give workshops to henna artists at home and abroad. My style is Moroccan: geometric, with straight lines and triangles.

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beautiful hands

My son wanted a dragon on his hand when he was little. Now he can also appreciate the geometric patterns, even if he only wears henna sporadically. It’s really a woman’s thing. I always make it a ritual with my niece: tea on the table, biscuits on the side. As soon as her hands are decorated, she beams with pride. I myself wear new henna every few weeks. As jewelry, but also to give myself strength. For example, when I was not feeling well, I drew a labyrinth on my hand.

That gave me confidence: eventually I will find my way again. I wear henna on the left because I am right handed. Henna on both hands and feet is only common on special occasions. Good thing too: keep painting your foot in an impossible yoga pose. Then you have to be very flexible.”

This portrait is in Kek Mama 14-2021.

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