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CREATIVE Hani Baluch’s henna art is in such high demand she is being flown around the region to ensure that brides are traditionally made-up for their special day.
The 27-year-old Bahraini’s detailed designs has made her a big hit with newlyweds as well as a social media sensation with more than 66,000 followers on Instagram keeping a close eye on her latest artistic creations.
Hani, from Gudaibiya, said: “I am really honoured to have so many followers from all over the world. It makes me very happy when amateur and professional designers get inspired by my work and try to recreate it.
“The world is getting closer day-by-day thanks to social media. People click and post pictures displaying their culture and tradition. Henna is an ancient form of art that has been practiced for more than 5,000 years.
“It is one of the most important parts of all happy occasions in many parts of the world and today people around the globe have adopted the ancient traditional art form to adorn their bodies.
“It’s a beautiful, temporary and safe colour that is created from a plant. Henna is also used as a hair-dye and has natural cooling properties, in fact some people in desert lands have been using henna to cool down their bodies and it has also been used as a medicine in other parts of the world.”
Hani first fell in love with henna when she was eight. She came across a pack stored away in the fridge and asked her mother, Sahibkatoon, if she could apply it for her but was told she would have to visit a neighbour who was known to be more proficient in the art form.
Hani assured her mum that she would be able to do it herself. After a few messy trials and errors, the schoolgirl quickly mastered the technique. Her five sisters soon became her willing guinea pigs as her confidence grew and she began to draw different designs using the red and brown ink on them too.
By the time she had reached her teens her talents were so much in demand that she started applying henna for customers at a salon near her home during Eid.
She said: “Whenever I am asked; how did you learn to apply henna, my answer is always: ‘it’s a gift from God’.”
Although Hani graduated with a diploma in business management and studied accountancy, the henna hobby is what has made her truly happy and carved itself into a career. During seven years as an accountant, people at her office quickly took note of her elegantly-decorated designs and would request to be made up as well.
She started posting images of her work on her first Instagram account, @HoneyHappyHenna in 2011, and was soon receiving an avalanche of requests from brides-to-be from as far away as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
As her popularity grew, she decided to quit her job to follow her heart and became a full-time henna artist. In July of this year, she launched her studio and gallery in Hidd called The Henna Art Beauty Centre. Three years on and her henna work continues to flourish with brides from all over flying into the kingdom to spend time being henna-tattooed before heading back to their home countries hours later to celebrate their big day.
Hani added: “It’s an exciting and amazing feeling to have people come to you just because they love your work and, no matter what, they will get it from you! It actually keeps me motivated to work more and be better.
“I do get most of my inspiration from nature, such as trees and flowers, birds such as swans, peacocks and pigeons, rainbows, rain, the seasons and also many ethnic dresses and jewellery.
“However, every person I meet is different and as soon as I have the henna cone in my hand, I just let their personalities inspire me and I draw automatically. I don’t think about it. It’s as though the girl’s hand is speaking to me.”
Hani uses organic henna, mixed with lemon and essential oils, to cater to brides and wedding parties as well as other events such as for school and university functions, Ramadan, National Day celebrations, charitable events and other private parties.
Some designs can take five minutes while others can take up to four hours. Her prices vary as well depending on the design. For example, those wanting to have henna on the fronts and backs of their hands are charged only BD6. However, brides that want henna drawn from their hands to their elbows and from their feet to their knees can pay around BD100.
In one month, Hani can draw up to 100 henna designs. Her busiest times are usually the three days before Eid in which she spends 20-hours-a-day at her salon. Her venue is open seven-days-a-week from 9am to 9pm with a lunch break from 1pm to 3pm.
When things are quiet at the centre, she uses the time to prepare for her upcoming henna courses, as well as other intricate art work such as designing pillows, photographs, trays, mugs and other items. She aims to feature a range of unique home designs at future local markets.
Hani said: “I have a lot of future plans and ambitions that I hope to achieve. Currently I am working on my website, henna courses, art collection and a henna design book. I plan to teach and train new henna artists. I am impressed with the work of many other artists out there and encourage them to move forward, as the sky is the limit. I also look forward to acquiring a bigger, better henna centre in future.”
Check out Hani’s work on Instagram @thehennaart
