Not all body art has to be permanent. If you’re wanting to test out a new tattoo idea or just want something that is fun for now but not forever, henna or jagua might be the product for you. Levi & Lili had a minute to sit down with Echo, our henna and jagua artist to explain just what those are and what they can do for you.
What exactly are henna and jagua?
Henna and Jagua are forms of body art that allow you to express yourself without being a permanent commitment. I don’t offer much in the sense of traditional mehndi since it is not my place to offer that service but I do provide designs that emulate that vibe and designs more similar to permanent tattoos.
What are the differences between Henna, Jagua, and Mehndi, and why do you feel it’s “not your place” to offer the latter as a service as opposed to the former two?
Henna and Jagua are the physical mediums used. “Henna” is a paste made from the leaves of the henna tree that stains the skin brown. “Jagua” is a gel that is made from the Jagua fruit that functions the same way as the henna but stains the skin a deep navy blue, almost black, closer in color to regular tattoos. “Mehndi” is the term used to describe the staining, or decorating, of the skin using materials such as henna. “Traditional Mehndi” is the style of the art form used in Indian cultures for more traditional ceremonies such as weddings. I, myself, do not offer the service as I am not capable of providing it with the traditions and culture of it. With the Henna paste and Jagua gel, I am providing tattoo-esque designs and some mehndi-like designs without pushing myself onto other people’s traditions.
Why choose something temporary over a more permanent art like tattoo; or, do they complement rather than being separate art forms?
I find them to be complementary to each other for a few reasons. Having the temporary option allows you to try out tattoo ideas that you aren’t sure about yet, or if you can’t get tattoos for any reason (religious obligations, family or parental limitations, or just not being ready to make that leap to a permanent tattoo) but still want to decorate yourself, this gives you the option.
Why did you start doing it?
I started to provide this service for the simple reason of I have always loved this art form since I was a young kid. I’ve always seen it as beautiful and now I have the option to share that beauty with other people in Coral Springs, Florida. As a young teen, I used to use those temporary tattoo markers and even Sharpies to draw on myself in this style because I loved it so much and there are many photos of me with these on my skin that I’m happy are still around and are capable of showing my appreciation for the art form as I’ve grown up. There aren’t many tattoo shops in Coral Springs that also provide this service and within the past three years of working at Levi and Lili we have gotten many calls asking if we provided the service of henna tattoos, but the answer was always no. Now we are able to provide this and cater to a larger audience.
Tell me a little about yourself as an artist, why you want to make creative things.
I’ve loved the arts for as long as I can remember. Having a tattoo artist for a dad helped that. I’d spend my free time doing anything creative I could whether that was drawing, on paper and myself, sculpting, and painting. Being able to create and provide art for people gives me purpose and makes me happy. I love to create all things from the beautiful and elegant, to the spooky and weird, all the way to the nerdy and geeky; all of which I enjoy and count myself as.
If you are looking for henna or jagua in Coral Springs, drop in or give Echo a call at Levi & Lili to book an appointment. Echo has designs ready to go or you can chat about what you want in order to come up with a design unique to you.
