What should I expect when I arrive for my henna session?

I take clients at my private home-based henna studio, so service is by appointment only. Please arrive on time or kindly wait until your appointment time and ring the doorbell, as arriving early (or late) may cut into someone else's session.  The studio space has been designed to provide an intimate and relaxing experience for one person at a time - no extra guests please.  Please arrive with clean, exfoliated skin!

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Special COVID-19 precautions?

In order for me to safely conduct service I have adopted the following rules which you must agree to before booking your appointment:  N95 or Medical masks are now required during the entirety of your appointment, no matter your vaccination status.  Cloth or other makeshift masks are not permissible, so if you do not own a proper mask I will have some available for purchase for $2USD.  Upon entry you will be asked to either remove outdoor shoes or put on disposable shoe covers, and then directed to the washroom where you can clean your hands and secure your personal belongings. Limited food/drink and no extra guests in the studio please!

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How do you accept payment?

I accept deposits through Cashapp ($PayChae), and accept remaining payments in Cash or Cash App. Please be sure to download the app if you do not currently have it, and always ensure that you type in the correct cash tag ($PayChae) when paying through the app.  Look for my name "Le Strassed Chae" with my signature pink image to confirm the correct account before sending payment.  There is nothing I can do for payments sent to the wrong account.

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Where are you located?

My home studio is located in a private apartment community conveniently located in Laurel, MD just moments from I-95 and the 495 Beltway.  I am also accessible via Metro and Metro Bus (plan your route here).  When you book an appointment, the address and parking instructions will be sent a day prior via email. As my home studio is also my private residence, please do not share my location to strangers, friends, or family -- no matter how well you might know them.  Everyone will receive the address if they book and pay their deposit.  My new location in Laurel, MD has railing and elevator access, allowing me to be proudly & fully accessible to all persons with physical disabilities.

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What is your cancellation policy? What happens to my Deposit?

Please cancel or reschedule your appointment via the link in your appointment email at least 24 hrs in advance. Should you fail to cancel or reschedule your appointment within the indicated time frame, you will lose your deposit and will need to pay another deposit in order to re-book.  All deposits are non-refundable but are transferable up to one reschedule.  After 1st reschedule, any and all deposits are non-transferable and non-refundable!  No exceptions. 

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I am running late to my appointment.  What should I do?

Call or text me immediately at 470.222.4491, to let me know your estimated time of arrival (ETA).  I will always try my best to accommodate you, but even running 10 minutes late could shorten your appointment time.  If you are over 15 minutes late I may need to reschedule or cancel your appointment.  My reschedule and cancellation policies still strictly apply.

 

Can I book my appointment outside of your normal hours?

I am sometimes available to accommodate an appointment outside of my normal hours via client request and a (non-negotiable) $120 henna minimum.  To book your appointment outside of my normal business hours, please click here to make a request using the "contact me" form.

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- CONTINUE READING FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -

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What is henna?

Henna is an all natural paste that is made from the leaves of the Henna (lawsonia Inermis) plant. The leaves of the plant contain a natural and very effective coloring pigment. When the leaves are dried and crushed into a powder, they can be mixed with other natural ingredients to create the henna paste that is used in temporary body art tattoos.  Classic henna paste features a gorgeous all-natural burgundy stain and is great for all complexions, skin conditions, and ages!

 

What is jagua?

Jagua enhanced henna is created by mixing the extracted juice of the fruit Genipa americana (also known as Jagua) with classic henna paste to create a near-black staining color.   Jagua is a safe & natural dye that has been used by indigenous people in the Amazon for centuries as cosmetic temporary tribal adornment, but should be avoided by very young children, pregnant women, people with severe fruit allergies, or those who have extremely sensitive skin (as a precaution).  Although Jagua is a natural fruit product, it is possible to have an allergic reaction to any foreign substance applied to the skin if one is pregnant or has a known or unknown fruit allergy (such as young children who have not been allergy tested yet).  While still very rare, a possible skin reaction to Jagua is typically a heat-rash on the application site that can be exacerbated by extreme heat or hot showers, but usually not enough to cause serious harm.  In my 15+ years of being a Henna Artist, my clients have not reported any serious allergic injuries (Updated as of June 2023). 

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How long do I leave it on for and how do I care for it?

Once the design is applied to the skin, you should leave it on for as long as possible (at least 3 hours and up to 8 hours). The longer you leave it on the skin, the darker the stain will be.  Once the paste is dry, I will spray it with an organic raw sugar and water mix solution that keeps it tacky on your skin long enough for you to get home and relax -- the less movement the better.  If staying home and relaxing is not an option after your design application, you can also pay an additional $10 to have your henna or Jagua wrapped in medical grade tape that will protect your design during rigorous movement.  After your 3 to 8 hours is up, you can remove the henna or Jagua paste by saturating in olive or coconut oil and then chipping it off with a dry paper towel or wash cloth.  Be sure to do this over a trash can or sink, so that you do not get henna flakes all over your floor.

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When will it get dark?

Henna & Jagua are magic!  When you first remove the dried paste, your design may be an orange to light-brown color.  Watch it over the next 24-48 hours as it stains darker and darker.  During this time frame, avoid water as much as possible and protect your design with olive or coconut oil when water cannot be avoided.  By 48 hours post application, your design should oxidize enough to reach it's darkest hue.  

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How long does a henna tattoo last?

Henna and Jagua henna tattoos typically last 10 to 14 days on average. They work by naturally staining the top layers of the skin and will fade naturally as the skin exfoliates. I recommend moisturizing your tattoo with raw olive or coconut oil, while avoiding lotions and soaps.  Additionally, water influences skin exfoliation, so taking shorter showers and staying out of the ocean and swimming pools will help the design last longer.  A rule of thumb for when water cannot be avoided? Protect it with oils!

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Do certain parts of the body stain better?

Henna and Jagua stain the darkest on areas of the skin that are thicker, so elbows down to hands and knees down to feet tend to be the darkest staining areas. However, Jagua typically has a more consistent stain on all areas of the body vs. Henna.

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Can I remove a tattoo quicker if I want it gone?

Because Henna and Jagua stain the top layers of your skin, you can exfoliate with soap and a washcloth to help speed up the process of natural skin exfoliation.  Especially "minty" soaps with menthol in it!  However, it's completely up to your skin and body chemistry for how fast or slow this exfoliation will take, so please keep this in mind when scheduling your appointment.

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Will this work the same on everyone? Will this work on dark skin?

Henna stains on any and every complexion! Classic henna produces a lovely burgundy stain, while Jagua henna creates a striking near-black stain.  Your choice of Jagua or Classic Henna should depend on the look and contrast you desire, not the color of your skin.  It's a very common myth that henna does not "show" on melanin-enriched peoples, but stain results vary for everyone and your complexion actually plays very little role in that variance.  The darkness of your stain can be affected by many things such as: aftercare, body temperature, skin conditions, lifestyle, season, climate, and "that time of the month" just to name a few.  Two people can share a similar complexion, use the same henna paste the exact same way, and end up with different results.  This is due to the many factors that come into play when dealing with an all natural substance.  I work with each individual client to help achieve an optimal stain, and I encourage proper aftercare to ensure my clients are equipped with the knowledge they need to care for their design and ensure their satisfaction! 

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