First Step Initiative - HennaHouseparty

In the year 2008, we will be launching a series of fundraising events to supplement our funds.

The first in this series is a Henna House Party, featuring local artist Ayesha Alam of Plymouth.

Information:

For evening appointments after 5:00 pm, there is a Traffic Zone building parking lot on the south side of the building (right off third avenue). It is free and typically has plenty of space.

Other parking options for day/evening appointments:
-Metered parking on 3^rd ave and Washington avenue
-A few free spots on North side of Traffic Zone Building
-From 3^rd Avenue, take right just past Traffic Zone building and follow street to paid parking lot

What to wear:

If you want henna done on your feet, wear (or bring) a pair of flip-flops or something equally easily removable.

This is a great time to catch up on the activities of and current progress made by First Step Initiative. Prepare to sit around, chat with friends, listen to some soothing music and relax for a little while.

In addition to henna, there will be artsy-craftsy items by this artist for you to admire, or purchase for donations to FSI, if you so wish!

Henna is native to parts of Africa, southern Asia, and northern Australasia. Naturally occurring henna leaves are crushed into a paste and applied to the skin in various designs, both meaningful symbols and ornamental patterns. When the paste dries, it is scraped or washed off to reveal the patterns in a dark, amber dye. The process of application may take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the intricacy and size of the pattern. The dye lasts for approximately two weeks, fading off with the conventional exposure to water. The experience of having henna applied is a spa-like, relaxing one. The cooling, soothing effect of the paste applied to skin, combined with the natural, earthy smell of henna leaves, is a safe, inexpensive and luxurious way to relax indoors on a cool day or outdoors on a warm one.

Presently, a number of chemical imitations of the natural henna, in various colors, textures and levels of permanency, have invaded the markets. Ayesha does not support the use of these unnatural, altered versions, and prefers to stick to the fresh leaves or verified powdered versions of henna she grew up with in Bangladesh.

To find out more about henna, or check out the work of henna artists from around the globe, follow these links, or simply run a search for “Henna” or “Mehendi” on your search engine: