Today we’d like to introduce you to Erynne.
Erynne, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ll start by saying that I majored in Art in college, so I had a strong background in art and design. But the way that my journey with mehndi began was I went to a belly dance class back in 2009 and there was a woman at the studio doing henna for a charity. I had never had one done before and thought it would be fun. That’s when a lightbulb went off and I knew I had no choice but to learn how to do mehndi. It was a calling and I became obsessed. I was getting business cards made before I really knew what I was doing, but I knew I would need them soon. 7 months later, I was doing mehndi professionally at my first Bar Mitzvah party. Since then, I have drawn on hundreds of people including some big celebrities. I have also done mehndi on some t.v. shows, for movies, commercials, and photo shoots as well.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has been mostly smooth and steady, but with lots of learning curves along the way. When I started, I used to do an all-day flea market. It was a lot of time, plus setting up and breaking down of furniture and tents, etc. Often I’d come home exhausted with not much profit to speak of. It was a training ground, but I am happier not doing large, open public vending events. On the business end, I want to make every experience the best that it can be, so each day presents an opportunity to reflect on and grow from.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Beauty Marks Henna – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Beauty Marks is a small, mobile business that specializes in temporary body art for private appointments and parties. Henna and jagua are the main products, but sometimes I take requests for other types of temporary body art such as “white mehndi” or custom, fake tattoos. I make my own henna paste out of simple and natural ingredients. Henna is made from a plant whose dried and powdered leaves are mixed with ingredients you can find in your pantry or your local health food store. Jagua comes from a fruit that grows in South America.
When working with clients one-on-one, my goal is to get inside the client’s head in order to give her a design she will love. We use pictures as part of our consultation, and that always gives me a clear idea of the client’s “vibe.”
When it comes to doing parties, I pride myself on being able to do quick yet impressive designs in order to accommodate plenty of guests with a henna design that leaves them very happy. Efficiency is crucial when you have limited hours and several guests wanting mehndi! And fortunately I am equipped with good time-management skills. I pride myself on using natural ingredients and having the ability to make people smile just by drawing on them!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The greatest thing about L.A. is that it is a melting pot of different cultures, and each culture has its center where you can go and explore their neighborhood and cuisine. There’s Little India, Little Tokyo, Little Ethiopia, Little Persia, Koreatown, etc. I am an L.A. native, and I am STILL finding different neighborhoods to visit! Also, there is so much history, which is reflected in the architecture. The thing that makes L.A. difficult is the traffic. I have had a 19 mile drive take me over two hours. This can be challenging when you are a mobile business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beautymarkshenna.com
- Phone: 818-495-5990
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
All photos by Beauty Marks except featured image which is by Erin Cardenas Photography
