henna cones
Fresh, all-natural henna cones, hand-rolled and ready to use.
notify me
0 hrs
fresh paste, earthy green
the stain story
CHAPTER ONE
100% natural hennahand-drawnAsheville, NC
it starts green.
Real henna goes on as an earthy paste, then deepens over two days into a stain that’s entirely yours. This page does the same. Scroll and watch it develop.
1 hr
setting, warm ochre
meet the artist
hi, I’m Azeem.
“The scent of fresh mehndi still carries me to another, almost heavenly place.”
I grew up in India, where henna and mehndi were part of every joyful occasion: weddings, religious festivals, baby showers and family celebrations. For me, it was always the most exciting part of the day.
I love everything about this tradition: its rituals, its natural herbal roots, the designs and patterns, the beauty of a finished stain, and the joy of sharing that time with loved ones.
Most of all, I love the feeling behind it. There’s something magical about this plant. Whether on skin, hair or nails, it carries an uplifting energy, and wearing it is a beautiful act of self-love: a way of caring for and celebrating your own body.
That’s what I hope to share with everyone who sits down with me.
2 hrs
peel off, bright orange
the menu
Every design is custom and drawn freehand. Same prices at markets, at my studio and at yours.
small designsvines, bands, mandalas & motifsfrom $10
hands & armspriced by sectionfrom $15
feet & legspriced by sectionfrom $15
parties & eventsper artist$120 / hr
1pick a design, or the sections you’d like
2choose how much is filled: airy, medium or full
3add the level of detail: simple, intricate or bridal
hands & arms, by section
Choose the sections you want. Prices are for one side (front or back), with an airy, simple design.1 · handpalm or back, fingers included$20
2 · lower forearmwrist third$15
3 · middle forearm$20
4 · upper forearmwidest, up to the elbow$25
5 · above the elbowbridal height$30
All around a section? That’s front plus back, so double it. The top half of the upper arm isn’t part of traditional mehndi; see shoulder designs above.
the full price guide
Tap a topic to open it.
fill & detail upgradesairy · medium · full, and simple · intricate · bridal
how much is filled
airyopen design, lots of skinbase
mediumabout half the section filled+25%
fullthe whole section covered+50%
level of detail
simpleclean, easy patternsbase
intricatefiner, more detailed work+25%
bridaldense, bridal-level detail+50%
how it adds up
Add up your sections, then add the fill and detail upgrades together. Example: back of hand + lower and middle forearm ($20 + $15 + $20 = $55), medium fill (+25%) with intricate detail (+25%) = about $85.
feet & legsfront and sides, up to two-thirds of the shin
feet & legs, by section
Traditional leg mehndi covers the front and sides of the leg, about two-thirds of the way around, rising up to two-thirds of the shin. Prices are per foot or leg, airy and simple; the same fill and detail upgrades apply.1 · foottop, toes & sides of the sole$25
2 · ankle$15
3 · lower shinfirst third$20
4 · middle shinup to two-thirds$25
good to know
Both feet? Double it. The soles themselves aren’t hennaed, only their sides. Example: both feet with ankles ($40 × 2 = $80), medium fill (+25%) = $100.
small designs: vines, bands, mandalas & motifspriced by size, on any body part
vines & bands
trails, finger vines, wrist & ankle bands · $10 minimumfine · 0.5″ wide$2 / in
medium · 1″ wide$3 / in
bold · 2″ wide$5 / in
mandalas
round designs, by diametersmallup to 2″$15
medium3–4″$30
large5–6″$50
extra large7–8″$80
free-form
florals, paisleys & motifs · must fit the boxXSfits 2″ × 2″$10
Sfits 3″ × 4″$20
Mfits 4″ × 6″$35
Lfits 6″ × 8″$60
XLfits 8″ × 10″$90
fill density
added to any designairyopen lines, lots of skinbase
mediumbalanced detail or solid fills+25%
intricatefine, dense, bridal-style+50%
Bigger than 8″ × 10″, a full back, belly blessing or henna crown? Priced by time at $120/hr, with an estimate before we start.
arm & leg sizefor fuller arms and legs
arm & leg size
more skin means more art, so larger sizes take longerthinwrist under 6″ · calf under 13″listed price
mediumwrist 6–7″ · calf 13–15″listed price
largewrist 7–8″ · calf 15–17″+20%
extra largewrist over 8″ · calf over 17″+35%
Measured around the wrist for hands & arms, and around the calf for feet & legs.
parties & events$120 per artist, per hour, with a guest guide
parties & events
event henna, by the hour
$120per artist, per hour
- 2-hour minimum, up to 3 hours per artist
- Each artist draws about 10–12 small designs (2–4″) an hour
- Short breaks are built in so every design gets a steady hand
- Bigger party? Add an artist from my team at the same rate
- Travel fees apply per trip; hotel rooms and flights are per artist
- Bridal mehndi is priced by section (see the menu above)
- Longer event? Artists take turns, so you’re covered all evening
- Time starts at your booked start time; setup is on me
- Events more than 1 hour away have a 3-hour minimum
- A deposit holds your event date; I’ll send a secure payment link after we confirm
Events are booked directly with me. Call or text with your date, location and guest count, and I’ll send a quote.
how many artists?
up to 20 guests1 artist · 2 hrs
20 – 33 guests1 artist · 3 hrs
33 – 45 guests2 artists · 2 hrs
45 – 65 guests2 artists · 3 hrs
more than 65let’s plan together
Based on small, simple designs (2–4″, airy, not intricate) on hands or other small areas. Bigger, fuller or more detailed designs take longer, so fewer guests are done per hour.
where you’ll find memarkets, private sessions, parties and pop-ups
markets & festivals
Walk-ups welcome, flash or custom.
private sessions
At my home studio, by appointment.
parties & bridal
Mehndi nights, birthdays, showers, corporate.
business pop-ups
A henna day for your shop or café.
6 hrs
warming to copper
choose a style
Eight looks to start from. Photos of my work are coming soon to @mudlinehenna.
scroll sideways to see all 8 styles
12 hrs
turning russet
classes & shop
Classes and shop are coming soon: learn the craft yourself, from mixing paste to drawing your first design.
the shop
24 hrs
deepening red
STORIES OF THE LEAF
the lore
From ancient Egypt to a Rajasthani mehndi night, henna has always marked the moments that matter. Here are a few of its stories.
A WORD OF CAUTION
real henna is never black
The FDA warns that “black henna” often contains PPD, a hair dye that can cause blisters and scars. Real paste is green-brown and stains orange to reddish-brown. If it’s instant jet-black, skip it.
Sources: Natural History Museum (London), U.S. FDA, Smithsonian Magazine, New World Encyclopedia, Asia IP.
36 hrs
rich mahogany
aftercare
The stain keeps darkening after you leave. Help it along:
1
leave it on
The paste dries in just a few minutes. For the deepest stain, leave it on at least 2 hours, and up to 10 hours (overnight) if you can. Keep it warm.
2
scrape, don’t wash
Peel or flake the dry paste off with your fingers or a dull edge. No water for 12–24 hours.
3
let it deepen
Orange at first, deep reddish-brown by 48 hours.
4
moisturize
A little balm or oil. Lasts 1–3 weeks.
In a hurry? You can peel the paste off as soon as it’s dry, just a few minutes after application, and still get a good stain. Keep it away from water and rub in an oil or balm with essential oils such as clove, eucalyptus, tea tree or cajeput (lavender if your skin is sensitive). Leaving it on longer, though, always gives the deepest color.
Sensitive skin or pregnant? Patch-test any oil on a small area first, and check with your doctor if you’re unsure.
deepen your stain
A few simple tricks make a big difference.
lemon & sugar sealWhile the paste is still on, dab on a little lemon juice mixed with sugar. It keeps the paste moist and stuck to your skin, so more color soaks in.
stay warmWarmth helps the dye develop. Keep the design cozy, and wrap it loosely with tissue if you sleep with the paste on.
balm, not soapAfter removing the paste, rub in a balm or oil with essential oils such as clove, eucalyptus, tea tree or cajeput. Lavender is gentler for sensitive skin, though a little less effective. Skip soap, sanitizer, chlorine and scrubbing for the first day.
be patientBright orange is normal at first. The color deepens over 24–48 hours, so don’t judge it on day one.
find me at
Walk-ups always welcome once the season’s dates are set.
new market dates coming soon
I’m lining up markets, festivals and pop-ups around Asheville right now. In the meantime, you can book a private session at my studio or have me come to you.
will travel
Across town or a few hours away, I’m happy to come to you. For same-day events I travel up to 2 hours; for events farther away, up to a 6-hour drive, I arrive the day before; beyond that, I fly. Travel time is counted from my Asheville studio.
under 10 min+$5
10 – 20 min+$10
20 – 30 min+$15
30 min – 1 hour+$50
1 – 1.5 hours+$75
1.5 – 2 hours+$100
2 – 6 hours (next-day events)+$25 per extra 30 min, plus a hotel room per artist
more than 6 hoursflight fare and a hotel room per artist
longer trips
Events 2 to 6 hours away are booked as next-day events: I drive in the day before, so a comfortable hotel stay for the night is required, with a separate room for each traveling artist, plus $25 for every 30 minutes of travel beyond 2 hours. For events more than 6 hours away, flight fare for every traveling artist is added to the invoice.
ask about your datequestions
what’s in your henna?
My paste is made fresh in-house whenever possible, with top-grade organic, 100% natural henna powder, lemon juice, sugar, guar gum, and eucalyptus, cajeput and tea tree essential oils. For sensitive skin, I mix a separate, gentler batch with lavender oil. On the rare occasion fresh paste isn’t available, I use the best-quality ready-made cones I can find, which may not be entirely natural. Just ask and I’ll tell you exactly what I’m using. Real henna only, never “black henna.”
how long does it take?
About 5 minutes for a 2″ mini, and up to about 4 hours for a full arm all around. Bridal mehndi can take longer.
sensitive skin?
Tell me before we start. Natural henna rarely causes reactions, but a patch test is smart if you react to essential oils.
can you come to my event?
Yes. Call, text or email your date, location and guest count for a quote. I come to you around Asheville and beyond; see travel fees above.
how can I pay?
Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and cash.
48 hrs
fully developed
the stain story
THE END, AND YOUR START
and now it’s yours.
Book a private session at my Asheville studio, or I’ll come to you, at home, at work or wherever you’re celebrating. Planning a market, party, pop-up or wedding? I’d love to hear what you have in mind.
good to know
Private sessions are booked by time slot (30 min, 1 hr or 2 hrs). Simple designs often finish early; the slot’s starting price still applies.
Booking an event? Once we confirm the details, I’ll text or email a secure deposit link to hold your date.
brighten someone’s day with the gift of hennaA henna gift card for birthdays, bridal parties, or anyone who deserves a little joy.
buy a gift card
Mudline Henna& MEHNDI ARTS
call or text(828) 414-1360
instagram@mudlinehenna
home studio · by appointment218 Hilliard Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
Asheville, NC 28801
for Asheville & nearby locals
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Ways to create, work and give together.
create together
Artists, makers and local businesses: I’d love to dream up something together, from pop-ups to creative projects. Drop me a line.
say hellojoin the team
Have a steady hand and a love for henna? I’m growing a small crew of part-time artists for markets and events. Tell me a little about yourself.
send a letter of intenthenna that gives back
A little henna can brighten a hard day. I offer free sessions to people and communities who could use some joy. Know someone? I’d love to hear about them.
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