Today we’d like to introduce you to Madalina Kelner.
Hi, Madalina. I am so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a henna artist, but within that profession, you will find several more titles that suit the work that goes into my business. I am also an illustrator, graphic designer, content creator, construction engineer, and more. A lot goes into setting up tents at summer festivals and working in the body art industry. Here is a bit of how I ended up where I am today. From a very young age, fine art came very naturally to me. I have always loved, and still love, many fine art mediums. I’ve spent my whole life illustrating and gathering inspiration from the outdoors. You could always find me doodling in class through college. I attended Perpich, an arts-focused high school, and earned a BFA in Graphic Design, Studio Focus at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Before high school, my family gifted me a henna kit to enjoy at a sleep-away summer camp, and I became very passionate about the medium. Throughout high school, I dabbled in henna, not thinking much of it other than as a hobby, but soon, I realized the many gifts the art form offers.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been relatively smooth so far?
I touched on this subject not too long ago on my public platforms. On Instagram and Facebook, I am very candid with my followers. I often share advice behind the scenes of my work and make jokes about what it’s like to be a henna artist. Feel free to find me @mada_mehndi. The biggest struggle was taking myself seriously. It’s a trendy joke to have imposter syndrome as a creative. Without even knowing it, you can start writing truths that manifest. That is what I did to myself. I never thought I could run a business with the cards I had been dealt. The biggest roadblock is the subject of my disabilities. I stunted my momentum and was alone because I did not take myself seriously. I am excellent at my craft, and if I believed in myself as my clients, friends, and family did, I would be farther along than I am now. But that’s in the past. I have fully embraced myself as a business owner and am thriving. I am not brave or powerful for being a business owner with disabilities. I’m capable and successful because I believe in my strengths.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My artistry is Illustrative Henna. I constantly adapt my style to match the event’s themes and the individuals I am doing henna for. Henna is a form of temporary body art first documented in Egypt. The henna plant was discovered for its beautiful natural orange staining properties, and it was then discovered that specific essential oils push its natural orange stain to beautiful, rich brown henna deposits micro pigments that bond to the keratin in our hair, skin, and nails. Those pigments oxidize into a lovely brown color and then fade as the skin rejuvenates, the nails grow, and the hair is washed. Because henna is popularized and mass-produced today, many dupes (fakes) of the original natural paste can cause severe harm to the skin. As a natural practicing henna artist, I work hard through my socials and at events to inform further and destigmatize the practice of natural and safe henna. Follow the hashtag #hennaisneverblack to learn more.
As a disabled individual, my particular focus within my craft is ensuring everybody has access to henna. Much occurs behind the scenes to ensure my henna services are safe and accessible to as many people as possible. I offer a wide variety of seating options in my tent at events, and I always request that it be wheelchair accessible. I have certifications to work with individuals overcoming PTSD and trauma. I’ve been trained with DeafBlind Services Minnesota, and I am always looking for more ways to learn so I can further integrate accessibility. In addition, I offer full service in English and American Sign Language. Henna is a very intimate and often healing practice. These qualifications provide me with the credentials to work closely with all people while keeping everyone secure throughout the practice, making for a memorable experience.
Do you have any advice for those just starting?
I have three advice tokens. Practice: the more you practice, the more improvement you will see, and it’s dramatic. You must apply yourself to the craft and always push yourself to improve. Find your local henna community and reach out. A henna artist cannot thrive on their own. There are no henna franchises, so get to know fellow artists in your area. If you need help figuring out where to start, contact me. I know artists all over the US. Refrain from offering henna or fine art in general, but for free (with very few exceptions); it devalues your future work and the work of other henna businesses that are already established. If you need to practice, ask friends and family or use templates.
Pricing:
- For private bookings, Henna service prices are determined on the occasion due to the details, the henna blend, and the number of artists needed for each event. Mada Mehndi’s prices range from $65-$200 an hour. Full-service prices can be viewed here https://madalinak.com/service.
- At festivals, henna is priced per design, starting at $12
Contact Info:
- Website: madalinak.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mada_mehndi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madamehndi
Image Credits
Madalina Kelner
