Intricate designs trace the palms and wrap around the fingers. They harden, then chip away, only to reveal a beautiful imprint underneath. Juniors Yasmine Obaid and Iman Light, owners of the henna business Halwa Henna, strive to capture this special experience for their customers.
Obaid and Light started their business last September, inspired by their Pakistani and Arab heritage. Their goal is to bring henna to those around them, whether they have cultural ties to it or are just hearing about it for the first time.
“It’s part of how we were brought up because it was there during holidays and other events,” Light said. “We wanted to introduce it to other people because all girls look good wearing it.”
Henna is derived from a plant and is turned into a paste that can be applied as a temporary tattoo on the hands and arms. Henna used by Halwa Henna is completely organic with no additional chemicals.
Applying henna is a tradition during special occasions such as religious holidays, weddings and birthdays within Middle Eastern, South Asian and North African cultures but has recently become more popular outside these cultures.
“It’s like decoration for your hand, almost like jewelry that stays on you,” Light said. “It’s very personalized, so it doesn’t have to look a certain way and is different per person.”
Initially, henna was a pastime activity Obaid and Light both partook in, practicing techniques on each other. As their skills and passions developed, they were able to turn their hobby into profit.
“It’s within Yasmine’s culture, and I just thought it was gorgeous, so she taught me how to do it,” Light said. “We realized that we’re actually good at this, so we figured out how to make money off of it.”
Being high school students while running a business has given Obaid and Light more exposure to what entrepreneurship is about. Practicing with students has helped them gain confidence and experience to expand their business outside of Northwood.
Due to their Muslim backgrounds, they mainly provide services for Ramadan and Eid events, such as the Crescent Market, a festival with various vendors celebrating Eid Al-Fitr. Along with cultural events, they provide their services at birthday parties or for anyone who messages them interested in trying henna.
“We promote ourselves on Instagram mostly, but we also get help from parent’s connections,” Obaid said. “We do henna for our parent’s friends and kids, then it starts to spread by word of mouth.”
Although they have hopes to expand and outreach their business further, their primary goal is to empower all students to feel beautiful.
Henna designs are tools that allow them to see how each customer’s personality is reflected in art, and by executing their vision, they help people feel more confident in their skin.
“We want to be the default for henna, so if anybody ever wants henna, we are their go-to people,” Light said. “We just want them to have a good experience with how respectful we are and how our henna is able to make them feel good.”
Henna starts at $10 per hand and lasts for a few weeks. Those interested in henna for parties or personal use can message @halwa_henna_ on Instagram for more information.
