Reboot your Henna Business

So you’re ready to come out of henna hibernation? What’s next?

It’s a brave new world, and it can feel paralyzing to know how to market yourself and start taking clients again, so I’ve compiled my top ten tips to get you back in the cone zone.

Assess your supplies inventory.

Because more than a year has passed since most artists stopped working, you’ll want to check the freshness of your henna powder. If you have lavender essential oil that is over 6 months old, you may want to discard it, as lavender is prone to auto-oxidation, which can cause allergic reactions. Do you have sugar, cone-rolling materials, tape, scissors, and sealant? Gather all of your fresh materials and tools together and be sure to keep them separate from anything that is stale or expired.

Review your legal documents and local laws.

Are your legal docs in order? Seller’s permit, business license, liability insurance? Check with local regulations to make sure that you are following any new laws in your county. Review your insurance plan to see if there are any new requirements regarding health, hygiene, and safety. If you have equipment such as a henna booth, make sure it’s functioning, rust-free, free of mold/mildew, and has stakes or tent weights.

Start a daily practice.

If you haven’t been very active over the last year, your skills might have slipped up a bit. Refresh your muscle memory with some drills of the basics and be sure to spend some extra time with line draping, and pressure control exercises like juicy leaves and teardrops. This is also a great way to use up old supplies so they don’t go to waste.

Reconsider which types of appointments/events you are willing to take.

Now is a great time to focus on your niche and start attracting the type of work you want to do, and feel safe doing. Update your contracts to include information on hygiene and safety. While it may feel like Covid will soon be a thing of the past, don’t let this false sense of security catch you off guard. Discuss with your family what the risks will be, and make sure they’re on board.

Review your website.

Remove any old events, and make sure that 2021-2022 dates are visible, booking software is synced with your calendars, email links function, and address/phone or other contact info is current. If you have images or services that are no longer relevant, replace them with something fresh and representative of the types of appointments or events you are willing to do.

Ramp up your socials.

If you’ve mostly been posting pictures of your pets and meals for the last year, it’s time to rip the Hypafix off and get serious about posting your best work, and your best images. There may be more competition this year, as there are fewer clients but more artists (shout-out to everyone who picked up henna in the last year!), so it’s more important than ever to present yourself in a professional and eye-catching way.

Employ ambassadors.

Grab your beautiful bestie, do some epic henna on them, and make sure they have a stack of your business cards. Nothing sells henna like seeing it in the flesh.

Stop, collaborate, and listen.

A great way to get free, organic marketing is to collaborate with photographers, models, designers, florists, and venues. You’ll all benefit from sharing the results of a beautiful photoshoot. You may even be able to submit it to magazines and online media publications. Remember, they need fresh content, and it’s free advertising for you. Just make sure you have contracts in place to ensure that you get properly credited, and have access to the full-resolution images.

Check out the whole shoot on Elite Daily

Don’t be a square.

Yes, Instagram is a fantastic marketing tool, but it’s important to diversify. Go old-school and leave your business cards in yoga studios, cafes, community bulletin boards, etc. Deck yourself out and go shopping at the farmer’s market. And don’t hesitate to let your friends and family know that you’re back in business. They may want to support you or they may know people who are looking for your services.

Embrace the barter.

The last year was financially difficult for many people, and not everyone has cash for luxuries like henna. Consider accepting other goods or services in exchange while you develop your new business model. I hope you like sourdough! ;)

I hope you liked these tips. If you have any more ideas please drop a comment below!