In multiple cultures across the globe, henna finds its way into many a pre-wedding ritual. Most of them use henna tattooing as a form of bestowing the bride (and sometimes the groom, too) with fortunate blessings, happiness in married life, and fertility. Typically held closer to the wedding day, it marks the preparation of the bride as she gets ready to take on the role next to her future husband.
For Malay households, henna nights, or malam berinai, are no small occasion. The same goes to Indian families and their mehndi parties. Primarily a women-only event, an evening such as this sees the bride’s closest and most loved surrounding her for a night filled with entertainment, laughter, and of course, henna. But one thing is for certain: the bride takes the spotlight, and the henna work is right there with her.
Which means henna artists such as Atiqah Nabihah (better known online as Bee) have quite the task ahead of them. In the midst of all the high-octane revelry, and the fact that the henna needs to be extremely carefully applied, it is Bee’s job to see it all through, with very little room for error. Factor in the socialising element, and suddenly the artist becomes very much part of the fun.
But before all of that can happen, we take a step back and look at how the process begins. Securing Bee specifically will require you to reach out to her between six to twelve months ahead. That done, the self-taught henna artist will then initiate the creative conversation, digging into your overall vision for your bridal beauty. That means she is looking into the outfit, makeup, and hair to make sure everything will come together cohesively, even if you have nothing particular in mind for the henna design. “I definitely offer my advice, and create totally new designs inspired by their dresses,” Bee quips. “I also take into consideration any of their preferences. If I can’t pull a motif from the outfit, I’d lean into a more modern design to suit it.”
On the evening of the party itself, you will find that Bee is an absolute delight to have. “I believe in helping people. I know it’s hard to relate that notion to my work, but it’s true!” she says. It is in the subtle ways that you will notice this, since her work lies in the finer details. In her experience, nearly all of her clients break the ice almost immediately, so building a connection is a non-issue. But beyond that, she is also mindful of the fact that brides have many things going on in the back of their mind, especially that close to their big day.
“My service is very thorough—I do everything, top to bottom,” she says. “I make my own henna that I use at these appointments.” On top of applying the design, Bee also sticks around to see it through, from the drying process to washing off the residue, even if it means she is pushing her hours into the wee hours of the night. “I have had clients who are willing to set the appointment at 11 p.m., or even 1 a.m. in the morning,” she laughs. Now that is true dedication.
Like any artisan worth their salt, Bee makes sure she leaves the brides happy, glowing, and with a handy list of what to do and what to avoid to keep the henna design fresh for longer. “Avoid applying lotions at all costs, but do moisturise the skin with baby oil. If the goal is to retain the stain, it’s best to avoid contact with water. I recommend that they wear gloves when washing up,” Bee lists.
Photography: Ng Joe Ee
Creative Direction: Joseph Cheng
Producer: Lorraine Chai
Hair: Zac Lee
Makeup: Eranthe Loo
Photography Assistant: David Ong
Styling Assistant: Sarah Chong
Styling Intern: Adrianna Haris
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