floral henna tattoos on feet
Hi!  My name is Nikki (but you can call me Cricket).  I fell in love with Henna (and body art in general) at a young age, and am always working to spread the knowledge and love of this wonderful form of art.  I have been working professionally with henna for over a decade, and started The Artful Cricket in 2009. 

Body art can be for anyone!  I am in love with all forms of body art, but with Henna I can show that body art doesn't have to hurt or be with you your entire life to be powerful and beautiful.  Being allowed to use someone's body as my canvas is an honor.  My hope is that when my canvas sees their final piece, it will help them to see their own grace and strength, augmented by Henna.

Henna is not just a medium for my art, but an extension of who I am.  My goal is to share my love of Henna with as many people as possible.  By educating my audience, and by using both traditional styles and contemporary motifs in my work, I hope to continue bringing this ancient art to the modern world.

Unique Bridal henna design
Henna body art is a great way to celebrate any special occasion.  From birthdays to graduations, weddings to pregnancies, and everything in between, Henna tattoos are a fun and beautiful addition to your celebration or "me-day".

Henna traditions originally coincided with harvests and other celebrations of life and fertility (weddings, births, etc.).  Some traditional occasions for getting henna tattoos have been - and still are: 

  • Decorating members of a wedding party and their guests
  • Decorating the belly of a pregnant mother - this is considered to bestow good luck upon the mother and her unborn child
  • The ornamentation of a warrior before he (or she) goes to battle

Mehndi has been making its way into Western culture as people bring their traditions with them when they emigrate.  While the ancient traditions of Henna still hold as true as ever, new traditions are being created.  Henna is becoming a common way to celebrate any special event, as well as being a great way to treat oneself to something beautiful, just for fun.  You can:
  • Try out a tattoo design in Henna before getting it inked to make sure you like the design, size, placement, etc.
  • Get Henna instead of a permanent tattoo if you aren't fond of needles but still love body art
  • Try a Henna corsage with gilding paste, Swarovski crystals, and glitter for something different at the next school dance
                             Have more questions? 
                        Check out the Henna FAQ!