Safi- The Artist

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Hey there! My name is Safiya, and I am a proud Yemeni🇾🇪 and Somali-Barawa 🇸🇴 girl. As a child, I was blessed to be raised by my grandmother alsoknown as Hababa & Mama Khadija ❤️, who showed me the beauty of using natural henna to dye her hair and finger tips for special occasions like weddings and Eid.

 For the past eight years, I have been passionate about the art of henna. At the young age of 14, I started my love with henna while helping my mother at Karmell Mall in Minneapolis. I learned how to roll and wrap a cone using black henna, which was the only type available to me at that time. However, I eventually stopped using it due to its harmful ingredient, PPD (paraphenylenediamine), a darkening agent used to dye hair but not meant for skin. Although I moved away and stopped working at Karmell Mall, I continued to practice my skills on myself using black henna and a pen during my high school years.

My interest in henna was rekindled when my aunt opened a salon in El Cajon. This time, I learned more about the consistency of natural henna and the incredible staining power of jagua juice. I was thrilled to discover that both natural henna and jagua juice produced beautiful skin stains without any harmful chemicals. Today, I am proud to say that I create fresh and natural henna and jagua for my clients, and I am deeply passionate about what I do.

  I love exploring and celebrating the long history of use of Natural Henna🌿 & Jagua🍈 in various cultures around the world, particularly in the Middle East, South Asia, and Central and South America. To me the use of these dyes can be a way to pay homage to these traditions and create meaningful and respectful art.❤️