We were lucky to catch up with Chanaé “Chaé” Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Chanaé “Chaé”, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve always had a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, and my path to henna has really been shaped by my love of culture and artistic expression. Growing up in a multi-racial family and surrounded by friends from many different backgrounds, I was always aware that the world is much bigger than any one of us. That curiosity led me to study Japanese language and culture through grade school and later train professionally in Indian Fusion (Bollywood) and Polynesian dance styles like Tahitian, Hawaiian, and Samoan. Through dance and language, I found a really immersive way to connect with culture and storytelling.

Simultaneously, I’ve been somewhat of a visual artist all my life: painting, drawing, sculpting clay, mixed media; And my journey with henna really began when my best friends, who were Tanzanian and South Asian, introduced me to it. The first time I held a henna cone, it became another artistic medium for me – perhaps my favorite. What started as something I did casually for friends then expanded into something more as word-of-mouth recommendations to other friends, families, and acquaintances grew. I received more and more requests as my talent and technique developed into my own unique adornment style. By the time I was in college studying Marketing and Communications, I had a steady flow of clientele, and over the years I used my learned knowledge of marketing to build my own website, brand myself, and tell my story through the body art I share with others.

Over time, henna became more than just another art form—it felt like a natural extension of who I am. And when you consider that henna’s roots trace back to North Africa, there’s something really beautiful about the idea that this tradition may have been connected to my ancestry long before I ever discovered it myself.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My personal brand, Le Strassed Chaé, represents the brightest, most radiant, and authentic inner expression of oneself. Through my company, LeStrassed.Ink, I bring that vision to life through henna artistry, adornment experiences, and interactive events. As an intuitive artist, I freestyle most of my designs, allowing them to develop organically through both the direct and subtle energetic guidance of my clients. Henna is one of the few art forms where the canvas is alive, so I let the design flow naturally as I work with the inner aura that guides my hand. It’s always beautiful when clients share stories or notice synchronicities after their design comes to life. Henna resonates with people in a deeply personal way, and for a brief moment in time, the art becomes part of your “being” before gently fading from the skin leaving no trace that it was ever once there.

Through individual henna sessions and interactive experiences like Mehndi & Mimosas—the first sip-and-henna party of its kind—and Mehndi & Mindfulness, I aim to make henna approachable, creative, and empowering.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Being a non-Asian henna artist in an industry most often associated with Asian culture closed many doors for me at the beginning of my journey. Still, that never stopped me from pushing beyond many of the limitations found in this industry. In many ways, I’m breaking the barrier for entry into the henna industry as well as challenging, and perhaps redefining what Henna Artists are “supposed” to look like or the impact we’re “allowed” to make.

While I’m not traditionally aligned with henna through culture or religion, I fell deeply in love with the art and became a self-taught artist before fully embracing its African roots. The henna plant, Lawsonia inermis—also known as Egyptian privet—is native to North Africa, where some of the lesser-known origins of henna began. As a biracial artist, I’m proud to represent a small but growing presence of henna artists of color in the United States. Through my work, I’ve made it a personal mission to help reintroduce BIPOC communities to the ancient adornment traditions of our ancestors.

Ultimately, I hope to inspire the next generation of henna artists to see that they don’t have to fit tradition perfectly in order to make an impact. Sometimes bringing something unconventional is exactly what an art form needs to evolve.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Imagine running a business that relies entirely on direct human contact during a global pandemic that required everyone to stay six feet apart. That was the reality I faced during the years we quarantined and limited interaction. My entire brand had been built on adorning my clients with henna, and almost overnight there were no clients and no event/festival bookings.

I had to pivot quickly, and the best way forward was to bring my art online. As a result of stepping outside of my comfort zone, I was able to host virtual henna workshops with several large organizations such as Yelp and AARP! Utilizing my background in marketing and branding, I created curated henna supply boxes that were shipped directly to participants and developed a fully online presentation curriculum for DIY henna, which ultimately gave birth to my virtual “Mehndi & Mindfulness” experience.

While I missed the in-person connection with clients, it was incredibly rewarding to see others get creative and adorn themselves for a change. In a time when the world felt so disconnected, it allowed me to bring a little bit of joy and magic into their lives!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lestrassedchae.com
• Instagram: @LeStrassedChae + @LeStrassed.Ink
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lestrassedchae
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanaegjones/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/le-strassed-chae-college-park

Image Credits

Retired Photographer @Iamshotbysean (IG) @shotbyseandmv (YT)