We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sasha Uddin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sasha below.
Sasha , appreciate you joining us today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?
I remember the last time I got asked this question was in grade school; I never thought I would have the opportunity to answer it 15 years later. I would say my hero is Khalil Gibran, my favorite author. More often than not, I find myself reading his poetry and books when I feel something is not in alignment with my vision or I feel stuck in a situation. His words and thoughts about concepts remind me of why I do what I do. My favorite book written by him is The Prophet, and when in situations of uncertainty, I am able to remind myself about the concepts that are most important in my life. You can read Gibran as many times as you want, yet it feels like you’re reading a new book each time.
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 name is Sasha Uddin, and Henna By Sasha is my local business where I provide henna services and supplies for all types of occasions. From wedding events to baby showers, henna is something that makes a celebration complete. Choosing to do henna was a combination of my exposure to it and my realization that any craft can be more than just a craft if you decide to put meaning behind your work. My parents were born in Pakistan, so henna for me is a tie to my homeland. I was exposed to henna from a very young age, especially since henna is a must for Eid. However, exposure to henna is not entirely why I pursued this craft. I had learned about acid violence my first year of college and decided to do what I could to stop this hate crime. In a pinch, acid violence is a more common hate crime in the middle east and south Asia. It happens when someone throws acid on another’s face with the intent to disfigure their face for life. I felt that it was a form of abuse that was not talked about enough, so with henna as my medium, I chose to educate people about acid violence and donate money to the cause. Whether it is teaching henna classes and educating about acid violence or donating money from my henna appointments, I try to make the most of what I can do for those in need.
Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.
My favorite part about doing henna is actually making the henna cones. When I first started doing henna, I was more in touch with the creative drawing aspect than I was with my actual medium, henna. Not too much later, I realized that if my tool is not built to perfection, neither can the art I make from it! So then I learned about henna, not just the art this time, but more about the plant itself. Henna art is called that because the paste (or ink) used to make the designs comes from a henna plant. It took a couple of months to figure out how to make the paste, but not just any paste, a paste that was just elastic enough to drape lines and fluid enough to work with. I needed a paste that stained the darkest possible while using only natural products. To take it a step further, I made it my mission to use henna ingredients that were good for the skin, ensuring that as the paste deposits its satin, your hands are being nourished with the best. Once I had that down, the rest was easy. For those who are starting their own business, these cones are perfect.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Social media is my best friend. Instagram is my primary social media and I love how I have the freedom to showcase my work through pictures, comments, updates and reels. I can directly answer questions and concerns with just a few keystrokes at any given moment! I also love that I can cater to a henna audience by utilizing hashtags and tagging the people I work with! My social media has been an amazing source for new clients because all they need to do is search up AZ Henna Art and my business is right there!
Contact Info:
- Website: hennabysasha.com
- Instagram: Hennabysasha_