While the most traditional customs of mehndi have been a celebratory symbol for weddings and special occasions in South Asian culture, this artist has just brought so many more feels to the practice.
Artist Sarah Walters pens the most exquisite mehndi designs on cancer patients who have lost their hair because of chemo therapy
Losing your hair can be an incredibly daunting and unfathomable experience, and Sarah is helping ease a feeling of loss by painting on breathtaking henna crowns.
She mentions in an interview, “when my stepdad passed away from multiple myeloma (a rare cancer of the plasma cells) in 2004, I remember my feeling of helplessness. It reinforced my desire to help people, and now with more of a focus on those who are fighting cancer.”
It all started in 2010 when she was approached to create a henna crown for a family friend undergoing chemotherapy
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This was when she realized she wanted to entwine the concept into her work.
Sarah Walters now offers henna crowns to clients at her salon in Seattle, USA
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Her designs are customer-specific, tailored to either a design they want or based on their personalities
Sarah uses a safer form of mehndi that is plant-based so as not to harm patients.
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The best thing about these henna crowns are that they’re free of cost
Sarah says, “my clients are always so excited when they first see their finished henna crown. They tell me they feel beautiful.”
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Sarah’s main goal is to make sure her clients never stop feeling beautiful
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This is such a beautiful gesture, and one that’s so simple too.
Cover Image via hennalounge.com
