henna & hair

Henna & Hair is a Memphis-based studio focused on natural hair styling and henna art, led by founder and lead artist Melanie McCormick. Her henna work started in 2013 and her hair styling followed in 2016. The business says it has built a reputation for quality hair care, trend-minded styles, quality products and professionalism, and client testimonials on the website praise the consistency and professionalism of the work.

The studio regards a client's hair, and any body art they choose, as a way of expressing who they are. Services include henna adornment for the body, Goddess loc services, South American jagua body art, and removal of braids, twists, loc extensions, crochet and other styles. Removal is booked as an add-on because it takes extra time and carries extra fees.

Before a first Goddess Loc appointment, new clients have a consultation, which costs $30 and is non-refundable. Consultations are also required for specialty services and for clients with unique hair needs or questions. The setting is intended to feel calm and spa-like. The building is locked at all times, so clients text when they park and wait in their vehicle until the stylist lets them in. The full address is sent in the booking confirmation once the deposit is paid.

The henna powder is imported from HennaCaravan, and the paste is hand-blended with ground henna leaves, lemon juice and aromatherapy-grade essential oils. At times the studio uses Lavender Oasis hand-rolled henna cones from HennaCaravan, which contain Bulgarian lavender essential oil. Jagua gel comes from the FreshJagua Company and is pasteurized and triple filtered. Henna stains usually last 7 to 10 days and are longest on the hands and feet. Jagua stains last 1 to 3 weeks and reach their final color 12 to 48 hours after application. Because jagua has a higher allergy rate than henna, a patch test two weeks before a large application is suggested.

All services require a non-refundable deposit that is applied to the final balance. Cancellations need 24 hours' notice by text, and late cancellations forfeit the deposit and incur a charge of 75% of the service cost. Clients have a 15-minute grace period. Concerns about a service should be raised during the appointment, as refunds are not issued for services.

Sees a client's hair and body art as an expression of who they are.

A calm, spa-like setting.