Henna at the Hub

Residents received a special kind of tattoo during RLA’s Henna Tattoo Night from 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, at The Hub.

Henna tattoos are popular throughout the world and are temporary on the skin, lasting 1-4 weeks. Over 98 students attended the event, having the chance to either tattoo themselves or receive a free-handed tattoo from other students.

“We were thinking that maybe 60-70 people would show up,” Senior RA Nalani Stewart, junior of Colorado Springs, Colorado, said. “We wanted to do an event that could be diverse. Henna is originally from India and they use pigments there to crush them up to make these tattoos. I thought it would be cool to bring it here.”

 Kaitlin Macke, senior of Newcastle, Wyoming, provided the crowd of students with creative hand tattoos throughout the night.

The tattoo process was simple. Students used a stencil tool and then applied the henna paste from a cone. For full aesthetic effect, students waited for one hour with the paste on their arm or leg. Once the paste dried up, the tattoo was transformed into an orange shade.

“I just thought it was something that both men and women would be interested in. It is pretty easy and low maintenance for everyone,” Senior RA Lydia Privett, junior of Wahoo, said.

The hands-on program allowed for students to relax, socialize and drink coffee while waiting for their tattoos to dry up.

“I didn’t have anything else to do. I usually like going to programs like this that are hands on,” Chaelor Brown, freshman of Cedar Hills, Utah, said.

The program exceeded attendance expectations and provided students with some fresh designs on their hands and arms for the remainder of the school year.

Next week, RLA is hosting an “Art Gallery” event Tuesday, April 16, all day in The Hub. Anyone interested in submitting their artwork can email [email protected].