A helping hand with HENNA

A Scandinavian beauty pro shares how the addition of Pavan Henna to her salon’s service menu has enriched the business & its staff

Pavan Dhanjal BEM, founder of Pavan Henna

"Henna is more than a service: it’s an art form that speaks to personal expression and cultural appreciation,” shares Mai Flytström, owner of Mai Beauty in Tampere, Finland. The beauty professional has Pavan’s always sought to offer clients a unique blend of tradition and innovation, and trained with Pavan Henna to introduce the body art option in her salon.

Mai Flytström

“Our clients have welcomed this addition with open arms, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” Mai continues. “Many are thrilled to have access to authentic henna services locally. Introducing Pavan Henna has not only expanded our repertoire, but enriched the cultural tapestry we offer to our Finnish clientele.”

The vision behind the partnership

Pavan Dhanjal BEM, founder of Pavan Henna, has dedicated her career to sharing her British-Indian heritage through fashion and beauty. Her journey is deeply inspiring, from pioneering henna bars in iconic locations like Selfridges and Topshop, to being recognised with a British Empire Medal for her services to beauty. Pavan also holds two Guinness World Records as the fastest henna artist, alongside being an influential figure as an advisory board member of the British Beauty Council.

Pavan’s deep connection with henna, coupled with her desire to bring this beautiful art form to a global stage, resonated with Mai’s goals for her business“I wanted to offer something special: an authentic, high-quality salon service that blends tradition with the modern beauty industry,” Mai shares. “Partnering with Pavan Henna was a natural choice, and one that aligns perfectly with the business’ values of quality, professionalism and customer satisfaction.”

Pavan’s intense training course covers the insight, techniques and product knowledge required to offer Pavan Henna services in the beauty space. Of the programme, she comments: “I wrote the training course over a number of years, ensuring that I listened to what was needed to make henna a success in salon environments. It is important for the service to provide enjoyment as well as profit, and I have added stencils and kit bags to my product offerings to help artists become masters of henna.”

Mai describes the training programme as ‘transformative’. “Pavan’s training was comprehensive, covering both the artistic and practical aspects of henna,” she shares. “It wasn’t just about learning the technicalities of henna application; it was about understanding the rich history and cultural significance behind each design. We explored various styles and techniques, mastering Pavan’s signature designs, while being encouraged to create our own for clients.

“This training didn’t just enhance our skillsets; it enriched our understanding and appreciation of henna as an art form. We’ve since been able to incorporate these skills into our services, offering clients unique and personalised experiences.”

“Our partnership with Pavan Henna has been a significant milestone in Mai Beauty’s journey. It has allowed us to bring a piece of cultural heritage into our salon.”

Growth & expansion through henna services

Henna is particularly popular at Mai Beauty during the festive season and for client celebrations. “While traditional Indian and Arabic designs remain beloved, there’s also a strong appreciation for minimal, tattoo-inspired designs among Finnish clients,” Mai divulges. “By blending traditional techniques with Scandinavian aesthetics, we’ve created a fusion that’s both unique and appealing.”

Providing a significant boost to the business’ portfolio, Mai Beauty employees have not only honed henna skills, but become educators in the art form. “The Pavan Henna certification has elevated the salon’s profile, giving clients confidence in the quality and authenticity of its services. It has also allowed us to offer professional training to others in the industry,” Mai enthuses.

“We offer henna at festivals and events, which has attracted new clients to our salon who book for other services we offer. This expansion has not only increased our clientele, but allowed us to offer more comprehensive beauty packages, enhancing customer loyalty and supporting the salon’s growth.”

Henna quality & safety

Since the Mai Beauty employees gained their new skills, Pavan notes: “The Mai Beauty team has shown so much dedication and focus, and reminded me that if you really want to do something, you can! The practice and discipline the artists have demonstrated has been so impressive that I use them as the example to follow when training other salons.”

Mai chose Pavan Henna for her business due to the brand’s commitment to quality and safety: focuses that are central to Pavan’s business model. Her products are ideal for all skin types, including sensitive skin, and colours include brown, brights, black and white henna to allow artists to offer a versatile range of designs.

“More than just a beauty treatment, the henna products are an experience,” smiles Mai. “Infused with natural ingredients like eucalyptus and clove oil, the application is not only safe, but soothing.

“Our partnership with Pavan Henna has been a significant milestone in Mai Beauty’s journey. It has allowed us to bring a piece of cultural heritage into our salon. As we continue to grow and evolve, we remain committed to offering our clients the best in beauty services, where tradition meets modernity and every treatment is a celebration of individuality and art.”