Henna With A Heart is a one-of-a-kind club at UCLA focused on a unique art form: Henna. Dried leaves of the henna plant are mixed with oils to make a paste, which is then rolled into a cone and used to draw temporary tattoos on skin. Henna With A Heart meets every week to practice henna, in addition to reaching out to the UCLA community through charity and as vendors. Club president Aarushi Gupta, a third-year psychology student, said that the organization’s mission is to blend artistic passions, cultural identity and philanthropy. At the same time, Henna With A Heart acts as an opportunity for friends to bond and practice the art form regularly.
“It’s an open workshop space for people to practice and get better [at henna],” Gupta said. “We also do donation events. A large portion of our work is for charity.”
Henna With A Heart was founded in 2021, carrying over from founder Anoushka Bhat’s high school club, Gupta said. Since then, the organization has gone beyond the mere practice of the art form, as Gupta added that they now work as vendors at UCLA First Thursdays and collaborate with various cultural organizations at UCLA.
Each week at general meetings, there is a theme for the art to follow — this winter quarter, dedicating each week to a certain movie genre, such as fantasy or science fiction. The club provides templates and photos of inspiration for artists, whether beginner or expert, Gupta said. She added that it’s also a space for individuals to bond and socialize while expressing themselves creatively.
“It’s really fulfilling on an artistic front, but also a social one,” Gupta said. “I think it’s a really good social practice to just sit across from somebody and talk with them for 20 minutes.”
Most importantly, Gupta said they work with UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, doing henna for children in need and their families. Recently, they have also provided gift bags to the hospital that include henna cones and other recreational supplies, says Gupta. She believes it is a way to give back to the community while doing a beloved art.
Henna, Gupta said, is a unique creative expression, separate from other kinds. It has a notable “tactile element,” giving artists “something to do with their hands.” Additionally, it serves as an “accessory,” the club’s president said, as henna tattoos are visibly sported on people’s skin.
Gupta said that club members bond while doing henna on each other and selecting their favorite patterns, including butterflies and other shapes. She added that due to the nature of general meetings being two hours long, and additional time dedicated to the club, such as their charity work, many members of the club have grown extremely close. Marketing intern Mehal Mittal, a second-year statistics and data science student, said that the club has brought her a new community and hobby she loves.
“I can find a family outside my own home [with Henna with a Heart],” Mittal said. “This is a small family.”
Gupta also said that henna does not exclusively belong to one particular culture or ethnicity. While it has roots in South Asian, Middle Eastern and West African regions, anyone can do henna, regardless of their background — so long as they understand and respect its history, Gupta said.
“Henna is not exclusive or limited to certain cultures,” Gupta said. “Our goal is to make it open and accessible without compromising the respect that’s involved with the traditional use of it.”
All UCLA students and community members are encouraged to find Henna With A Heart, whether as a vendor at a UCLA event or at their weekly general meetings, Gupta said. She added that all are welcome to experiment with the art form and do their own henna. Marketing director Ee Mahmud, a third-year human biology and society student, said that she was a beginner before joining Henna With A Heart.
“I never tried henna before,” Mahmud said. “This club gave me a push to try and learn. Once I got better, I started having a lot of fun doing it.”
Henna With A Heart can be found on Instagram and TikTok, @hennawithaheartatucla, and at various events around UCLA. Gupta says that they will continue to support the local community, donating henna cones and gift bags for children in need. Gupta hopes to continue providing henna tattoos for students when vending at First Thursdays and other cultural clubs like the Indian Student Union.
“I think everybody should stop by once and do henna,” Mittal said. “I think it’s for everybody.”
