Look ma, I got a henna tattoo

The ink on her skin raises eyebrows wherever she goes.

But unlike tattoos, the intricate art on Miss Nadia Rahmat's body can be easily removed.

That is because the designs are inked using henna, a plant-based dye.

The designer in question is her friend, henna artist Tiffany Tan, 24, who manages a Japanese art gallery.

Ms Tan, who started dabbling in the art last year after being invited to an event featuring tattoo artists, said: "My inspiration comes from everyone. It's all about the fusion and collaboration with clients. Everyone has his/her own idea of what he/she wants."

She added that the clients usually show her a picture of what they would like to have drawn. She would then incorporate her own style into the design, drawing inspiration from traditional henna designs.

Miss Tan said that Miss Nadia encouraged her to do "crazier" designs with henna, after which she started experimenting with various other genres such as Egyptian and Wiccan art.

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Her popularity as a henna artist grew after she started posting pictures of designs done on herself and her friends on her Instagram account @lovage, which has almost 50,000 followers.

Said Miss Tan: "It is only through Instagram that people started knowing about my work because that is the only place I post my pictures. The rest was through word of mouth."

At first, she drew only on her friends. But as her popularity grew, she started to get clients willing to pay between $20 and $25 for her art.

Ms Tan can draw at any location, as all she requires is for her client to be seated comfortably.

The impermanence of henna, which lasts up to two weeks, allows her clients to change designs once the henna fades. And Ms Tan's quirky designs have started to get her a small but dedicated following.

Ms Carolyn Kan, 42, founder and designer of Carrie K. Artisan Jewellery, said: "Tiffany's work is funky and contemporary, it is not something you expect from henna art."