Vineeta Rajani (Halifax Henna)

You’re in a different country with different laws, policies, culture and norms, and it’s quite important for people, especially immigrants, to do as much research as they can to better understand the new environment they’re in. There is a lot you have to learn, so make an effort and have an open mind. Things that may have worked in your home country may not work here. It is really important to want to adapt! 

I am fortunate enough to be able to share a part of my culture with people through my business. When I started my business, I focused on educating the non- South Asian population in Halifax about what henna is – they were my target audience. People still have confusion and hesitations about it. As an immigrant, you need to develop a particular kind of resilience to the negativity you may sometimes face. 

I started seeing that as an opportunity to bridge a gap between the two cultures, and it’s been a really fantastic journey for me so far to see how people have not only developed an appreciation for henna, but also wholeheartedly accepted this form of art.