Meet Aidai Garnelo | Henna, brow and lash artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aidai Garnelo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aidai, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I perused an artistic career for many reasons. For starters, temporary body art is a beautiful form of self expression. I can show case my art on my body. I can create a space where I am my most confident self which allows me to connect with different people and create memorable moments that I couldn’t have had without my art. But the most appealing reason to me is that art is ever-changing. Just as I grow and learn, my art does the same.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I began working with henna about 6 years ago just for self adornment. Then 2 years later I became a mom to my beautiful daughter. I was away on maternity leave for quite some time and I was also living in a new area, far from what I knew, and postpartum depression just creeped up on me. I recognized that I wasn’t my true self and was looking for a way out and that’s when I started picking up a henna cone again. I was able to express myself again and because of that I fell in love with henna once more. I started to respect it and educated myself. Now, years later, I create my own all organic henna paste at home and create art with my own style.

After I started taking henna serious my work life just flourished. I started taking private henna appointments and henna parties. I also attended a couple of markets and even helped a fellow henna artist in the city at a Dewali celebration. A couple years later, I was mentored by Jennifer, my boss and owner of Chic Lash Boutique, and learned how to thread. It took me continuous months of practice but was finally able to take clients and earned their trust when it came to their brows. Next came eyelash school. I attended school for my lash extension license here in Texas and have been able to offer other services at Chic Lash Boutique such as eyelash lifts and eyebrow laminations. I now have regular recurring clients whom I appreciate so much. I don’t know what my next endeavour will be for the time being but I’m excited to see what this year has in store for me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I enjoy outdoor walks so I like to visit the White Oaks trail, Hermann park, Discovery Green and all there fun events. I also really enjoy the Houston Museum District. The Museum of Fine Arts has to be my favorite. I enjoy Vietnamese and Japanese food a lot and some of my favorites include Pho Saigon and Mai’s Japanese Restaurant. Mai’s probably has one of the best happy hours in town for both drinks and sushi.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I think the person who has had the most impact in my life would have to be my daughter. She hasn’t been in my life for very long at all but becoming a mother helped me grow in all aspects of my life. I became my most confident self. My self-doubt has diminished drastically since I became a mom. I am my most fearless self because of her and I’m so grateful for that.

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