Nadia Elhag of Raleigh & beyond on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Nadia Elhag. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Nadia, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I have been enjoying prioritizing a work-life balance! When running a business, it is so easy to get caught up in perfection & keeping your brain running 24/7. There are nights where I am up late thinking about what I can do to improve the business, what tasks need to be done, etc. When this happens, I remind myself to take a step back, write down a plan, and keep work tasks during work hours. This then allows me to have a life outside of work! I enjoy going to my workout classes, spending time with friends & family, and watching movies! Work enjoyments include: setting up my new studio space in Downtown Raleigh, outside events, and rebranding my business. Every week, I write down what I would like to get done for work & what I would like to do in my personal life. It helps me keep routine!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Nadia, and I’m a henna artist with over 20 years of experience. My love for henna began when I was just five years old at my aunt’s wedding in Egypt. I can still remember watching the artist draw delicate flowers on my hands, waiting for the paste to dry, and marveling at the beautiful stain it left behind. From that moment, I was captivated.
Growing up, I always loved art classes, and by the age of 10, I began creating henna designs for family and friends. I never imagined how deeply this ancient art form would shape my life.

When I was 18, a devastating typhoon struck the Philippines. My local mosque organized a fundraiser for families who had lost their homes, and my friend and I decided to offer henna to raise donations. In just four hours, we raised nearly $1,000 – and realized the incredible power of art to bring people together for good. That experience inspired me to continue using henna at community and fundraising events.

As my passion grew, I immersed myself in the cultural history and traditions of henna. What began as a simple love for drawing became a profound appreciation for its ability to celebrate beauty, heritage, and connection. Eventually, I pursued specialized training in bridal henna, blending Gulf, African, and South Asian influences to create intricate, meaningful designs for brides-to-be.

For me, henna is more than decoration – it’s a form of storytelling. I take great care to understand each client’s vision, crafting designs that reflect their personality, traditions, and dreams. It’s an honor to continue this art form, connecting with people from all walks of life through the universal language of creativity and culture.

I now service North Carolina & beyond for any events. My business has introduced me to many curious minds, many events, and I have been blessed to travel all over the world to share my art!

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My family taught me the most about work. I grew up in a very “go getter” household. My parents both have entrepreneurial mindsets and I would say that definitely was brought down to me! My sisters are all hard workers, and I look up to that. I think we all encourage each other to work hard & do the work right – no matter what job it is. From a young age, my parents encouraged me to work. I had many jobs: waitressing, delivery driving, grocery store clerk, and even working at the airport! All these jobs truly taught me about business, time management, and saving money. I will say, my parents’ teachings did not stick with me right away, but looking back at it – I am glad that they continued to instill a hard work ethic for my sisters & I.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I struggle with OCD. I definitely have had OCD since I was very young, but did not get diagnosed until I was in my 20’s. Prior to being diagnosed, I experienced a really dark time in my life. Very briefly, OCD is not the “I need things to be tidy” trait that people mention when they are particular about cleaning. In fact, it is much more than that & it is really scary and debilitating. OCD is a disorder where one experiences persistent, unwanted thoughts and then relives that stress with a ritualistic behavior (reassurance, counting, etc.). Before I was diagnosed with OCD, I was always told that you just had to go on a walk, exercise, meditate and you will be okay. So, that was my mindset. Then, I had a bad episode and I thought something was wrong with me. I exercised, I walked, I laughed, I went out – I still was deeply anxious & depressed. I had no idea what was going on & no one around me could understand it either. Google was my friend at the time & I found a website called nOCD where I learned about OCD, spoke with a professional, and was diagnosed. This helped me tremendously! I learned a lot about myself & my strength. How, I can still live my life while having OCD – that I don’t have to be scared. I learned the tools I needed to keep my anxiety down. Yes, exercise helps! BUT, having a mental toolbox & having someone listen and guide you on HOW to use your toolbox (exercise, rest, therapy, etc.) truly helps to understand your WHY.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That you have to have to keep your prices low because it is an industry where you can’t make good money – or it has to be kept as a side hustle. I don’t believe in that, but I can see why people feel as though they need to shrink down to match their competitors’ prices. The henna industry is very unique because it is an ancient art form that has been around for centuries, dating back to Ancient Egyptian times. Over time, henna went from being used medicinally to now being used for many occasions to adorn the body in designs. Weddings, birthdays, holidays, pregnancies, to name a few. With that being said, artists will receive inquiries from potential clients who shop around & bargain. Additionally, artists will post pricing that is 30-50% less than what senior henna artists are selling their service for. This then creates a mindset for the consumer that says, “Well, I can find a cheaper artist!” or “This artist is charging me $$, so can you also charge me this?” And I have fell for this many times, feeling a sense of urgency to book the client because I want to be “fair” to them. In reality, henna artists need to be fair to ourselves. It is the only way to wrong a business that will be successful & respected. When you stick firm to your pricing and you take pride in your hard work – your clients will feel and see that confidence and not think about pricing.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Absolutely, yes! I got a dream job in Hawaii as a full-time henna artist. I had always, always dreamed of living in Hawaii. I felt like it was my forever place, even though I had never been there. I saw a position opened up to work at a retail store & do henna. I was in shock because I had no idea that I could be a full-time henna artist. I remember telling my parents, “See! Art can be a life-long career! I don’t need to have a desk job.” Within a month of being hired, I packed my bags and set off to Hawaii. This was a 3-year contract & I was so excited. I traveled all over and stayed in places months at a time, so I was confident I could up & move to my dream location no problems at all. Well, I got there & I just felt so scared. I began having these sad thoughts, I felt so homesick, I did not know what was going on! I felt all these emotions all at once (I was not diagnosed with OCD yet) & I had the urgency to LEAVE. Just quiet & go back home. I stuck it out for around a month & then I had to quit. I realized many things about the job; the henna tools being used, the style of henna designs (many, many turtles), and I was also working the retail part of the store. I was truly heartbroken & my confidence plummeted. But, you know what, I am glad I tried it out. I think I would have liked to have sat with my emotions a bit longer, reminding myself that it is OK to feel scared & homesick. But, looking back, I know it was not the henna career path I would have enjoyed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hennaartbynadia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hennaartbynadia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hennaartbynadia
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hennaartbynadia

Image Credits
Radian Photography: https://radianphotography.com
Anthony Gomes: https://www.instagram.com/agomesphotography/