We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Julia Cass. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Julia below.
Julia, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
I remember my self always, since the start of being a henna artist, caring about making others leave happy and satisfied. My main purpose has been this and not becoming famous, increase my clientele or anything else that has to do with the business – finance part. I think this is the key. Of course we cannot satisfy everyone but if we care, is enough. It makes such a difference and people can see it. They see it in everything you do, say and emit while doing something you love for a job.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Back in 2016 I was having creative fun with henna cones and decided to make a fan art page on Facebook about it and innocently post photos of my hands with my self-taught mehndi! And this is how it all began.. I started getting messages on the page from Greek and non Greek women that wanted to have beautiful henna on their hands, by me! My intention was never to do it professionally, I was just genuinely drawn to henna art with no purpose to make a living from it or get in the beauty industry at all.
But that was the key. Doing it for the right reasons and not for the wrong ones! Sometimes, while we try to figure out what we want to do in life, find our purpose, we try things that we think we like, because others do them. In my case, I started backwards! First I found something I genuinely loved and then everything fell together effortlessly.
Well what it special about it… The motivation came by itself. When I started having clients, being a beginner also, the only thing that mattered to me and started as a stress, was to see them smile at the end of the session. Being happy, feeling excited and confident for the Art on their body, making their vision come true. Each person has their own aesthetic and it is important for me, them to choose their design style which I guarantee always represents their inner world. And then deliver it as best as I can. This was and is my motivation until this day.
After years I started realize that I had self-incorporated what big brands started doing recently, the customer-centric ethic and policy. The actual caring about the other person. Not focusing on the profits or other superficial things.
The most feedback I have gotten is about my attitude, that I am a friend, that I truly care. I don’t actually treat it as a business, I LET it be a business. I never had an attitude and everyday I remember where I started and who supported me but also how long it took me to get here and all the friendships I made. I am grateful.
I spend time with people, I share experiences, energy and I appreciate them.
Last but not least important thing is that I made sure from the start, to use Vegan, Cruelty Free, non Toxic, GMO / PPD free products made by nature. And I stay true to that, until today. Caring again for the safety of others as I would do for mine.
2023 was a year with the most weddings I ever had. It was a good year but also really difficult. But we made it! And I have happy brides and families. Means so much and it is an honor.
In 2024 I am gonna launch my first seminars about henna. I am in the planning phase still. Very excited!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I studied Architecture & Still Life Design for 3 years and then got in University of Athens in Greece at the Department of Photography and Audiovisual Arts. I also drew since I was a kid. Deffinitely there was talent there. But it is just the 50%. The other 50% to acquire, and after 8 years I still I feel am close to 90% at this point, needs to dedicate time and trial – error.
Definitely, give yourself time and trial, again and again. Only this way you learn the art and yourself more and better! Have patience and don’t get discouraged. Focus on your development and learn from your mistakes, educate yourself and have love for it.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
Definitely. I became 30 years old this June and my henna empire is growing, I couldn’t be happier. But I am struggling so much with balancing quiet time away from work emails, messages, screentime, travelling excessively and all these things that being a freelancer includes..
I am really burnt out from 2023, which was a blast by the way, but again! So I am “battling” right now with being overwhelmed when I am called to answer work stuff and balance my personal life but also grind. It is tough! I admire people that do it with so much grace and planning!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/HennaByJuliaGreece
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hennabyjuliagreece/
