If you’re planning to charge for henna skin application in Tennessee—specifically in Knox or Hamilton County —it’s considered a temporary body art service and you’ll need permits/licenses similar to tattoo or aesthetic services. In addition, we will require a Certificate of Insurance per our IV. B. 2. Insurance Requirements
Note: Due to safety concerns, we have yet to approve any henna artists for our events. If you are interested in participating with us, and have the mandatory state health permits, trainings and inspections, then we will take your waitlist application under consideration.
Statewide Tennessee Requirements
- Henna is treated as a form of body art, and applying it for money requires a licensed aesthetician or cosmetologist.
Hamilton County / Chattanooga
- Enforced by the Hamilton County Health Department – Environmental Health division (same as for tattoos/piercing).
- For any body art vendor (tattoo, piercing, and by extension, henna), you must:
- Submit facility plans to Environmental Health.
- Undergo inspections (tattoo shops 4x/year; others as determined).
- Obtain a body art establishment permit for the business.
- Individual artists may need artist or operator licenses plus bloodborne pathogen training.
- Renew annually by December 31 through their health permit portal
Knox County
- Methods like face paint, henna, or tattoo-like activities fall under body art regulations.
- To operate commercially you must:
- Hold a current aesthetician/cosmetologist license issued by the state.
- Have a business license from Knox County/Clerk’s Office.
- If working at events or fairs, you may need zoning approval or a temporary vendor permit depending on location—check with the County’s zoning or public works department