Hafsa Azam shows her work on her own hands.[Photo by Cai Muyuan/ China Daily]

Henna was originally created by mixing tree powder with other ingredients, but these days it generally comes as a ready-made paste in a cone-shaped tube. Designs are applied to the skin simply by applying pressure to the tube, forcing the dye out.

"Girls back home are crazy about it," Azam says. "It's a big business and girls go to salons to get it done on their hands and feet for festivals, wedding ceremonies and other events."

More than a hobby

After years of watching Azam applying henna to people's skin as a hobby, friends suggested that there could be commercial possibilities in it. She started applying henna during cultural festivals when she was attending university and charged a small amount for the service, and she built up a long list of happy customers, many of whom would frequently return to have more designs applied.