Alpaca Fiber Dread Extensions

The alpaca fiber extensions I offer can be sewn into your own hair permanently, pinchbraided in semi-permanently or temporarily. Alpaca can be dyed to match your natural hair colour for a natural look, to add some highlights, or to go bright pink all over! Permanent sewn-in extensions will last months to years, as long as you care for them well (see aftercare) and give them occasional maintenance work. This method of extensions looks a lot more natural than the braid-in method and the joining of hair is camoflauged with my signature Stripe technique and combined with wraps if you so choose. Permanent extensions can be installed on pre-existing dreads, or if you have loose hair, I will dread your natural hair and sew into to the dread-base. To assure that the dread bases will hold, I ask that you have at least five inches of hair before proceeding with permanent extensions. With time, the wool will begin to felt into your dreads, lock up, and become permanent. Pinchbraid extensions are a low-commitment method of putting in extensions and can last up to two months before needing to be taken out, without any damage to your natural hair. Extensions are simply braided in, and can be installed in hair three inches or longer. To remove, simply cut the rubber band or stitch at the end of the braid and unbraid. Leaving them in longer than two months is not recommended, as the fiber will begin to felt into your hair and make them harder to remove, especially on coarse, curly, and dry hair that has a tendency to dread. Synthetic dread extensions can also be pinchbraided in. As long as they’re well cared-for, all typed of pinchbraided extensions can be reused many times.

Alpaca Fiber vs. Synthetic

Both materials are light-weight and fast-drying, much more so than natural human hair, but alpaca is lighter and much softer on the skin, and many prefer it because it is feels and looks more natural. Alpaca will felt into your hair over time, and thus makes it the best choice for permanent extensions and is much more affordable than human hair. Alpaca can be dyed any colour, but if you’re looking for super-bright and UV-blacklight colours, synthetic is the only way to go. Anyone with fiber or plastics allergies, or with very sensitive skin and scalp should mention this before proceeding with hair work.

Basic price list for loose alpaca fiber double-ended extensions

singles:
short (spiky, 5")- $3. per dread
medium (chin/shoulder-length)- $4. per dread
long (mid-back length) - $5 per dread

quarter head dread kits (15 units)
short- $40
medium- $55
long- $70

half-head dread kits (28 units)
short - $75
medium - $105
long- $135

full head dread kits (50 units)
short- $ 120
medium- $180
long- $210

installation services
singles - $5 each
quarter head (15) - $55
half head (28)- $80
full head (50)- $120

colour chart:

Black Pirate Dread Wig with Wraps

black synthetic medium-long dread wig with beads and wraps... a beautiful, bohemian piece that would be perfect for a costume, event or photo shoot. Full back coverage, and it looks great up in pigtails too!

$180.

Short Auburn Dread Wig

short synthetic auburn dread wig - $52.

Hair Wraps

Wraps are a beautiful addition to anyone’s hair, dreaded or not! I use yarn to create stripes and spirals of colour around a section of hair, either a dreadlock or a braid. Beads, stones, jewels, leather, feathers, wire, and your own trinkets can also be incorporated and sewn in. Wraps can be subtle or bright, and can be made to last months to years, or can be made temporary and taken out at any time. Full wraps cover the

length of the hair section and can be extended to any length with a yarn core and bead on the tip. Partial wraps cover most of the hair, but leave the tail end of the dread or braid loose. My signature Stripe technique looks great on both natural and extended dreads, and can be used to create visually appealing smooth colour transitions and camouflage the juncture of sewn-in extensions. Wraps can also be added to falls, wigs, and all types of hair projects, just ask!

Mraur on the road!

During the summers
I travel around to festivals and craft fairs, selling my wares. You can find me on the beach, vending my things at Shambhala Music Festival and other festivals on the East and West Coasts...




I'm currently scheduling appointments in the following areas:

October: Portland, OR / Seattle, WA /
Vancouver, BC
November: Burlington, VT /
Montreal, QC

make your appointment now!
mraur@hotmail.com

Natural Dreads

Natural Dreadlocks

So, you want the real thing! I can create dreadlocks from your natural hair, regardless of texture and ethnicity. Thick, coarse hair is easiest to work with, and curly hair locks up very well, but dreads can be achieved on any hair type. I recommend that you have at least five inches of hair before dreading, so they will lock up well. As they mature and lock up, dreads will tighten and shrink, generally to about 2/3 the length of your starting hair. Dreads can be made thick or thin, but remember that thinner dreads require more work and more time.

Already have dreads? I offer dread maintenance work, where I separate dreads that are growing together, roll and tighten loose roots, incorporate stray hairs, and tame unruly dreadmonsters! I can also reinforce thinning dreads and reshape lumpy dreads by sewing or wrapping them.

Human hair extensions are also an option and can be dreaded and sewn into your dreadlocks as permanent extensions, though human hair is a lot more expensive, especially for longer extensions.

Alpaca Fiber Double-Ended Dreads

I just finished rolling about a hundred of these beautiful alpaca wool rovings... they're super long (for long hair, or used on the half for medium layered hair)... beautiful bright white, or dyed-to-order (natural colours to match your hair, or bright colour combinations... there are so many possibilities to fit any personality! I am available to install them also, if we happen to be geographically close! email me with any inquiries and for pricing: mraur@hotmail.com

happy fun colours elf hat!

i´ve learned to knit! the blue thing i´m working on here will be a knitted hat with kitty ears...

last night i finished the ¨happy colours elf hat¨... blue, green, pink, orange, and red... it´s smaller and lighter-weight than my winter elf hats... yours for only $35. USD + S/H!

new stencils! mano de fatima & spiral design

new racerback tanks with mano de fatima or spiral stencilled designs on reverse (click image to see more detail!) more colours available, just ask!

tank sizes small & medium $20. USD

girly panties w/ mano de fatima design
size small - $8. USD

crochet elf hats!

these elf hats are nice and big and heavy-duty for winter... get them while they´re hot!

colours:
blue multi
brown multi (SOLD!)
red & pink multi

$42 each, USD

Dread Care FAQ

Before your appointment

If you want to dye your hair, do it at least three days before your appointment. Thoroughly wash and dry your hair the day of the appointment and don’t use conditioner or any other products in your hair. If I’m doing an at-home installation, you might want to pick out a good movie or two if we’ve got a lengthy hair project to complete!

Washing

It’s best not to get wool wet, so try to only wash your hair when you feel it really needs it. You can tie your hair up or use a shower cap to keep it dry during normal showering. Try to limit shampooing to once a week at most, less often if you can stand it! If you are accustomed to shampooing daily, your hair (and you) may take a little while to adjust to less frequent washing, but the hair’s oil production will adjust accordingly. Using a clean-rinsing, residue-free shampoo, (try something with tea tree oil or oil of peppermint), make a diluted solution of two parts shampoo to one part water. Apply shampoo just the scalp area, holding the wool out of the way. There is no reason to shampoo the wool parts unless they become really dirty or smell really funky (like smoke). If you do have to wash them at some point, use cold water to limit shrinkage and colour fading, and be very, very gentle, taking care not to pull them, as wool becomes more fragile when wet. Always make sure to rinse really well. Never use conditioner, as it can cause loosening, and avoid other products that might leave residues in the hair.

Wool gets super heavy when it’s wet, so to dry your hair, squeeze as much water out as possible and then squeeze again inside of a towel. For long hair, to avoid damaging the hair, support the weight of the wool with your hands to reduce any pulling or stress on your neck and scalp. After squeezing, try flipping your head over, wrapping your hair in a towel, twisting, and wrapping it up like a turban. Leave it up for five or ten minutes to dry, then carefully untwist it and squeeze again in a dry towel. Leave your hair down and loose until it is completely dry. Avoid going to bed with wet hair. It’s best to wash your hair on a hot, dry, windy, sunny day, as it will dry faster. The wool can be palm-rolled and reshaped if it has warped or shrunken from washing.

The Itchies

It is not uncommon for people to experience “the itchies,” especially the first few days to a week after installing extensions. This is simply the hair getting used to being part of a dreadlock or braid and/or carrying more weight, as in the case of extensions and wraps, and should go away once the hair relaxes. Try not to scratch the scalp, as it may cause further irritation, damage the hair and cause fuzzies, or even loosen the extensions. Shampoos containing tea tree oil or peppermint oil can have a nice, cooling effect and have astringent properties that help with itchies. Some people use special shampoos meant for dandruff and itchy scalp. It is best to use a clean-rinsing, unscented shampoo that won’t leave residues in your dreads, because those too can cause itchies. Always rinse really well. Braid spray can help with persistent itchies, and in severe cases, an antihistamine might be used.

*disclaimer - dreads cannot be returned or exchanged once worn*