mraur.com

Price List for Alpaca & Synthetic Extensions

2011-03-16T20:39:00.000-07:00

Available by mail order and for installation in Portland, OR

singles:
short (8")- $3. per dread
medium (14")- $4. per dread
long (20") - $5 per dread

quarter head dread kits (15 units)
short (8")- $40
medium (14") - $55
long- (20") $70

half-head dread kits (28 units)
short (8") - $75
medium (14") - $105
long (20") - $135

full head dread kits (50 units)
short (8") - $ 120
medium (14") - $180
long (20") - $210

There is an additional $2 dye fee per colour per kit for alpaca extensions

**Dread Maintenance and Extension Installation Rates - $30/ hour for the first 5 hours, then $25/hour thereafter**

Natural dread maintenance usually takes 1-2 hours depending on the state of your dreads - I work with a crochet hook to pull in loose "fuzzies", tighten up your roots, and I can also help reinforce thin spots in dreads. I can also do stripey yarn dread wraps to funkify your 'do if you like!

A full head of 50 temporary extensions usually takes around 5 hours to install, whereas a full head of 50 permanent extensions can take as long as 14 hours (usually a rate of 4-5 per hour) - but it varies depending on the length of your hair!

Synthetic and Alpaca Fiber Dread Extensions

2007-09-29T23:18:00.001-07:00

The synthetic and alpaca fiber extensions Ioffer can be sewn into your own hair permanently or pinchbraided in for up to 2months at a time (they are reusable, of course!) For an even moretemporary change, I also make tie-in falls, hairpieces, and wigs. Synthetic fiber comes in a rainbow of natural and unnatural colours that can beblended, mixed, and matched, and alpaca comes in a few natural colours and canbe dyed for other effects. The possibilitiesare endless; I can match your natural hair colour, add some highlights, or to gobright red all over!
Pinchbraid extensions are a low-commitmentmethod of putting in extensions and can last up to two months before needing tobe taken out, without damaging your natural hair. The extensions are simply braided into yournatural hair and secured with rubber bands. It’s best to have a minimum of 3” of natural hair to install pinchbraid extensions (results arebest with longer hair). For thoseDo-It-Yourselfers out there, I include illustrated instructions with all dreadkit orders. These allow you to installthem yourself, with the help of a friend (for the back of the head), or are agood reference if you have a stylist install them.
To remove temporary extensions, simply cutthe rubber band at the end of the braid and unbraid. Leaving them in longerthan two months is not recommended, as the fiber will begin to felt into yourhair and make them harder to remove, especially on coarse, curly, and dry hairthat has a tendency to dread. As long as they’re well cared-for, all types ofpinchbraided extensions can be reused many times.
Permanent sewn-in extensions are a biggercommitment and will last months to years, as long as you care for them well(see aftercare) and give them occasional maintenance work. The effect looksa lot more natural than the braid-in method and involves dreadding up thenatural hair and adding in the extension by crocheting and sewing it in,blending it with the natural hair. Permanent extenders can be added ontopre-existing dreads to lengthen them. Toassure that the dread bases will hold, I ask that you have at least five inchesof hair before proceeding with permanent extensions. The longer, the better! With time, wool and alpaca can begin to feltinto your dreads and tighten as it felts more.

Alpaca Fiber vs. Synthetic
Both materials are light-weight andfast-drying. Synthetic fiber is the bestway to get very realistic looking dreads and match your natural colour, as Ihave a library of different colours which I can blend, mix, and match to get yournatural shade or any combination you desire! I hand crochet the syntheticfibers in the same manner that I crochet real dreads - so they look virtuallyindistinguishable from real dreadlocks. Synthetic is the best choice for realisticlooking extensions.
Alpaca is lighter when it is dry and can be softeron the skin than synthetic which is a plastic. Alpaca feels and looksnatural and earthy, which appeals to some. Alpaca is available in naturalcolours, and can be dyed many colours, though the colours are more limited. If you’re looking for a spot-on colour match, super-bright,or UV-blacklight colours, synthetic is the way to go.
Both types of dreads are generally welltolerated for most people, but anyone with animal hair, wool, alpaca, orplastics allergies, or with sensitive skin or scalp should be cautious. (If there is any question, it is wise to braid in a few "trial"dreads for a week or two to test for allergic reaction before proceeding with afull head or permanent extensions).

Alpaca colour chart (many more available, just ask!):

Black Pirate Dread Wig with Wraps

2007-09-28T17:38:00.001-07:00

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

2007-08-31T09:58:00.001-07:00

short synthetic auburn dread wig - $52.

Hair Wraps

2007-08-31T09:53:00.001-07:00

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!

2007-08-31T09:48:00.001-07:00

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

2007-08-31T09:40:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

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

Dread Care FAQ

2007-02-06T10:08:00.000-08:00

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*