Check out the new accent kits listed on Etsy!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Back in Business!
Imp And Petal is BACK IN BUSINESS for 2011!
We know you missed us. :P
The Etsy shop is once again up and running, and our Facebook Page has many more members and is becoming much more interactive!
You may have noticed a few changes, and we'd like to explain them here.
First, our shipping prices have gone up, both locally and internationally. We decided to do this firstly because we are now taking further precautions with our packaging, to avoid any future mishaps with what I'm going to unceremoniously refer to as the Not at all Careful Postal Service.
Also, customs checks in and out of the US have been upped considerably, and since we sell an uncommon and usually shaped product it seems packages of this nature are more likely to be targeted for customs searches. To minimize any confusion, we're going to start exclusively using USPS issued packaging, which while free to use often weighs in a little higher.
We apologize for any inconvenience this might be to our clients, but are hoping it will be worth it in the long run with quicker shipping times and a product that arrives in pristine condition!
Another thing we've tweaked slightly is the package deal for dread kits. We've put a few limitations on "special effects" dreads included, and are now offering an unlimited amount of blended dreads (within the color allotment) at no extra charge! We are also considering writing up some different package deals including different styles of dreads, to make narrowing down exactly what you're looking for a little bit easier. :P
On the list of To-Do's for January/February:
We know you missed us. :P
The Etsy shop is once again up and running, and our Facebook Page has many more members and is becoming much more interactive!
You may have noticed a few changes, and we'd like to explain them here.
First, our shipping prices have gone up, both locally and internationally. We decided to do this firstly because we are now taking further precautions with our packaging, to avoid any future mishaps with what I'm going to unceremoniously refer to as the Not at all Careful Postal Service.
Also, customs checks in and out of the US have been upped considerably, and since we sell an uncommon and usually shaped product it seems packages of this nature are more likely to be targeted for customs searches. To minimize any confusion, we're going to start exclusively using USPS issued packaging, which while free to use often weighs in a little higher.
We apologize for any inconvenience this might be to our clients, but are hoping it will be worth it in the long run with quicker shipping times and a product that arrives in pristine condition!
Another thing we've tweaked slightly is the package deal for dread kits. We've put a few limitations on "special effects" dreads included, and are now offering an unlimited amount of blended dreads (within the color allotment) at no extra charge! We are also considering writing up some different package deals including different styles of dreads, to make narrowing down exactly what you're looking for a little bit easier. :P
On the list of To-Do's for January/February:
- Filming our OWN instructional installation and other how-to videos, and offering them in DVD format to purchase if you wish. Links to web-based videos will still of course be free of charge!
- More pre-made falls and accent kits
- Cyberlox Falls!
- Updating our color charts to include the SWEET new selections from IKS
- ...and of course, doing anything we can to keep our fans stylin' and happy. Please let us know if you have any suggestions for us!!!
Hope everyone had a great holiday,
now let's start rocking 2011 in style!!!
now let's start rocking 2011 in style!!!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Care Instructions
..::INSTALLATION::..
1. Enjoy your last shampoo for a while. And I mean enjoy it. It’s not nearly the same sort of affair when you’ve got dreads installed. Try to use a residue free shampoo/conditioner if you can manage! Go ahead and give yourself a nice scalp massage while you’re at it. Yeah, that’s it. Make the people outside the washroom wonder. Alright, alright, settled down. Now you want to rinse really, really well.
2. Coerce a good pal into helping you install. If they can figure out a three-strand braid, you’ve got yourself a winner. I hear milkshakes and movies are excellent lures for such helpful friends.
3. Make sure you have all your materials.
You will need:
* Your dread kit, of course
* A tail or “rat tail” comb, or other non-harmfully pointy object for sectioning. (I use a fancy-shmancy chopstick, for example).
* Itty Bitty Elastics in the color that will best blend with your dreads
*Hair clips
* A nice cushy pillow or three
*A lot of patience, especially if this is you or your friend’s first install
*Possibly your computer screen, loaded up with the following links to help you install:
Sectioning and Double Ended Dread Install: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBwiw9NYAM0 & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgPp3YrkMoA &
Single Ended Install, Washing & Maintainence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWYK5lb7P-I & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHl1XsnrNmk
4. I’m no doctor, but it’s advisable to drink plenty of water and keep some aspirin nearby. You’re adding a lot of extra weight to your head as well as yanking and pulling at your scalp, and you are likely to be sore for the next couple days.
Notes:
+ Try not to pull your hair up for 2-3 days, or if you must, be very gentle. You’ve got to give your scalp a few days to get used to the added weight to avoid massive headaches and possible breakage.
+ Red bumps are fairly common for the first few days, and could be a result of pulling your hair too tight when styling. Don’t scratch! You may further irritate your skin. If said bumps don’t go away within 5 days or you start to see little white bulbs pulling away from your partings, you’ve installed too tightly and should consider re-installing.
+ Battling the Itchies: All of us that wear dread extensions simply have to take this one in stride. They itch. All extensions itch. We’re just willing to put up with it for the sake of fabulous hair!! Fortunately there are a few things you can do to keep from going completely mad.
1. The biggest cause of itchies is shampoo residue. When your hair is sectioned off the way it is, it makes it very difficult to shed normally, which created a mild matting effect at the root of the installation. If excess soap builds up in that tiny sponge of hair, it can be super irritating to your scalp. Just rinse extra, extra thoroughly and cut down on the number of shampoos to avoid this.
2. Tea tree or Eucalyptus oils dabbed on with a q-tip can bring amazing relief, but make sure your skin isn’t broken ahead of time, and be sure to dilute first if your skin is super sensitive. Learned that one the hard way, myself. Feel the burn!
3. Often times, the itch is merely caused by sweat drying on your skin. Hop in the shower and give yourself a cool rinse, and it’ll probably do the trick.
..::INSTALLATION REMOVAL::..
After 6-8 weeks, you’ll have enough grow out that you’ll be ready to re-tighten. A lot of folks will say you can leave them in longer (I’ve done it myself!) but I can confidently say that through years of experience I’ve learned this is the ideal amount of time to prevent excess matting at the root (which can be very tricky to detangle) and unsightly grow out. Not to mention, after two months you’ll probably be dying to enjoy the orgasmic experience of a proper scrub of the hair and scalp!
1. Very simply snip the band at the end of your braids (being very, very careful not to snip your hair or the extension) and unbraid! You may want to keep your tail comb handy to help you pick apart any tricky braids. If you’re in to hilarious pictures of yourself, now would be an excellent time to snap a couple.
2. Carefully work out any knots with a comb, working from the ends of your hair to the scalp. A little leave-in conditioner may be used to help you. Often, I won’t do this step until AFTER I’ve had a good shower. You’ll have to use your own discretion.
3. Don’t be alarmed when it looks like you’re suddenly losing all your hair. Remember, you’ve not been able to shed normally, so the 100 or so hairs that should be naturally detaching from your head daily, are all being combed out at once. Your hair will feel very flat for a few days, but unless you have large portions of scalp showing through, you should be fine!
..::WASHING AND MAINTAINENCE::..
1. Always use a diluted shampoo. You can concoct this very easily by adding 2-3 tablespoons of preferred shampoo to a spray or color-applicator bottle and shaking it up.
2. Damped and apple mixture to your roots only, working it in between partings. Rinse very, very, VERY thoroughly. The run off should be enough to freshen your dreads.
3. Conditioner is not necessary while your dreads are installed. The natural oils produced by your scalp will keep it nice and healthy.
4. Shampooing once every 1-2 weeks is more than sufficient. You can always “wash” with plain water in between.
5. Your extensions will get very heavy when wet, be mindful of this when washing!!
6. After washing, make sure to get your dreads nice and dry. Air and towel drying are recommended, as use of a hair dryer could result in accidental melting and general scratchiness of your extensions. They will drip for up to an hour, especially if you have long extensions.
Odor Control: in between washings you may feel like the lengths of your dreads need a little refreshing. Febreeze, Wig Fresheners or a few drops of essential oils are all excellent for this, but be very careful not to get any on your skin!
If your dreads start “fluffing” or unraveling: Not to worry, this is pretty normal with extensions that are worn exceptionally hard. You may very, very carefully trim any wildly loose hairs if you like, but I highly recommend waiting until you’ve uninstalled, and then sending them back to me for trimming and re-steaming. Remember, this service is free through Imp And Petal when you purchase a full kit from us, take advantage!
To Schedule Maintenance: Please contact us through Etsy or email us at ImpAndPetal@live.com to check on current turnaround time. You will need to cover shipping costs both ways, and we cannot promise we’ll be able to knock them out right away if orders are backed up. If you need rushed maintenance, extra charged may apply.
Storage: When not being fabulously worn, store your extensions in a cool, dry place. It’s best to keep them tidy, and either hang or preferably store them carefully in a shoe box. Any position you set them in will hold after prolonged storage, so try not to crinkle them too much!
WARNING: DO NOT use any hot tools (curling iron, flat iron, etc.) on your extensions. These are made of synthetic hair and will not hold up to extreme heat. If you are interested in having your extensions curled or straightened, please contact us to discuss rates.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Giveaway went amazingly, thank you to everyone who participated, we had soooo much fun!!! Congrats to Jean Fenske, Pretty Dreadful, Megan Gibson and Shay Winter on their wins!
Imp And Petal (as some of you may have already noticed) has quietly shut it's doors for the holidays this year. The reasons are good ones, though, not to fear! We're expecting a tiny addition to our family come May, and wanted to slow down a little and enjoy this busy time of year stress free, give ourselves some time to adjust, and catch up on the end of our custom orders. You guys have kept me so fantastically busy with dread kits I almost couldn't stay on top of them all!
We'll be reopening our Etsy shop and opening our arms for new custom orders the first week in January, and slots will be filling up FAST. Please have your order and deposit ready to go if you want to be the first in the door!
I'll also be spending more time making pre-made dread falls and accent kits, because I'm dying for some creative control, so keep an eye out!
Hope all of you have a GREAT holiday season, and we'll see you next year!!!
Imp And Petal (as some of you may have already noticed) has quietly shut it's doors for the holidays this year. The reasons are good ones, though, not to fear! We're expecting a tiny addition to our family come May, and wanted to slow down a little and enjoy this busy time of year stress free, give ourselves some time to adjust, and catch up on the end of our custom orders. You guys have kept me so fantastically busy with dread kits I almost couldn't stay on top of them all!
We'll be reopening our Etsy shop and opening our arms for new custom orders the first week in January, and slots will be filling up FAST. Please have your order and deposit ready to go if you want to be the first in the door!
I'll also be spending more time making pre-made dread falls and accent kits, because I'm dying for some creative control, so keep an eye out!
Hope all of you have a GREAT holiday season, and we'll see you next year!!!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Let the games begin!
We’ve reached our 200 fan goal on face book and to celebrate we’re doing a huge wool/synthetic dread giveaway! There are a number of ways to enter (some of which are super easy and totally free!!) so really, if you love our dreads you have absolutely no excuse to miss out. ^_^
DETAILS:
Drawing will be held on Halloween (October 31st) 2010 at 10:00pm EST
You may enter as many times as you like, unless otherwise noted next to method of entry.
Entry is open worldwide. Imp And Petal will cover shipping costs up to $15. If your shipping needs exceed this limit, we will ask that you make up the difference.
PRIZES:
One Grand Prize Winner will receive a full custom Imp And Petal dread kit up to 20”/22” in length. ANY amount of colors. ANY special effects. ANY style. (Dread count within reason for the style/thickness desired, please). ($250+ value)
One First Place Winner will receive a Surprise Accent Kit. 20 count, you can give us a short list of your likes/dislikes and we’ll create something totally one of a kind for you. ($45+ value)
One Runner Up will receive a 5 count SE accent kit. You choose warm, cool, or natural light or dark colors.
The more entries we get, the more prizes we’ll be able to add! Share the love!
WAYS TO ENTER:
1. Tell us you love us. Yep, it really is that simple! If you’ve ever bought dreads from us, please leave us your feedback here:
You will need to make an account, but this forum is super fun and if you’re a dread lover on any level, you’ll really enjoy it! (Please, of course, read the rules and be polite. Or I will hunt you down). This can only be done once and will earn you one entry.
2. Send us your show offs! For each high quality photo you send us of you rockin’ your Imp And Petal dreads, you’ll get one entry in the drawing. We will accept up to three of each separate kit, and all pictures have to be NEW and exciting! +1 for pictures with“ I <3 Imp And Petal” salutes! Seriously girls, I’m telling you to cam whore for free dreads. No excuses for not entering!
3.Cyber-whore (read: “blog about“) us. If you’ve got at least 20 blog followers, you can earn 5 giveaway entries by writing about us in your blog! Extra points for reviews, interviews, photos and general awesomeness. If you would like to include pictures, please let us know which ones so we can send you a watermarked version. Time has run out for this method of entry!
4. Place an Order. For every $10 you spend creating awesome hair with us between now and October 31st, we’ll give you one entry! (That’s 17 entries for a Medium Length Kit!).
5. Donate to our “starving artists” fund.
Donate $2.00 and we will thank you with 1 entry
Donate $5.00 and we with thank you with 3 entries
Donate $8.00 and we will thank you with 5 entries
Donate $15.00 and we will thank you with 10 entries
[Any money donated to this event will go *ONLY* towards covering material costs for it’s prizes. More entries = More Creativity + More Winners = More Squee!!
HOW TO ENTER:
For FREE methods of entry: please make sure you email ImpAndPetal@live.com to let us know you‘ve left feedback or to send us your photos, and include your FULL NAME and email address. If you rarely check your email, please give us your phone number or some other way to contact you if you’ve won!
To make a Donation to the art fund:
Donations can be made in person by swinging by the Plaza Salon And Spa or Hair City in Ashland and dropping off an envelope addressed to “Kristy Smith”. Cash only please! Don’t forget to leave a note with your FULL NAME and email address or phone number!!
These may also be sent through the mail at your own risk, I suggest well concealing any cash sent through the postal system, and claim no responsibility for lost or stolen letters.
For non-locals (or lazy-asses), simply donate to our “starving artists” fund via the handy dandy button at www.impandpetal.blogspot.com and we will happily show our thanks with the appropriate number of entries in our drawing. If you would indeed like us to enter you as a thank you, email us separately from the same address used to donate, (so we know it’s you!) and include all the needed information. Donation is of course open to anyone, any time, for whatever reason moves you, as are Winco gift cards. :P
Good luck, everyone!!
DETAILS:
Drawing will be held on Halloween (October 31st) 2010 at 10:00pm EST
You may enter as many times as you like, unless otherwise noted next to method of entry.
Entry is open worldwide. Imp And Petal will cover shipping costs up to $15. If your shipping needs exceed this limit, we will ask that you make up the difference.
PRIZES:
One Grand Prize Winner will receive a full custom Imp And Petal dread kit up to 20”/22” in length. ANY amount of colors. ANY special effects. ANY style. (Dread count within reason for the style/thickness desired, please). ($250+ value)
One First Place Winner will receive a Surprise Accent Kit. 20 count, you can give us a short list of your likes/dislikes and we’ll create something totally one of a kind for you. ($45+ value)
One Runner Up will receive a 5 count SE accent kit. You choose warm, cool, or natural light or dark colors.
The more entries we get, the more prizes we’ll be able to add! Share the love!
WAYS TO ENTER:
1. Tell us you love us. Yep, it really is that simple! If you’ve ever bought dreads from us, please leave us your feedback here:
You will need to make an account, but this forum is super fun and if you’re a dread lover on any level, you’ll really enjoy it! (Please, of course, read the rules and be polite. Or I will hunt you down). This can only be done once and will earn you one entry.
2. Send us your show offs! For each high quality photo you send us of you rockin’ your Imp And Petal dreads, you’ll get one entry in the drawing. We will accept up to three of each separate kit, and all pictures have to be NEW and exciting! +1 for pictures with“ I <3 Imp And Petal” salutes! Seriously girls, I’m telling you to cam whore for free dreads. No excuses for not entering!
3.
4. Place an Order. For every $10 you spend creating awesome hair with us between now and October 31st, we’ll give you one entry! (That’s 17 entries for a Medium Length Kit!).
5. Donate to our “starving artists” fund.
Donate $2.00 and we will thank you with 1 entry
Donate $5.00 and we with thank you with 3 entries
Donate $8.00 and we will thank you with 5 entries
Donate $15.00 and we will thank you with 10 entries
[Any money donated to this event will go *ONLY* towards covering material costs for it’s prizes. More entries = More Creativity + More Winners = More Squee!!
HOW TO ENTER:
For FREE methods of entry: please make sure you email ImpAndPetal@live.com to let us know you‘ve left feedback or to send us your photos, and include your FULL NAME and email address. If you rarely check your email, please give us your phone number or some other way to contact you if you’ve won!
To make a Donation to the art fund:
Donations can be made in person by swinging by the Plaza Salon And Spa or Hair City in Ashland and dropping off an envelope addressed to “Kristy Smith”. Cash only please! Don’t forget to leave a note with your FULL NAME and email address or phone number!!
These may also be sent through the mail at your own risk, I suggest well concealing any cash sent through the postal system, and claim no responsibility for lost or stolen letters.
For non-locals (or lazy-asses), simply donate to our “starving artists” fund via the handy dandy button at www.impandpetal.blogspot.com and we will happily show our thanks with the appropriate number of entries in our drawing. If you would indeed like us to enter you as a thank you, email us separately from the same address used to donate, (so we know it’s you!) and include all the needed information. Donation is of course open to anyone, any time, for whatever reason moves you, as are Winco gift cards. :P
Good luck, everyone!!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
What's new, Imp And Petal??
VACATION:::
It's just about that time where we're winding down for a sort vacation! And let me tell you, it is MUCH NEEDED. Off to the Oregon Coast for a few days to relax and gather up some new inspiration for the cold and rain season! The Esty shop will be in vacation mode only during the nights we'll be out of town and will go live again when we get back, however we won't be working on custom orders AT ALL for at least a week. You are more than welcome to order now if you like, but know that the extra time will be added in to your wait period!
HALLOWEEN DEADLINES:::
The deadline to get a custom dread kit made and delivered in time for your most epic of Halloween 2010 costumes is September 24th. We've only got slots available for about 3 full kits and possibly an accent kit or two, so make sure you get in touch sooner rather than later!!
THE RETURN OF THE WINTER LINE:::
Hats, Scarves and other cozy things are about to start making their way back on the the virtual Imp And Petal shelves. Our BADASS Photographer Caitlin Siobhan is taking some product photos for us as we speak, so keep checking back!!
FACEBOOK:::
As promised, we are ALMOST ready to launch our Dread Kit Giveaway!!! Join us on facebook ( www.facebook.com/k.smithhairdesign ) to get the details as soon as they're released!
We hope everyone had an excellent Summer, and wish everyone the best!!
It's just about that time where we're winding down for a sort vacation! And let me tell you, it is MUCH NEEDED. Off to the Oregon Coast for a few days to relax and gather up some new inspiration for the cold and rain season! The Esty shop will be in vacation mode only during the nights we'll be out of town and will go live again when we get back, however we won't be working on custom orders AT ALL for at least a week. You are more than welcome to order now if you like, but know that the extra time will be added in to your wait period!
HALLOWEEN DEADLINES:::
The deadline to get a custom dread kit made and delivered in time for your most epic of Halloween 2010 costumes is September 24th. We've only got slots available for about 3 full kits and possibly an accent kit or two, so make sure you get in touch sooner rather than later!!
THE RETURN OF THE WINTER LINE:::
Hats, Scarves and other cozy things are about to start making their way back on the the virtual Imp And Petal shelves. Our BADASS Photographer Caitlin Siobhan is taking some product photos for us as we speak, so keep checking back!!
FACEBOOK:::
As promised, we are ALMOST ready to launch our Dread Kit Giveaway!!! Join us on facebook ( www.facebook.com/k.smithhairdesign ) to get the details as soon as they're released!
We hope everyone had an excellent Summer, and wish everyone the best!!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
NEWS!
Helloooo Imp And Petal fans!!
How's everyone's summer going? And of course, to our handful of Aussie fans: we hope your winter is swell as well. :D Things are going great here at I&P headquarters, we've been exceptionally busy (especially with synthetic dread kits!) and trying to pack as much summer fun in to the mix as we possibly can! Hiking, Picnics, Camping and Swimming, all of course with our little niece in tow. We're having a blast!
Also, Imp And Petal is a proud new member of the Etsy Dark Side Team!
Check out some of the team's listings by searching for the tag "EtsyDarkTeam"!
Dates to be aware of:
Petal will be taking a short trip to SAN FRANSISCO to see Wicked from August 2-5! It will be her very first Broadway experience and she is suuuuper excited. The laptop will be dragged along as well so emails etc. will still be up and running, and she'll probably make the housekeepers hate her by getting synthetic hair all over the room as well (but no worries, a hefty tip will be left behind with the mess).
Both Imp AND Petal will be celebrating 2 years of marriage by taking a 10 day vacation from September 6th - September 16th. There's a really good chance Petal will buckle from lack of work and get crackin' again early, but as of right now we're going to put EVERYTHING on hold and just enjoy each other for a week! Custom Dread Kits needed before the 16th MUST BE PLACED IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. I'm booked up through the third week of August already, so if you need a set soon get on it!
Also, Etsy is celebrating it's Christmas In July event, and our darling little shop is participating by offering FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE on specific orders placed before July 25th. Just browse our listings to find out which items are eligible!
Then of course, there is some news on the even you've all been waiting for:
How's everyone's summer going? And of course, to our handful of Aussie fans: we hope your winter is swell as well. :D Things are going great here at I&P headquarters, we've been exceptionally busy (especially with synthetic dread kits!) and trying to pack as much summer fun in to the mix as we possibly can! Hiking, Picnics, Camping and Swimming, all of course with our little niece in tow. We're having a blast!
Also, Imp And Petal is a proud new member of the Etsy Dark Side Team!
Check out some of the team's listings by searching for the tag "EtsyDarkTeam"!
Dates to be aware of:
Petal will be taking a short trip to SAN FRANSISCO to see Wicked from August 2-5! It will be her very first Broadway experience and she is suuuuper excited. The laptop will be dragged along as well so emails etc. will still be up and running, and she'll probably make the housekeepers hate her by getting synthetic hair all over the room as well (but no worries, a hefty tip will be left behind with the mess).
Both Imp AND Petal will be celebrating 2 years of marriage by taking a 10 day vacation from September 6th - September 16th. There's a really good chance Petal will buckle from lack of work and get crackin' again early, but as of right now we're going to put EVERYTHING on hold and just enjoy each other for a week! Custom Dread Kits needed before the 16th MUST BE PLACED IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. I'm booked up through the third week of August already, so if you need a set soon get on it!
Also, Etsy is celebrating it's Christmas In July event, and our darling little shop is participating by offering FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE on specific orders placed before July 25th. Just browse our listings to find out which items are eligible!
Then of course, there is some news on the even you've all been waiting for:
THE IMP AND PETAL DREAD GIVEAWAY!!
We're getting close! You guys have done an awesome job of promoting for us, but we're not there yet. We still need 75 blog followers OR 43 Facebook fans to reach our goal, and we're counting on you to get us there.
As soon as our numbers reach our goal, details on how to officially enter will be released, but for now there are still a few ways to get your name in the pot; FOR FREE!
1. Fan us on Facebook.
2. Invite friends that you think might have an interest in crazy hair.
3. Send a list of who you've invited to ImpAndPetal@live.com
For each person you invite that likes us, we'll put ONE entry in the jar with YOUR name on it!
There will be other ways to enter once we reach our goals, so keep reading!
Happy July, everyone!
As soon as our numbers reach our goal, details on how to officially enter will be released, but for now there are still a few ways to get your name in the pot; FOR FREE!
1. Fan us on Facebook.
2. Invite friends that you think might have an interest in crazy hair.
3. Send a list of who you've invited to ImpAndPetal@live.com
For each person you invite that likes us, we'll put ONE entry in the jar with YOUR name on it!
There will be other ways to enter once we reach our goals, so keep reading!
Happy July, everyone!
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