Let's face it, requesting custom orders can be a little scary. There are so many unknowns it's almost dizzying. What if the artist is not what I was expecting? What if they think my ideas are stupid? What if my questions are annoying? What if I just can't get my idea to translate? The overwhelm can be enough to derail a solid line of communication, or even stop it from happening in the first place. 

Fear not, my friends!  All you really need are some trusty, all-purpose communicating skills and a dash of insight, and you should find yourself on a one way train to Creative Comfort City.

 In this long awaited follow up to our first three Buyer's Guide segments (The Basics, Finding the Right Artist, & Red Flags) we will touch on that insight and relate some basic skills specifically to the industry for you in FIVE EASY STEPS, hopefully helping you craft a successful system for getting exactly what you want from the artists you love.  

Just interested in a quick read? 
Scroll down to our Do's & Don'ts section at the end of the article! <3

​Enjoy! 

​

Research your choices and figure out each artist's preferred avenues of communication. There are a lot of options nowadays, between facebook messaging, instagram, the more traditional email, and even text and phone conversations! Not sure? Just ask. Even a politely phrased inquiry as to what our prefered methods of communication are tells us that you respect our time. Putting in this level of effort will not only get you a faster response, but will also be deeply appreciated. An artist that feels respected is an artist more likely to give you their full attention.  ​

Keep it short and sweet at first.

Hi, my name is Kristina. I was wondering if you ever do custom orders, and if you are currently taking any?

It's perfectly acceptable to stop right there, if you don't want to get ahead of yourself. You can also briefly touch on what you might want.

I was interested in ordering a full set, 20” long, in different purple shades. Or even,

I would ultimately love a long set of dreads, but I have an undercut and would really appreciate some help determining the exact amount, among other details.


Notice full sentences and appreciative language. This will take you far, my friends.
This is a great place to pause, since you don't even know if this person is “the one”. It wastes precious little of your time. Depending on whether or not custom orders are currently being accepted, you can either move on down your list, or continue on to describe your needs in more detail.

If you know exactly what you want, use specific, concrete language. Don't ever leave yourself open to surprises if you really don't like surprises. Sometimes, it can be even more helpful to mention things you DON'T want.  

​Important things to ask your artist about:

• Turnaround Time
• Price estimate
• Shipping costs // Policies
• Reviews
• Fibers, if you're fussy (It's totally okay to be fussy!)
  
  
  

Important information to give your artist:

• Preferred Length
• Style/Fiber (if there's an option)
• Ends (if there's an option)
• Count
• SE/DE
• Color scheme (usually optional at this stage, but if you have ideas, voice them!) 
• Any absolute "no-nos" for you
• Any DEADLINES you may need to work within (this is SO important you guys!) 
• Contact info (the fastest way to get in touch prefered!)
• Mailing Address

​

This is always a tough one. It makes everyone uncomfortable, believe me. This market is so completely inconsistent that it can be a real smack in the face if you're not expecting what you end up with. It really pays to be prepared.

Ready for a little dash of that insight we were talking about earlier?
It is important to understand that this art form technically shouldn't be coming cheap. Materials are getting more and more expensive every year, and simply sourcing them has proven an even greater (and unfortunately more expensive) challenge. Depending on where you are and which country you're ordering from, economies can vary greatly (and I really mean greatly. A consistent fiber supply costs almost double in some countries than others). It also takes an astoundingly lengthy amount of time of actual hands-on time to create average sized orders. So, if you are getting a fantastic deal that's... fantastic! But appreciate that it is such, and try not to accept it as the norm.

I personally think it wise to ask for a rough estimate as soon as you have the skeletal workings of your design set in stone. [Now, when you ask for a rough estimate, understand that it will probably indeed be rough and may fluctuate more as you work in the details.  Add-ons can get up there quickly, so watch yourself! A wonderful way to get an understanding of that “jump off” point in a less direct way, is to check the artist's website, blog, or facebook page. Many have basic prices listed publicly. If none is available, you can always ask if there is one hiding somewhere in your initial message. If you don't believe a basic list will get you close enough to a working estimate, you can phrase your first or second message something like this:

Hi, my name is Kristina. I was wondering if you ever do custom orders, and if you are currently taking any?

If so, I would love to know what a starting price for a set of 40 Double-ended, 20” crochets naturals might look like!
Thank you in advance! ​

​

Finalizing Your Order

Everything feeling good? Confidence meter through the roof? All systems go? Awesome! 
It's really easy to just roll with it and start a frenzy of all the little details when you find the artist you know you're happy with, but a lot of us can get caught up in a good creative conversation and actually forget to finalize. This is an important step, because it's a really handy place for an artist to refer back to when making sure we've got all the details checked out.  Once you two settle on a design and price, write out all the design details in one place, and just double check that everyone is on the same page.  If your artist doesn't do this for you, it's totally cool to go ahead and do it yourself. If there are a few details that you've already noted between yourselves may change throughout the creative process, that's fine! Just note it again, set the rest in stone and make sure you note a flexible price range or max budget amount to avoid any potential surprises.  At this point, your deposit is usually already down (or will be shortly), and you've hit that magical, exhilarating point of no return.  Congratulations! 
​

Declining 
It's possible that you just didn't vibe while talking, but usually it's an issue of budget. It's a sucky feeling, on both ends, and it's completely unavoidable. The best way to deal with it is quickly, politely, and early on. If you have a million styling and maintenance questions, save those for the artist you ultimately decide to go with. After you've landed on someone, the two of you can float off in to fairy lala land together in passionate design conversations and it will be both wonderful and productive, because you'll be developing a working relationship. You will thank yourself for holding all of that little back and forth stuff for the right person.

In short: Stick to business first, with the mindset that these people are most likely giving you their unpaid time. Be polite and get the vital info you need to make your call, and then make it.

​

HELPFUL HINTS!
If you are not planning on placing an order until a future date, are just price shopping, or figuring out how much you'll need to be saving for, that is something you should mention early in the conversation, because it can really help a very busy business person manage their time better. 

Contrariwise, if you are in need of a rush order (which in most cases is anything less than one month in advance), that is also something you should mention right off the bat. Some artists may not have time to squeeze you in and it will save you both precious time getting possibilities out in the open!  ​

By now, you should have a really solid idea of what's available to you, as well as what kinds of things to consider when choosing the right artist(s) for you! If not, feel free to backtrack a little and check out our previous installments of this guide: "Basics" and "Finding the Right Artist"! 

You might be 100% ready to jump into your first purchasing experience, but hold up just sec.  It's definitely a hardcore buzzkill, but unfortunately not all sellers are as honest or as focused on your satisfaction as we might wish. It's really important to know what to look out for so you can avoid having a terrible experience (or worse, get totally scammed) especially if you're a first-timer. 

This seems obvious, but you would be surprised how challenging it can actually be to leave and find reviews for online sellers these days. They're not always right in your face, but it's definitely important to put the effort in and do a little searching. Esty has a built-in reviews section, Youtube and hair forums are good resources, a few facebook groups such as HES have polls set up for a wide range of sellers, FB timelines for businesses OFTEN have reviews tabs of reviews left directly on the timeline... and if all else fails, just google it. This could save you a major headache, or in a best case scenario, give you a better idea what to expect from the artist(s) you may be considering. 

Similarly, check all NPS (Non-Performing Seller)  lists you can find. Most alt hair/fashion communities will have these set up to warn others of a seller who is not upholding their end of transactions.  

Now, it should be stated in fairness that sometimes life smacks a person the face and they get into a situation that causes problems with their accountability. I have watched several artists fall into the NPS pit and work diligently to climb back out again to become 100% worthy of business praise. Just read up, be cautious, and use your own judgement. 

This one is 9/10 times a total deal breaker. First of all, anyone that is using others' images in such a way is undoubtedly doing so without the permission of the artist, and that is just plain uncool. Judging from that alone, I wouldn't want to do business with such a person.  Typically speaking, these are scammers that are after taking your money and vanishing without a trace. 

The other explanation is that a seller has no portfolio to speak of because they're very new to making dreads. That's all fine and good, but realistically, they should be doing practice sets for friends and themselves ad taking photos of those for show BEFORE asking for your money. 

Do you feel like you're being casually brushed off, or you've irritated the seller whom you've asked questions? Is the pace of communication inconsistent, with 7+ consecutive days of radio silence here and there without warning?  Is the seller you're consulting with giving you inconsistent information about their prices or practices? Did it take you three tries to try and find the right avenue through which to contact said seller?  And (I hate to say it but...) are full explanations, punctuation and grammar an issue to the point you're having trouble understanding said seller?
 (It should go without saying that the last one there doesn't apply so much if you're working through a language barrier).

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, it's probably wise to count your blessings and move on. As we've stated before, if you can't communicate fluently with your chosen artist, it might cause a lot of problems down the road when you're expecting one thing, and you end up with something else. If they're just plain rude, inappropriate, or not able to get back to you in a professional manner/time frame, that says something about their professionalism and how seriously they take this job. 

This one hovers on the borderline a little. Not many dread sellers actually have dot com websites, and some operate solely from their personal pages or through groups.  Just because they don't have a full on website doesn't necessarily mean they can't provide you with something fantastic, but it is an example of how much energy and effort they are willing (and able) to put into the business of crafting and selling. Someone paying for internet real estate and spending time on creating a beautiful website is (generally speaking), more likely to be passionate about the industry. Etsy/Store envy/ FB/Instagram pages are awesome too and definitely a respectable stand-in. Having NOTHING to show either means a seller just doesn't care that much, is a scammer, or they simply don't have the time or focus at this point in their lives to be more than a hobbyist.  Nothing against hobbyists, either! It's all just something to consider when trying to design the type of experience you would like to have. Ask questions. ;)

DO. NOT. EVER. DO. THIS. 
Sending payments through paypal as a gift completely waives your right to request a refund if your seller does not follow through. Anyone asking you to do this is acting illegally, and to their own benefit. Many sellers will claim it's because they need to avoid the fees, but any self-respecting seller should be simply adding those fees into the total of your order, and you should respectfully pay the extra, because it's what protects you as a buyer. Now, among friends, a buyer might offer to send as a gift, and that is between you all. Just understand that anyone proactively requesting this practice is acting unprofessionally and should be considered suspicious;  you don't always know someone as well as you think you might. 

This, again, is completely up to your own discretion. Some things might really bother one person, while others are unconcerned. I'm talking about things like:

•  Inappropriate language or subject matters (this only applies on a website, business page or in a group as a representative of said business; if you are poking around someone's personal blog or social media pages, it's safe to say you've crossed that line of your own accord and what you find, you were asking for!) 
  
• Photos of pets laying in or around a seller's workspace. We all love oohing and ahhing over fur babies, but it is extremely unsanitary and in fact, even potentially dangerous to their health to expose them to certain types of fiber. And of course, if you have any dander allergies, this is a dead giveaway. 
• Poor photography, or mess and clutter in the background. Artists that truly value their work will go to great lengths to photograph it as professionally as their device can manage, and pay extra attention to presentation.. 
• The dreaded "toe-photos".  I don't know about you guys, but I rrrrreally do NOT want to wear extensions near my face that were made anchored on some stranger's feet. Ewww. 

Did you know that between locating the proper colors, fibers, and potentially shipping to have them arrive can cost upwards of $75 USD, and much more than that for UK sellers, since materials are more expensive there? If you encounter someone with a deal too good to be true, it probably is. 
Contrariwise, it's not exactly uncommon to come by a seller that is charging a very high ticket price, but the product or service just doesn't quite seem to match up.  Do your research. If they've been around a while, have a large portfolio and a professional presentation and demeanor, they're probably legit and worth every penny. If anything feels "off", proceed with caution. 

Again, this is a subject that straddles the line of normal/worrisome. It's really hard to pinpoint, as the range of pricing among sellers is SO broad nowadays. Take this info with a grain of salt, and compare it against the rest of the seller's qualities. If you are noticing other red flags in addition to this one, it might be a good idea to steer clear. 

NOTE: This is something that will be particularly circumstantial. Many very high end artists and designers may have such a policy in place, and when one's time is THAT valuable to reserve I absolutely support the practice.  As with a few other things mentioned on this list, take a look at the bigger picture before writing someone off for this. 
Are they super duper professional? Streamlined website? Fantastic and plentiful reviews? In this case, you probably have absolutely nothing to worry about. 

In other situations, it's not quite as common a request, and could potentially be the warning sign of troubles ahead. 

Remember: Filing a claim with paypal is limited to a period of 45 days from the date of the transaction. 

Often times, a waiting period for a custom piece of art far exceeds 45 days. The common practice among synthetic dread artists is to take a non-refundable deposit which will cover the cost of materials at the time of placing your order, and then to request the remainder upon completion (and proof of) your custom design. 

This of course requires a bit of wiggle room depending on how well you know your artist and whether you were placing a casual or urgently needed order.  If someone takes your money, you are entitled to check in with them about when they'll be finishing their end of the deal. Things happen, but if you think you've recieved one too many excuses over an extended period of time, it's time to politely request a refund.  

Hopefully, you're now prepared enough to avoid major mishap. If you do have any other red flags you think might be an important add-on to this list, please leave us a note in the comments. :) 

As usual, keep your eyes on this blog! Our next segment will cover: "Communicating with your artist: How to make sure you're getting exactly what you want."  Don't forget to Stay connected with Imp And Petal for future segments, either. ;)

Additional questions and comments are welcome below. Thanks for stopping by! 

Hello, little dreadlings! This week we're going to cover how to find the BEST synthetic dread artist for YOU.  Important stuff, right? If you haven't checked it out already, I encourage you to visit last week's segment for a better understanding of what kinds of styles and options are available out there. Once you figure out what style suits you best, come back here.  All caught up? Read on! 

By now, your pretty little heads should be filled to the brim with hair-styling fantasies. What's the next step? Finding a shop to purchase your dreads from! Now, some of you may decide to buy factory-made or give making them yourselves a go, and that's fine too, but in this blog, we'll be focusing on the ins and outs of purchasing from an online maker and seller. :) 

Hopefully, you've found treasure troves of work that inspires you, but now you have to choose. There are a few things to consider, when you start trying to nail down what or who to go with. 

1. Budget. This is obviously a number one defining factor in nearly everyone's shopping experience. You're going to want to find someone that fits any restrictions your wallet might have, for sure. Comparing prices should be a breeze, as most reputable sellers will have that information readily available. We REALLY appreciate it when you do a little sleuthing on your own, but if you really need help determining a quote (it can be complicated, we totally understand!), go ahead and shoot the artist a note including all your specifications on length, style, and dread count, and ask politely if they can give you a rough estimate.  

5. Communication Skills. Are you evenly matched? Do you feel like you "get" each other? This isn't especially important if you're sticking to premade extensions for now, but if you're looking at dropping some cash on a custom design, making sure you feel comfortable exchanging ideas with your artist is a really big deal (on both ends!). Some people just don't vibe, and that's okay! Take a moment to feel each other out, ask a few questions, and see how that goes. Everyone will be happier when it's easy to grasp concepts and run with them without a lot of second guessing.

CREDITS: Illustrations by Briena Segundo 
Links courtesy of all the amazing oldschool dreadheads
who have been around, sharing knowledge and passion for over
a decade. You guys are the fuel to my fire! 

So, you were thumbing through your Tumblr feed during a particularly mind-numbing shift at work, and caught an image of a brave, beautiful soul rockin' some rainbow dreads. And what's this?! The description says they're temporary? You're captivated. You're intrigued. You're possibly salivating. This high-impact, minimal damage, shockingly low-maintenance and utterly COOL style option could be yours-- if only you could wrap your head around it! 

Ladies, Gentleman, and everyone in between, may I proudly present to you Imp And Petal's "Buyer's Guide" for Synthetic (and wool!) Dreadlocks. I am certainly not the first to drop this knowledge (mad props to RivetLicker and Mkatsi among others), but the times they are a-changin', and I feel  it would be beneficial to this wild and wonderful community of creatives to have some updated information in a solid location. This isn't only for the newbs, either. Wee scout dreadlings and proper dreadthusiasts alike, this information is designed to have you armed with enough knowledge to have the smoothest of purchasing experiences. Feel free to skim over to the parts that interest you, bookmark and come back later for the rest. 

I'll be blogging in segments.
 It's gonna be a LOT of information. 
Questions, comments and discussion are all welcome below. 

Grab a snack. Reheat your coffee. We've got a lot to cover. 

Back in the day, there was a "right way" and a "wrong way" to make synthetic and wool dreads.  Synths were twisted, hard, stiff and PERFECTLY smooth. Ends were very tapered, skinny and whippy. Wool was thick, dense and smooth. Anything less was considered the sign of an inexperienced maker. Texture was limited to ringlet curls only. These were dark days, my friends. Very dark days. 

Thanks to innovative artists like Ls Seven, Urban Synthetix, Miasma and more, texture bubbled and boiled into acceptance and grew strong roots, and (thank goodness) it's not showing any signs of stopping. 

Nowadays, there are options. So many in fact, that I could never cover them all here. The ART of sculpting dread extensions  has moved to the forefront now, with each artist developing very diverse techniques and flair of their own.  
Below, I'm going to showcase the most common style families available to you, and hopefully convey through the borrowed imagery from dread artists all over the world how unique the execution of each style can be when worked by different hands. 

Classic style smooth dreads are tightly twisted and usually taper into a wispy end, though they occasionally boast blunt or natural style ends as well. Can be worn straight, waved or curly, and tend to "break in" with wear, meaning they loosen up comfortably after starting out a bit stiff when fresh from the maker. These are sleek and mid to high range on the weight scale. Well made, they should be sealed strong and quite durable, with no major "puffy" spots or unraveling ends. These do tend to need a reseal after a few installs, regardless of the quality.  Things to watch out for: "helixing" which is a term used to refer to deep visible cracks, and loose, unraveling dreads. Some artists claim that this is their personal style, and if it's what you dig, that's fine. More often than not, however, it's a sign of inexperienced or rushed work and can compromise the durability of your extensions. 

While the styles fall easily into the "textured" category, all wrapped dreads are NOT created equal. Every artist has their own (or several) techniques. They tend to start out a little stiff but "break in" beautifully, usually offering more flexibility and more durability than the classic twisted style. There is a lot of freedom with the types of ends available; of course, you will want to make sure your requested style is something your artist is comfortable with. These can be waved or curled with great success, and are typically just slightly less heavy than twisted dreads. 

What this style lacks in durability, it definitely makes up for in it's signature light weight and grand volume. These are soft, squishy, and fluffy, and are perfect for sensitive heads and children. They won't hold up to quite as much abuse, but they do tend to actually tighten up a little with wear, especially if you go through and palm-roll them yourself while they're installed. Some variations include very light crocheting or interlocking, as seen on the left, or a very light twist during the sealing process, to sleek the look down a little, as pictured on the right. 

Crocheted naturals are arguably the most natural-looking style of synthetic dreads available. They are also, less arguably, the most durable style on the market. In many cases they can be very lightweight, soft and flexible, though some artists prefer to crochet very densely which while making them basically invincible, can make them fall on the heavier side of the scale and make them a little less flexible. Always make sure to check reviews and ask your artists directly. Anyone with any pride in their work should be happy to give you detailed descriptions. :)  Ends can be wispy or quite blunt if you prefer, and they wave absolutely beautifully. Ringlet curls tend not to hold as well, but they are possible. 

This is a fairly new offshoot of the more natural styles, and the definition is very loosely "a combination of any two or more methods". Most usually, the mix is a blend of crochet and wrapping techniques, for lots and lots of texture, a lighter weight and small unique details. This term is also occasionally used for sets that are made up of more than one style of dread, (ie: half crochet dreads and half wrapped). 

Marley braid falls were, to my knowledge, made most famous in the alt har world by Triplesix, under the name "Krinklepuffs". Marley braid comes in a variety of colors and is essentially loose kanekalon which has been given a very small kinked texture and separated into fluffy little locks. It's best used for falls due to it's delicate nature and likelihood of tangling, but installs are certainly possible if you want to give it a try. They are notorious for being exceptionally lightweight while simultaneously giving massive volume. 

Smooth wool roving dreads are the most classic style around. Wool is SUPER lightweight, durable and very voluminous, feels like a soft squishy pillow on your head (particularly comfortable when sleeping!) and will keep you snuggly warm in the winter. Color options are limited mostly to color gradations when you keep it smooth, but many artists are familiar with the art of hand dying, and that can create really beautiful variations.  Watch out for cracks, wool that looks too fluffy or so dense there is no flexibility (unless of course, that's what you're looking for) as they either won't be as durable or if felted too hard, will be uncomfortable and difficult to style.  

This is, personally, my favorite sub-genre of dread extensions. Immortalized by the incredibly talented Kiwi designer Miasma back in the day, these can give you all the best of both worlds, and little secret: is the direction I hope to begin moving my work into in the next few years. Wrapped styles provide tons of texture and color effect options, and more recently crochet wool has become a thing and I LOVE IT. A+ for durability, flexibility, and being lightweight fluffy cloud hair. One thing to watch out for: Wrapping/Felting that is so tight it takes away from flexibility. This will create some discomfort and limited styling options. 

Another really fun option with wool is adding waves or using different types of wool that will felt up in different textures. Icelandic is becoming very popular, along with Corriedale and sometimes Leicester. Merino roving can easily be curled or given a wiggly texture, as well. Curls may fall out a bit faster than with kanekalon dreads, but the effect is lovely. 

Oh, but there's more!  Faux roving (which I believe is an acrylic fleece) is also available here and there. For more information on that I highly recommend visiting Emily over at Vixen Sings Black, she's the reigning expert. Newer still on the scene and another fantastic option for vegan dread enthusiasts: crocheted acrylic fiber. Lastly, a  really fun and often overlooked option with a more organic feel, is handspun wool yarn.  All of these options offer minimal weight for sensitive heads, and a nice change of pace from the usual. 

Feelin' a little cyber chill settling into those bones? These styles might scream late 90's fashion, but you can't deny it, Laura Aurora could probably bring rexlace back single-handedly. This is the epitome of plastic hair, the cybergoth stereotype amplified, the dated-but-forever-lurking-in-a-special-corner-of-every-oldschooler's-heart. They are simple to create and lightweight to wear. Most tend to go easy in-and-out falls, but here and there a brave soul opts for a full install, and power to them! 

Anything goes. ANYTHING. If you've ever dreamed of having a clusterfuck of awesome on your head, mixed media is probably your jam. 

Ah, the grand DE/SE debate. Perhaps the most discussed question in all of synthetic dreadlock history. 
Both have their pros and cons, and many will fight to the death about what allows for  the most "natural" install. Here's what I'm going to tell you: You will never know until you've tried both. Not a lot of help for a first timer, I know. Unfortunately, I think it's the only way to REALLY know. That said, I do tend to recommend DE's to the inexperienced simply because they are generally a simpler and most importantly when you're just starting out, FASTER install. 

Double-ended (DE) dreads are essentially two dreads in one. One "leg" gets braided into your natural hair, and then other flops over the top at the root. They tend to give exceptional volume, help to cover your parts, and because you've got two dreads going in at one install point, your sections can be a bit larger, which saves time.  In my experience, these tend to be the running favorite among synthdread enthusiasts. 
They also make wonderful Harlequin dreads, which involves one leg typically matching a wearer's hair color, and the other leg being something different. This is one way to help hide the installation a little, though it should be noted: most people will NEVER know, no matter how obvious you are! 

Single-Ended (SE) dreads are a single dread with a small loop at the root. To install, a small section of natural hair is threaded through the loop, and then braided around the base and secured. They are wonderfully versatile as falls, or as accent dreads in loose hair (no bump at the root). Many people love to use them around the hair and part lines, as well as accents in natural dreads, by threading the natural dread through the loop and securing at the root. If you plan to do this, make sure your artist's loops are large enough to fit around your dreads ;) 

I personally feel as though just about anyone that finds the style intriguing can "pull off" synthetic dreads. Age, body weight/face shape, skin color or whatever style family you identify with are entirely irrelevant. There are, however, a handful of things to consider before jumping in head first.  ;)

1. No matter what type, ALL extensions add weight to your head. During the first week (and during the very first install in particular)  many people experience mild to moderate tension in the head and shoulders as they adjust to the added weight. For most, the tension eases up after a few days as their extensions "settle in", but if you are extremely sensitive or get frequent headaches, that will definitely be something to consider when weighing your options. 

2. You're going to draw attention.  In all my years of wearing dread extensions, I have had a pretty positive experience all around. Most people LOVE them (especially children), are very curious, and many will want to touch them. Be ready for the one in five that will just go ahead and do that without asking. It happens a lot more frequently than you might imagine. 
Occasionally, you'll get some not-so-positive reactions. It's been rare than I've personally had mean things directed at me because of my hair, but it has happened. Mostly the negativity takes shape in the form of disapproving glances, shop owners treating you suspiciously, or conservative parents instructing their children not to stare or ask questions. Be ready for this, also. It can be an unexpected pang of sadness to your heart if you're not, and can feel discouraging.  Just remember: If someone has a problem with your hair, the problem is just that; Theirs. 

3. There is a learning curve. NOBODY gets it exactly right the first time.  It probably took me three different sets of dreads and multiple installs to figure out exactly what I like. After your first install, you will begin to discover small things you will want to change the next time around. Sectioning, a comfortable dread count for you, and placement/distribution of weight are all things you just have to learn trial & error style. The good news, is that when you purchase high quality extensions they have a nearly limitless lifespan as long as you're good to them, so problem solving is relatively economical. If you go into your first experience knowing this, it will save you a lot of worrisome early morning hours, wondering if you made a wise choice.  Stay tuned if this is something that interests you, also, as there will be a trouble shooting segment in the future! Many issues are super simple to fix. 

So, you want in? Be sure to catch our next "Buyer's Guide" segment: Finding the Right Artist! 
Don't forget to Stay connected with Imp And Petal for future segments, either. ;)

Comments and additional questions are warmly welcomed below. Thanks for stopping by!