Welcome to ‘Horsehair Jewellery by Gina‘
Below you will find a long list of hints and tips to help you to prepare and send your order. I apologise for the length, it should include absolutely everything you need to know but if you have any probs or questions, please let me know.
Braided items take around 14-21 days from receipt of hair and payment to postage.
Resin items need to be properly cured before posting, and can take longer, but normally around 28 days from receipt of hair and payment to postage.
At busy times (especially Christmas), your order may take longer than stated. Look out for updates on the page.
Your Horsehair
Most hair works perfectly well in a braid. However there can very rarely be exceptions.
Mould spores are dangerous, I do not work with it and don’t want you wearing it, please make sure that your hair is completely dry before posting, If storing it, keep it in a well ventilated cool, dry place.
Very fine hair may be prone to breakage and very young or very old horses may not have strong enough hair. Hair that is badly damaged with lots of splits and kinks may not be suitable.
Hair that has not been washed (especially mares) and any hair stored for many years in a warm place may have dried out and become brittle so may not be useable.
If you don’t have thick enough hair I can add matching or contrasting stock hair FOC, I always check that your hair is suitable before I send your invoice, and if there is a problem I should be able to offer an alternative.
Please DO NOT send mane hair for one of my braids, I will not be able to use it.
Collecting your hair
Although I make lots of memorial pieces, most of my items are made from horses who are very much alive and (hopefully not) kicking.
To collect your hair you will need something to tie it (a plaiting band is perfect) and a pair of small scissors. Firmly grab a few strands at the bottom of the tail, run your fingers up the strands to part the shorter hairs and snip as close to the dock as possible.
Repeat as necessary until you have the required amount (a pencil or little finger thickness). Band or tie the hair at the top.
Unless your horse has a particularly thin tail, removing this hair should not be noticeable. Do not add extra bands or plait your hair.
Washing your hair
Hair needs to be thoroughly clean and grease free before braiding. It is easier to wash AFTER you have removed it.
Make sure that it is securely banded or tied and wash in very hot water. Any detergent or shampoo will do the trick, I find that liquid laundry detergent works very well.
There is no need to scrub, soak in hot water and detergent, then run your fingers along the length to remove dirt, rinse and repeat as necessary.
Once clean, do not add any extra bands and please don’t plait it as this can cause kinks and I will need to rewash. Make sure that it is completely dry before posting.
If you are not able to do this for any reason, I will do it for you – there is a £6.00 charge.
However if you send me untied hair that takes a long time to sort before washing there will be an additional charge of £12.41 per hour or part hour, depending on time taken (this can add up if I am untangling a birds nest).
Measuring your Wrist for a bracelet.
I would ideally like your actual wrist size – measured accurately around the narrowest bony bit of your wrist. I will then add extra length to your bracelet so that it fits.
If you would like a looser or tight fit, please let me know.
If you are sending a bracelet length rather than a wrist size, please make this very clear (I will normally double check if you send me a very small or very large wrist size, please don’t be offended).
Please also bear in mind that the braided bracelets are thicker than a chain, and will come up shorter.
If you are buying for someone else, you may not be able to get an accurate wrist size, in this situation, if you can let me know age, height and approximate dress size, I can normally have a pretty good guess.
To give you some idea
Ladies wrists
Very small – less that 6″ (15cms)
Medium – 6 1/2″ (16-17cms)
Large – more than 7″ (18cms)
Payment
I will send your invoice once your hair has arrived and I know that it’s suitable to go ahead.
I accept:
Cash – If you are sending cash through the post please use tracking and make sure that your envelope is really well sealed.
Bank Transfer – My choice, though I appreciate that if you haven’t used me before, you may prefer
PayPal – If you are using this method, please make sure that you send me your email address so that I can send your invoice.
Return Postage and Packing
You need need to add this to your order and I always use Royal Mail.
UK
48 Hour Tracked £5.50 (I will use this as default)
48 Hour Tracked and Signed for £6.00
Special Delivery £11.50
Europe and the rest of the World
Please contact me for current prices.
Sorry Folks, but I no longer post to Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
Sending your Horsehair
Please use a sturdy, well sealed envelope.
Include your hair and note with all details (there is a check list further down the page. If you have washed your hair, please make sure it is completely dry before posting. If you suspect that it may still be slightly damp, wrap in kitchen paper, but DO NOT put it in a plastic bag as this can encourage mould.
Please make sure that you have written your name, first line of your address and postcode on the back of your envelope.
You can send your hair via any method, but please make sure that you have put AT LEAST a large letter stamp on. A normal stamp only covers small letters with nothing thicker than a piece of paper (you may get away with this if you are only including a few strands of hair for one of the resin pieces).
To be absolutely sure please take it to the Post Office.
If you don’t use enough postage, I will eventually receive a ‘Fee to Pay’ card with extra postage and handling charge.
Please send your order to:
Equestrian Wish List
Morawel
Blaenporth
NR CARDIGAN
Ceredigion
SA43 2AY
Remembering to write your name, first line of your address and postcode on the back.
CHECK LIST
(Please make sure that you have read all previous messages to help you with this)
1. Your Name
2. Return Address
3. Horse Name
4. Hair Washed and tied at one end only OR Hair not washed and require the washing service.
5. Exact details of what you would like me to make. Please use any descriptions or stock numbers and price.
6. Actual Wrist Size (if having a bracelet). It is really important that you get this right so please read previous message. I will double check if the size seems larger or smaller than normal, please don’t be offended, I want to get it right.
7. If you would like any unused hair returned please put RETURN UNUSED HAIR. If you don’t want it returned I can dispose of it for you, (if it’s lovely hair I will add it to my stock hair for anyone who doesnt have enough of their own).
8. Your choice of Return Postage (see above)
9. Your choice of Payment (See above).
Any probs please message me before posting
Thank you for reading, Gina x
