Shipping & Returns
Standard U.S. shipping (via USPS) is $5*.
Expedited U.S. shipping (via UPS) is dependent on the delivery address, but typically ~$9.
International shipping costs vary based on delivery address. You can learn more under the do you ship overseas question.
*Free standard shipping when your order value is over $50, equivalent to 3+ lines.
Arrival times are dependent on your shipping address and shipping provider. In most cases you can expect your order to arrive within 3-5 business days, and in rare cases, 10-12 business days (i.e. COVID-19 delays, holidays, etc). Tracking information is included on all orders for you to view delivery progress.
Our beads are shipped by USPS and come in a bright pink envelope you can't miss. Tracking numbers can be found in your order confirmation email after clicking the "View Order" button. We also send another email with your shipping details once your order has been fulfilled and is ready to ship.
We are not responsible for products with a "delivered" tracking status or products that were mis-delivered due to lack of correct or complete address. Please check with other neighbors and/or members of the household and consider contacting your local post office directly over phone. You can also file a claim directly with the United States Postal Service. If your package is returned to us due to incomplete or incorrect address there will be a small re-shipping fee to ship it again.
Please log into your customer account to check the tracking status of your package. If you have not received your package within 2 weeks of fulfillment, please file a Missing Mail claim with USPS and notify us via email. If over 4 weeks* have passed with no status from USPS/friends/neighbors (since filing a claim and notifying us), we'll issue you a full refund for the missing waist beads. Please note this means, we'll refund everything except the shipping itself.
We care about your shopping experience with us, so if your package ends up arriving later on, please consider your beads a free gift on us. We simply ask that you let us know so we can better set expectations for future customers in similar situations. We appreciate your understanding.
*For international orders, please wait the full estimated 5 weeks for typical delivery before filing a claim and notifying us. If the beads still haven't arrived after a total of 8-9 weeks since your order was fulfilled, we will issue you a refund.
Yes, we ship internationally. Costs/delivery times vary are automatically calculated by USPS International and vary by shipping address. Tracking information is provided on all international orders, and you can typically expect your beads to arrive within 3-5 weeks of your order date.
Quick Tip: International orders do not qualify for free shipping, so we highly recommend bulking up and buying 3+ lines for yourself and/or friends to maximize savings.
Due to our limited stock, we do not accept direct exchanges. However, if you are unsatisfied with your order, we accept returns from U.S. orders and issue partial refunds* for you to re-purchase waist beads if you choose.
Please login to your customer account to start a request. Click the "Request return" button on the desired order you wish to return, and share your reason for return. Our support team will be notified, and will review/approve your request as soon as possible. We'll send your partial refund once the tracking status says the waist beads are en route to us.
*We deduct $5 from your order value to cover operational costs and deter shoppers from using our limited inventory for hauls, photo-shoots, etc. For sizing-related returns, we believe finding your perfect fit helps other people find theirs, so if you are willing to give us detailed and constructive feedback, we will reduce deductions to $3 (i.e. the cost of your return label).
Help Center
Our waist beads are designed with clasps to make the process beginner-friendly. To put them on, simply twist the clasp ends together, and they will securely stay in place.
For a perfect fit, we recommend using our size guide, taking our size quiz, or using a tape measure to determine the size that suits you best.
Yes, our waist beads are designed to be water-resistant, so you can shower and swim with them without any worries. The clasp is secure, and while it may experience minor dulling over time, there is no risk of the beads popping open.
Many waist bead wearers, describe this pinching feeling from their waist beads. This is common for traditional beads where you're tying them yourself. We only get this at Toffie on rare cases.
This happens for a few reasons:
- Body Hair: Let’s face it ladies, we grow hair everywhere too (even if it’s very tiny hair)
- Bead Spacing: When waist beads are tied, make sure there is no empty spaces between the beads before securing the string. If there is space, the beads move around on the string and catch your skin or body hair causing a pinch.
What to do Next:
- Wear Continuously: We recommend wearing the waist beads continuously, as your body may need some time to adjust to them. Over time, they are likely to become more comfortable as you break them in. Consider running the beads under warm water and immediately putting them on, the beading wire may soften up a little allowing for more comfort.
- Consider Looser Size: Unfortunately, our clasped waist beads cannot be adjusted. However, you can consider trying a looser size, which will provide more room for your skin and baby hairs to breathe. Pro-Tip: For a slightly looser fit, you can try going 1 size up and clasping the old and new waist beads together to create a "half size."
If the discomfort persists even after trying the above suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
When storing your removable waist beads, we recommend keeping them clasped to avoid them tangling or being stretched and popping. You'll want to keep them looped so you can keep them stored in the goodie bag we sent them in.
Very optional, we recommend occasionally removing the waist beads and giving them a gentle wash with hand soap. Simply rub your hands together to clean them lightly. This will help keep your waist beads looking beautiful and feeling fresh.
Brand FAQs
All sets are hand-beaded without machines by our beaders using transparent non-stretch/elastic beading wire that is durable (similar to fishing line). All sets are made with golden barrel clasps for additional comfort and allow anyone wearing them to easily take them on or off with a simple twist. Due to the artisanal nature of our beads, a single size may differ slightly in length if you’re ordering more than one, and mixed styles may have slight different color ratios.
Our waist beads are authentically African and are specifically made in Accra, Ghana before being shipped to the US. We work hard behind the scenes to select and buy the beads from Mokola market women at a fair price*, and then deliver them to our on-staff beaders who hand-bead, measure, clasp, and quality check every single line.
*Due to changes in what is available in the market, the hues of our styles may vary slightly from our photography.
Our shipments from Ghana typically arrive in the US every 3-4 months (esp Feb, June, Oct). Please sign up for a "Back in Stock" notification on our product pages to get an email when the beads you want are available. We also have a "Sizes in Stock" filter that allows you to shop waist beads we have available by size.
We currently do not sell traditional waist beads threaded on string/twine for shoppers since we believe those are best tied on in person to assure proper fit and durability.
We do not currently sell wholesale waist beads, but are open to the opportunity. Please submit a formal inquiry via this form for us to evaluate whether we're a good fit.
We currently do not take orders for custom colors/designs. However, for wholesale inquiries, we can discuss options with our suppliers in Ghana.
Gemstones are currently out of our scope, but feel free to contact us with suggestions to include someday. If we were ever to go down this path, we would likely only consider gemstones historically found on the African continent, and ones in which we can understand their traditional use and meaning in the cultural context.
Our prices reflect what it takes for them to cover costs. In addition to be hand-strung (no bead spinners), our waist beads are made on small production runs and shipped to the US for distribution directly from Accra, Ghana.