Waistbeads are a traditional African accessory that consists of small glass beads on a string or wire worn around the waist or hips. They come in different colors and shapes and may also include decorative gemstones, crystals, or charms. Waist beads have been worn for centuries by women in many West African cultures. In more recent years they’ve gained popularity among women in the West. They’re also referred to as belly beads, waistline beads, or beaded waist chains. In Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and other West African countries, waistbeads are a symbol of femininity, fertility, sensuality, and spiritual well-being. Today, in both Africa and the United States, women use waist beads for aesthetic and practical purposes, including weight management, mindfulness practices, and to boost their confidence and sexiness.

We chose Sacred Love because we want to help every woman who wears our creations learn to love and accept themselves for who they are. Our greatest wish is that our creations help everyone grow and learn more about themselves, like mine have done for me. Sacred (adj.) sa-cred \ ˈsā-krəd \ entitled to reverence and respect highly valued and important Love (verb) \ ˈləv \ an assurance of affection warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion

The best thing about waistbeads is how individual they are. You can wear as many strands of beads as you like, and you can wear them for whatever reason you want. They’re a powerful means of self-expression. To measure yourself for waistbeads, waistbead artist Marissa, from Sacred Love, recommends deciding where you want your beads to sit on your body. Do you want them high on your waist? Down at your hips? Right at your belly button? After you decide, wrap a measuring tape or string around that part of your body to get the measurement. If you’re using a string, mark on the string where the two ends meet, then measure that length with a ruler. Try not to wrap the string or tape too snugly around your body. It will result in a tighter fit than you may anticipate. If needed, our team will be happy to walk you through measuring your new waistbeads. Check out our booking page to request a measuring consultation.

You will need a tape measure, or a piece of string and ruler to get started. 1. Stand up straight and exhale. Make sure that you are relaxed and not holding in your stomach. 2. Wrap a tape measure/piece of string around the area where you want your waistbeads to sit. For new wearers, we recommend that you wear your waist beads at your waistline. See below image for help with deciding where to measure. 3. Hold the tape measure/string flat against your body, not too tight. 4. Take note of the reading in inches. If you are using string, use a ruler to measure the length of the string that you wrapped around your waist. Note: This is the number, in inches, you will provide us when you order your waistbeads. If you're looking to track weight loss, the best place to wear your beads are high up on your waist (area marked waistline in image below). As you lose weight, the beads will fall lower on your waist/abdomen indicating that your waist is getting smaller. Please note: the measurement for your beads is not the same as your pants size.

What You Will Need: - Clean, dry hands - Sharp Scissors - Bowl or container to catch extra beads Tying on your waist beads: If you are currently wearing waistbeads, please pull them up above your belly or down low to make tying your new strand(s) easier. Take one end of the strand in each hand and wrap it around you like a belt. Place the strand in the area where you would like your beads to sit. Slide your thumb and pointer finger over the strand to make sure there are no gaps in the beads wrapped around you. Make sure you're relaxed and not sucking in your belly. Decide how tight you want your strand tied around your body. Be sure to leave a little extra space for bloating and bending. Pull on both black anchor beads until the slipknot is released (you should hear a pop or click sound). This will make room for the beads to loosen. Cross one strand over the other where you would like the knot to be. Pull the top strand under and through in order to tie the first knot (any extra beads should fall toward the black anchor beads). Be careful not to get any beads caught in your knot. Cut the string just above the anchor beads and allow excess beads to fall into your container. You should now have 4 pieces of string hanging from your strand. Take one string from each side and tie two knots. Do this same thing with the other two strands. Make two more knots using all 4 strands. Pull the extra string away from your body to put tension on the string. Cut off the excess string just above the knot being careful not to cut the knot Roll the knot between your thumb and pointer finger to encourage it to lay flat along with the beads. Enjoy your beautiful waistbeads! Please visit our How to Tie page for a detailed video on how to tie your beads on yourself.

Please allow 10 to 14 business days for your items to be created and shipped. All items are made to order and are created with love. Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with tracking information.

Due to the handmade nature of our products, all sales are final. If you have a question about your order, please send us an email to info@sacredlovela.com.

We only use the highest quality beads and gemstones available to create your waistbeads. All beads will eventually fade. Some colors, like pink and metallic beads, tend to fade faster than others. The life and longevity of your beads will depend on the types of soaps, lotions, and oils you use on your body, as well as how active you are. To prolong the life of your beads, we suggest that you dry them off throughly (with a towel or paper towel) after a shower, bath, or submerging them in any body of water.

Please visit our custom strand page to place a custom order request. We ask that you add as much information about your vision as possible into the description section.

The easiest and efficient way to contact us is through email (info@sacredlovela.com), where we aim to reply back within 48 hours. You may also use the contact us on our Home Page.

We are a size-inclusive company and believe waistbeads are for everyone no matter their size. All of our strands are made 60 inches in length. This length can usually fit up to a size 22 to 24 in women’s sizes. If you need your strand made longer than 60 inches, please send an email to info@sacredlovela.com after placing your order.