Jan
10

Crafter Interview: Crystal Bonin of Head 2 Toe

Posted by:

Felicia

User From USA

Handmade soaps and bath and body products are very popular and with good reason! People like to know what they are putting on their skin and find healthy alternatives. Meet our featured crafter, Crystal from Head 2 Toe, who specializes in all things bath and body!

Crystal Bonin from Kelowna, BC, Head 2 Toe store, pouring handmade soap.

1. Tell us a little bit more about yourself:

My name is Crystal Bonin and my business is Head 2 Toe. I live in the beautiful Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, British Columbia with my husband and 2 cats. I make handcrafted cold process soaps, glycerin soaps and other bath and body products.

2. How long have you been creating your unique bath and body products and why?

I have been making soaps regularly now for about 5 years now. I purchased a soap making kit and fell in love with process and the results. I originally started to make my own bath and body products because I don't like to buy products with chemicals and parabens and found that the soaps actually dried out my skin. I liked being able to control what ingredients I wanted to use on my skin. The other body products like lotion sticks, lip balms, bath salts and body butters just went hand in hand with the soaps. I love meeting my customers and hearing all their stories about how much they love my products - it makes it all worth it.

crystal working

3. Why is it important not to use lard or tallow oils?

It is really important to myself not to use lard or tallow oils mainly because I am vegetarian. I don't eat animal meat and I don't believe in having it on my skin. There are so many other non-animal oils and butters that have great skin loving properties.

4. What seems to be your most popular item and why?

This is such a difficult question to answer because everyone's tastes are so different. Some of my most popular items though are Black Licorice Soap, Lavender Patchouli Orange Soap, Citrus Grove Soap, Energizing Soap, Chai Tea Lip Balm and Hazelnut Latte Lip Balm. Customers tell me all the time how much they love the smells, colours and the way Head 2 Toe products feel on their skin.

5. Which items are your favorite from your shop?

My favourites are Nag Champa soap, Chai Tea Lip Balm and Vanilla Tub Truffles. I am pretty easy going when it comes to scents so there isn't really a whole lot that I don't like.

6. What types of things do you do when you are not busy creating quality bath and body products?

My husband and I love to travel to warm tropical destinations. We are both certified Advanced Scuba Divers and have been fortunate to travel to many great diving locations around the world. I also enjoy spending time cuddling and playing with Amachai, my Bengal Leopard cat and Rama, my Abyssinian cat.

7. What advice would you give to other crafters to be successful in their trade?

My advice is to not start your business too quickly and really do as much rereplacement, learning and experimenting as possible. I have been in business for 5 years now and I am still always learning. Experiment with lots of recipes or products and always give out free samples to your friends and family. Never take negative feedback personally as you can use the comments and advice to improve your products.

Thank you, Crystal, for sharing your time and advice with all of iCraft!

Visit Crystal's store Head 2 Toe for handmade Soaps, Lip Balms, Lotion Sticks, Bath Salts, Tub Truffes and more, or find more handmade soap on iCraft.