A Newb's Question About Doll Hair Types

[WhiteDove01s]

I actually just crimped a doll's saran hair a few months ago for a commission for a Madison mermaid 1/6 doll. Saran hair burns so I first dampened/wet her hair, then used the crimper on it. The water kept the heat even so the fibers didn't burn/frizz. However, it's could be pretty dangerous getting crimpers near water, so I don't recommend it.

The mermaid looks cool.

I actually found the doll I crimped among the ones in the back room. It's been at least two decades and her hair is still crimped and doesn't seem damaged. XD I may have to get some various crimping/curling/straightening irons and try some small experiments on test strands. I don't think I wetted it as a kid, but I'm pretty sure I moved really fast doing it to prevent any melting/frizzing.

You can make ringlets out of them but it's not a hair for people who like to brush.

Yeah, I'm definitely guilty of that...

Some of my charas are going to have short hair, so now I'm thinking that, when I do the boil after rooting to get the hair to lie down, if the hair isn't long enough to put in a ponytail or around the neck and it's the kind that has to be boiled instead of having water poured over, maybe I could use a scrap of cotton instead of a plastic bag and put that over the head and then the rubber band to hold the hair down good? I'm not sure if I managed to describe that very well...

[DollyKim]

Always root the hair longer than you want it because it's easy to give it a trim after. Put the hair you want for the bangs in place, set them, then cut them. With the plastic wrap, regular old kitchen kind, you can wrap the head like a mummy but still see what the hair looks like. For short hair you can make a headband or wrap it around the face then pour the hot water over it.

I'm looking for the pics but so far no luck, I might have seen it while looking at ideas for Monster High reroots. If I find it I'll share.

[WhiteDove01s]

Always root the hair longer than you want it because it's easy to give it a trim after. Put the hair you want for the bangs in place, set them, then cut them. With the plastic wrap, regular old kitchen kind, you can wrap the head like a mummy but still see what the hair looks like. For short hair you can make a headband or wrap it around the face then pour the hot water over it.

Thanks. I'll try to get plastic wrap on the next grocery store trip. We don't usually use it, and I never would have thought of using it to help set doll hair. I'd have thought it would melt. XD

[SetsunaKou]

Always root the hair longer than you want it because it's easy to give it a trim after. Put the hair you want for the bangs in place, set them, then cut them. With the plastic wrap, regular old kitchen kind, you can wrap the head like a mummy but still see what the hair looks like. For short hair you can make a headband or wrap it around the face then pour the hot water over it.

Thanks. I'll try to get plastic wrap on the next grocery store trip. We don't usually use it, and I never would have thought of using it to help set doll hair. I'd have thought it would melt. XD

It works well but other things I also use more are 'chenille fuzzy sticks' (pipe cleaners) which I twist around the doll's head and bangs firmly and that works wonders. Also I save the little 'head wrappers' that prerooted Volks/Obitsu and some US dolls,come with around their faces/hair. They're perfect to slip over the head, then boil with! ^^

[DollyKim]

Always root the hair longer than you want it because it's easy to give it a trim after. Put the hair you want for the bangs in place, set them, then cut them. With the plastic wrap, regular old kitchen kind, you can wrap the head like a mummy but still see what the hair looks like. For short hair you can make a headband or wrap it around the face then pour the hot water over it.

Thanks. I'll try to get plastic wrap on the next grocery store trip. We don't usually use it, and I never would have thought of using it to help set doll hair. I'd have thought it would melt. XD

I honestly don't know if it would melt but one would think it would do okay so maybe try a piece and see what it does. But it can be used to protect the doll while painting and paint stained hands during face ups.

[WhiteDove01s]

I think one thing I'm definitely learning from this is 'test everything to be sure'

Which makes sense, because boiling water isn't always necessarily exactly the same temp depending on your altitude above sea level and things like that.

My Junkyspot order is pending to be placed this month, and then I can start saving for the Dollyhair order (and the rooting tool I'll definitely need).

[DollyKim]

I do the needle and thread method and all you need is a doll needle, which is long but thicker than a beading needle, and thimble and thread just about any craft store will have. It's more secure than just punching the hair in place with a reroot tool. The knot method is pretty secure too.

My only worry with a tool is if the temperature changes the tension on the scalp it might come loose.

[WhiteDove01s]

I do the needle and thread method and all you need is a doll needle, which is long but thicker than a beading needle, and thimble and thread just about any craft store will have. It's more secure than just punching the hair in place with a reroot tool. The knot method is pretty secure too.

My only worry with a tool is if the temperature changes the tension on the scalp it might come loose.

I was going to do like the dollyhair site suggests and swab some fabri-tac in there, but I have seriously considered using the needle and thread method instead. I like to style and brush hair on some dolls, so making sure it stays in there is important.

I don't have easy access to a craft store (the next trip near one will be in about August, maybe), but I can check Amazon. Is there a good tutorial on the needle and thread method you'd recommend? And about what strength of thread? I have a lot of regular sewing thread, but I figure that's not good enough. I have one spool of cotton quilting thread, and another spool of white silk thread. I have an awful lot of remnants of embroidery thread, but I figure that's too heavy.

[DollyKim]

Here's the tutorial from my blog http://dolfielittles.typepad.com/blog/2 ... ethod.html

I use regular sewing thread. You can use a regular needle if it's long enough or some thin jewelry wire made in to a needle. The hair will be folded in half so you'll want the length of the strands to be twice what you want. I've done it with all sorts of hair and thread although if you use embroidery floss as hair the knot method can work too.

[WhiteDove01s]

Here's the tutorial from my blog http://dolfielittles.typepad.com/blog/2 ... ethod.html

Thanks a lot for that. It's done almost exactly the opposite way around from what I was guessing. I had concerns about finding the holes by blindly poking the needle up inside the head, when apparently this is done from the outside rather than inside, and poking the eye in first. XD I would have never thought of that.