Getting face off cheap "Barbies"

[Geekmama]

As I started reading more and more about dolliehs, I saw how people do their own face-ups and thought it would be really fun to try on a $ store fashion doll. At least 2 of my kids are really into art, and I thought they might like it, too, so I got 3 dollies to work on. My dd got the face off one with nail polish remover and a LOT of elbow grease. I got MOST of the face off another with remover (and yes, it does have acetone) and then resorted to light sanding when we ran out of remover. Is there not an easier way? It seems to me that if I wanted to keep the face ON, it would probably come off a lot easier, LOL!

Also, have any of you re-rooted a Barbie-like head? I think it might be fun to try. Or maybe I'll just try a wig. *shrug* I saw some entertaining accessories at the $ store made to look like bright pink hair, so I have cheap experimentation options.

[WhiteDove01s]

I had similar problems when using either acetone or non-acetone nail polish remover.

(Also, people will tell you not to use the acetone kind because of vinyl damage risk. With a cheap barbie head, tho, I don't see much risk if you wash with soapy water immediately after. The thing is, if you actually soak vinyl heads in acetone they will swell up... and then they'll shrink! It also leeches out some of the plasticiser, making the plastic a little more hard and brittle. I intend to do this with a cheap or damaged head this summer and document the exact amount of shrinkage for study (I get called the Mad Scientist for reasons Do not try my crazy at home...))

My current method for removing faceups is actually to use a dremel (well, off brand rotary tool) and a very light touch to literally rub/sand the paint off. It usually gives out well before the amount of pressure needed to start to sand into the vinyl itself. I'll admit tho, that that method is a bit extreme in some ways, but I like the control it gives me in that, if I wish, I can just remove parts of a faceup... like just some of the eyelashes for example.

This thread here (after a brief derail that got back on track) has touched on a few weird things to test out on cheap vinyl or other dolls. There are a couple other suggestions in there for stubborn faceups that I hope to give a try to myself soon.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=11007

I'm actually still part of the way into my first reroot... after days. I'm using the needle and thread method and can only work on it a few minutes at a time because of other demands and because forcing the needle through the vinyl makes my fingers sore. Still, it's going well despite my extreme slowness, and I can already tell the results are going to look great!

[Greyhaunt]

Regarding rerooting a Barbie (or any other playline doll) there are multiple methods. I recommend hitting google and just typing reroot Barbie. You'll find lots of good resources that way - it's how I learned!

Dollyhair.com discusses a couple of the methods and sells the tool for one of them. She also sells all the different types of hair that you can use to reroot a Barbie or other doll and is a favorite resource of mine

My personal methods that I've tried are the reroot tool method - which involves a needle stuck in a woodent handle, and the eye of the needle has been cut at an angle so you can use it to hold strands of hair. You then punch the hair into either existing holes, or new holes and the pressure of the closing vinyl holds it in place. This is the FASTEST method around and the hair holds better than you think. You can also drip some glue (like white glue) into the head after you are done to help hold it in.

Second method I've used is the Knot method. You take some strands, thread them through a needle, tie a knot on the end and then by going through the neckhole pull the hair though an existing or new hole until the knot stops your progress. Slower, but less likelihood of hair falling out. Gets a bit crowded with knots inside after a while. Haven't tried the thread method, I think it works similarly to the knot method.

Lots of YouTube videos out there so I suggest watching a few until you find a method you want to try

[Greyhaunt]

With taking off faceups - using standard nailpolish, with our without acetone, is a major pain. I tried that and had nothing but frustration. Also from things I've read, if you use a nail polish remover that has a tint - like blue or pink - you could stain the head.

I've removed the factory faces off of my playline dolls (mostly monster high) using pure acetone either by applying with q-tips or cotton balls. I go through lots of those because once there is paint on one you don't want to really reuse it as instead of removing, it will just spread the paint. Afterwards, based on advice I picked up from a website I no longer remember, I wash the heads with a mixture of baking soda and water - don't know if the baking soda really is better than soapy water, but what the hey, it doesn't hurt So far, so good.

[WhiteDove01s]

Afterwards, based on advice I picked up from a website I no longer remember, I wash the heads with a mixture of baking soda and water - don't know if the baking soda really is better than soapy water, but what the hey, it doesn't hurt So far, so good.

Acetone is PH neutral (7) so it wouldn't need neutralized, but the baking soda would still act as a mild water softener and would probably help the water rinse stuff away.

[MitisFeles]

I second the pure acetone and immediately rinse suggestion, it was the method I used myself with my customs. Is faster and less likely to stain than using nail polish remover. But be careful, never use acetone on the hard plastic parts, and NEVER, NEVER use it on ABS plastic, like Hujoo's one! It has a strong chemical reaction leading to warped and melted plastic and a toxic smell -_-
A guy on a forum used a strong paint thinner named Nitro for his Monster High customs, but I don't know 1) if this kind of thinner is named Nitro outside Italy, too 2) it is oily and has a really strong smell, and not really pleasant to use (I use it only when I had no other solutions, to clean brushes from enamel paint)...
Please also consider that often when removing a cheap doll face up no matter what method you will use, you can end with some stains left by the paint, because the factories doesn't spray MSC before painting the face, and the color often leaked in the vinyl. But you can always cover them with a strategically done new face-up. ^_-

I rerooted two Barbie head with the knot method. It was a very slow and patience trying activity, but in the end really satisfying. I want to do a thir head, sooner ot later, this time using the thread method.

[DollyKim]

I've used nail polish remover with acetone on Mattel dolls with no problem. I'll make pea sized cotton balls, dip them in the stuff, sit it on the eyes or lips, twist and scrape at the same time with my finger nail, get a lot off. The biggest way I prevent smudging is using a fresh cotton ball each time. Rinse immediately. I've even washed the head with hand soap when I'm washing the remover off my hands.

I discovered you can soften a face up by sticking it in a bowl of water then in the microwave for a minute or twi and quickly wiping it off eye by eye. Just be careful with the hot water. Was doing it to soften the glue in Monster heads and discovered just holding the doll's head with a rag took paint off.

For hair I do needle and thread or knot.

Do the work on the hair before the face so you don't mess it up.

[SetsunaKou]

Tea tree oil works fast on removing factory faceups----just dip Qtips until they are soaked with the tea tree oil, then briskly rub over eyes/brows/whatever you want to remove until the Qtip gets too soiled/dirty/dry.

Then, replace the Q-tip, soak it, and wipe again. It takes about 1-2 minutes to remove the faceup this method. (Depends on the brand---some brands wipe off almost immediately, others take a bit more rubbing. ^^)

Once you wipe it clear, then rinse the head in soap and water, and dry. ^^

I've used this method on over a thousand dolls (not joking) and it never fails.

Good luck!

[Geekmama]

Sweet! Thanks, everyone! Wow, this place rocks!!

[Greyhaunt]

Sweet! Thanks, everyone! Wow, this place rocks!!

We try

Hmmm, I'm gonna have to try that tea tree oil method - much more kitty safe than pure acetone!