A Newb's Question About Doll Hair Types

[maywong]

I have mixed nylon and Saran together and not had a problem with it. (So far)

[SetsunaKou]

I have mixed nylon and Saran together and not had a problem with it. (So far)

Yes, nylon and saran are all right to mix. It won't be as curly if you want to curl it, though, since you can't 'boil' saran, but they do work decently well together. ^^

[yarwel]

I've noticed that human grade kanekalon fades, not so much frizzes, if it's set with boiling water. Yep, a couple of my dolls have distinctly greyish hair because I overdid it on the heat.

[WhiteDove01s]

Apologies for late replies. RL got busy and then I spent one day with too much of a headache (from pollen and eyestrain combined) to write coherent replies.

Dollyhair does offer free samples of hair colors

I'd already requested some samples from Dollyhair.com before posting this, but they haven't arrived yet. I'm now even less sure I'll find a match for one doll.

The final thing it all boils down to (pun!) is if you want a curl, go for Kanakelon or saran. If you want sturdy but not curly, go with nylon. ^^

Thanks for all of the info. Wow. I'll have to make sure and bookmark this now. Most of my planned-for charas have straight hair, but there are a few exceptions. Is boil-perming always necessary? I don't mean for curls, but like right after rooting or rerooting to get the hair to lie down instead of stick out all over? And it should be done before a faceup, yes? And boiling won't damage vinyl heads? I would have thought they'd deform or melt.

I've noticed that human grade kanekalon fades, not so much frizzes, if it's set with boiling water.

I wonder if fading might be why some of the hair on the old barbies has such a matte finish. If that's the case, I'll never find a proper match for that Midge's auburn and I'll either have to live with the little bald spot where I removed her messed up bangs, or reroot the whole head. I was hoping to avoid the latter as I really like the color she has, and I think the lack of shine looks more realistic than really shiny hair.

Some of my charas aren't human (they're androids), and so really shiny hair will work just fine for them. I already have some in mind for the cheap nylon. For the rest, it sounds like I'm going to have to have good looks at the kanekalon and saran. I do kind of like the kanekalon, but dollyhair's color selection there doesn't cover what I need. I guess I should check wig places, but won't that look awfully thick in 1/6 scale?

[SetsunaKou]

The final thing it all boils down to (pun!) is if you want a curl, go for Kanakelon or saran. If you want sturdy but not curly, go with nylon. ^^

Thanks for all of the info. Wow. I'll have to make sure and bookmark this now. Most of my planned-for charas have straight hair, but there are a few exceptions. Is boil-perming always necessary? I don't mean for curls, but like right after rooting or rerooting to get the hair to lie down instead of stick out all over? And it should be done before a faceup, yes? And boiling won't damage vinyl heads? I would have thought they'd deform or melt.


Some of my charas aren't human (they're androids), and so really shiny hair will work just fine for them. I already have some in mind for the cheap nylon. For the rest, it sounds like I'm going to have to have good looks at the kanekalon and saran. I do kind of like the kanekalon, but dollyhair's color selection there doesn't cover what I need. I guess I should check wig places, but won't that look awfully thick in 1/6 scale?[/quote]

I pretty much boil perm ALL my heads after I root. Even if you don't plan on curling, the boil/pour really keeps the bangs in place and the whole hair 'down' instead of all over. I really recommend it! It makes for a more natural look.

I buy my kanekalon from DoctoredLocks.com They have a HUGE variety and the hair is fine for 1/6. It's as fine as the Nylon, just make sure it's the 'silky' hair and NOT the Jumbo braid. The Jumbo is more rough and ratty looking. The 'Silky Yaky' is the mid-grand and is thicker strands but still 'okay' for 1/6. But the Silky Kanekalon is the way to go. The good thing about kanekalon is that it is very inexpensive and SUPER long! (60" lengths!) It's the only way for dolls like Mistress 9:

[DollyKim]

Always do everything to the hair before the face. As for laying flat I've had luck parting the hair then doing a lose pony tail at the base of the neck or lower. Sometimes I'll put the rubber band around the neck and body.




With the black and white guy I poured hot water over his head after doing this and let him dry before taking it down, he wanted waves not frizz. I've seen people put plastic wrap over the doll's hair and get it as smooth and flat as possible then pour the water.

[WhiteDove01s]

Wow, that doll looks amazing. I'd be scared to have one with hair that long, myself. My first thought was 'wow', my second was 'tangles!'. XD I'm still going to have three of them with hair down past their knees if I can someday get all the ones I want to do.

Thanks a lot for that link! I think it'll come in handy for a few colors.

[WhiteDove01s]

Sorry for doublepost, browser glitches made it hard to send the last one, and when it did send there was another reply. XD

Always do everything to the hair before the face

That's what I thought, but it's good to know for sure.

I've seen people put plastic wrap over the doll's hair and get it as smooth and flat as possible then pour the water.

So it's the heat that has the effect, not actually the water? Since the plastic wrap would keep the water off... That reminds me that when I was a kid I used a crimping iron meant for people on some of my few barbies with permanent and non-fried results. Has anyone else done this, and could it be an option for some kinds of hair?

[SetsunaKou]

So it's the heat that has the effect, not actually the water? Since the plastic wrap would keep the water off... That reminds me that when I was a kid I used a crimping iron meant for people on some of my few barbies with permanent and non-fried results. Has anyone else done this, and could it be an option for some kinds of hair?

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.

[DollyKim]

Wow, that doll looks amazing. I'd be scared to have one with hair that long, myself. My first thought was 'wow', my second was 'tangles!'. XD I'm still going to have three of them with hair down past their knees if I can someday get all the ones I want to do.

Thanks a lot for that link! I think it'll come in handy for a few colors.

Tangles depend on the kind of hair and how it's cared for. My Dollar Tree and Dolly Hair girls have hair down to their feet and it's fine. The black and white are craft store curls that can be coaxed in to a workable texture but he did end up with a haircut by the end because it looks better for him. You can make ringlets out of them but it's not a hair for people who like to brush.