How to reflash a doll's hair: a master class, step by step instructions and recommendations

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Sometimes it happens that your favorite doll, which seems to be still good in appearance, is rapidly going bald from time or someone else's efforts. Is that what happened to your favorite? Doll curls fell off and can not be combed? No problem. Everything can be fixed. In this article we will talk about how to flash the hair of a doll. The master class for this type of repair is quite simple. You will need not so much skills as perseverance and patience. So let's get started.

What, why and for what

Many modern toys, despite their external attractiveness and good quality, have one significant drawback - not too thick hair. Moreover, not only domestic specimens sin with this, but also dolls of imported manufacturers. Most often, a not too “hairy” head creates serious problems. After all, the gameplay is not onlydressing your pet in different outfits. Particular attention is given to hairstyles.

Sometimes, already in adulthood, needlewomen want to reanimate their old Soviet toys. After all, they are a bridge to a happy carefree childhood. One look at your favorite doll evokes pleasant emotions and a nagging feeling of nostalgia.

That is why a master class on stitching the hair of a Soviet doll is becoming a very popular question among modern needlewomen. Let's take a closer look at the process of replacing hair, study the features and discuss some options.

Materials and tools

Before you reflash the doll's hair, you should prepare the materials and tools necessary in the process.

For this you will need:

• The doll itself, or rather only her head.
• Crochet hook (the thinnest you can find).
• Special "puppet" needle. If you don't have one, no problem. It can be replaced with the usual "gypsy" - very long, strong and thin, with a large capacious eye. It is best if it is an embroidery needle. Its eyelet is elongated and will work much more conveniently.
• Tweezers.
• Pliers.
• Hair bands.
• Material for making new hair.

What can new hair be made of

Even before you reflash the doll's hair, you should think carefully about what material the new hairstyle will be made of. It is on this that the complexity of the work and the beauty of the future styling depend.doll fashionista.

As a consumable for a new head of hair, you can use:

• nylon threads;
• kanekalon;
• fiber thread;
• llama wool;
• saran;
• hair from a donor doll that is no longer recoverable;
• hair from an inexpensive human wig;
• Christmas wigs from the party supply store.

How to reflash a doll's hair: with thread, wool or other material - it's up to you. You just need to remember that not only the complexity and speed of work, but also the appearance of the pupa itself will depend on the choice. As you understand, artificial material and looks unnatural.

Remove unnecessary

Before you change the doll's hair, you need to clear the field of activity. That is, you need to completely rid the toy of the old hairstyle. To do this, take the doll and place it under a stream of very hot water. You need to warm the place where the neck connects to the head. The heat will soften the joint and make it much easier to detach the head from the body.

Now get rid of the unnecessary. If you still need the hair left on the doll, you will have to tinker. You need to take one strand, clamp it with pliers and pull hard until the beam comes out of the mount.

If the remaining hair is of no value, everything becomes much easier. Just cut off any excess with scissors, trying to cut the strands as close to the doll's skull as possible. Now takehook and tweezers and through the neck hole "scrape" the remaining hair from the inside of the head. Repeat the procedure until the pupa's skull is completely bald.

Tip: If you are going to repaint the toy's face, it's time to get rid of the old paint. You can also wipe off the paint from the scalp of the pupa. Especially if the new hair is lighter than the old one.

Preparing hair

The next stage of work is the preparation of new strands. If you decide to use nylon threads, they need to be unraveled, straightened and steamed so that they do not “fluff”. Woolen curls must first be combed and aligned in length. Do the same with other materials.

For the simplest "knot" weaving, the strands need to be prepared like this:

• separate a thin strand (about 12-15 hairs) from the general bundle and align the ends along one side;
• now tie a knot from this end so that a tail of about 7-10 mm remains;
• spread the knot with glue or silicone sealant - this is necessary so that it does not accidentally untie during work;
• wait for the glue to dry completely and cut the short end a little as close to the knot as possible (make sure it does not come loose).

There is another way. It is much simpler, but has a significant drawback - an unpleasant smell during operation. Its essence is this:

• separate a small strand and trim the hairs from one end;
• usinglighters, set fire to the tip of the strand;
• watch the burning;
• synthetic melts and turns into a ball when its diameter reaches about 2-3 mm - put out the fire;
• when the strand cools down, a solid melted ball forms at its end - such a connection will definitely not untie.

As you already understood, this method is only suitable for strands of synthetic materials. Natural wool does not melt, it will burn completely.

How many hairs do you need

In order for the further process to proceed without stopping, before you reflash the doll's hair, you need to prepare a sufficient number of strands.

And how many do you need? It all depends on how big the doll's head is and how much hair you want to get.

The easiest way is to count the holes on the head of the toy or prepare the material in parts as needed. Usually, about 10-15 strands are needed for the central part of the head, from 25 to 50 bundles are placed along the outer perimeter. For the rest of the head, you will also need 30-40 blanks.

Step three: stitching strands

So we come directly to sewing. In fact, everything is not so difficult as it might seem at first glance. After performing the operation several times, you will adapt, and further work will follow by itself.

1. Take one strand-blank and slightly dampen it with water. This is necessary so that the hairs do not fluff and the hairstyle is neat.
2. We take a needle and thread a strand into the eye so that we get twoloose ends, one of which has a knot attached.
3. Through the hole in the neck, feel for the desired hole in the doll's head with a needle. Sew the hole through and pull out the strand from the front side. The knot will not allow you to pull out the strand completely, it will remain invisible inside the head.

Repeat the operation as many times as necessary.

Poke each individual strand into your hole. If there are factory "bald patches" on the doll's head - too large gaps between adjacent holes - use an awl. Use it to pierce as many additional holes as you need for a beautiful hairstyle. So that loose strands do not interfere with work, tie them into ponytails with elastic bands.

A few more ways

There are at least two more ways to reflash a doll. One of them is suitable for those who do not have a needle of sufficient length and the above method is not suitable. Its essence lies in the fact that the entire sewing process takes place only on the outside of the head.

• Take a strand twice as long as needed.
• Damp it lightly and tie a knot right down the middle. The knot can be slightly smeared with glue so that it does not untie.
• Thread one end of the strand through the eye of the needle.
• From the outside of the head, insert the needle into any hole and immediately pull it out into the next or any other. That is, you seem to be stitching the whole head through, from end to end. If pulling out the needle is problematic, help yourself with pliers.
• Release the strand of hair and gently but firmly pull on it so that the knot slips through the hole and stays inside the head.

This method is much faster, since in one movement you get two new strands at once.

There is another option, how to reflash a doll's hair. It is suitable for those toys whose head is designed in such a way that the hairy part is removed. It turns out like a semicircular hat with holes. Most often, old Soviet dolls are arranged like this.

For this method you will only need a thin but very strong hook, as we will knit a new hairstyle:

• take the right amount of double length strands, moisten them with water and fold them in half;
• introduce the hook with an “inside-out” movement, inserting it into the central hole on the crown;
• grab the strand and pull it a little inside the “hat”, you get a small loop;
• now without removing the loop from the hook, insert it into the adjacent hole;
• grab a new strand and pull it inward, pulling it through the hole and the loop already on the hook;
• continue the operation, moving in a circle from the center to the edges.

If you did everything right, then from the inside the doll's head will look like it was stitched with a chain stitch. At the same time, luxurious hair will turn out on the outside. The last loop must be secured with an additional thread threaded into two adjacent holes. Thread endstie a few knots. The new hairstyle is ready, you can put your head back on.

Final stage

After the new hair is completed, proceed to styling. If the doll's hair is made of wool, it is enough just to comb it gently.

To style hair made from wigs or factory strands from another toy, you can use hot tap water. Wet the doll's head and use the comb to style the desired hairstyle.

If you used kanekalon or fiber threads to restore the doll, you can style the hair with boiling water. Just pour the doll's hair from a boiling kettle, it will become soft and manageable.

Attention! In order not to spoil the toy, first pour boiling water over a single strand left after restoration, and observe the reaction. Some materials may lose color or melt completely when exposed to boiling water.

First, flashing and styling doll hair can seem very difficult. But with a little practice, you will definitely master this simple art.