The Doll Forum

Im putting this here because i cant think of a more appropriate forum for it.

For those of us who sleep with our ladies and dont use a bedtime wig for them, brushing is inevitable unless you like the cave girl look. Touseled curly wigs soon loose their 'bed head' looks whilst straighter styles become flattened and getting back anywhere close to the original requires a little time and attention.

Cindy's blonde curls have endured weeks of sleeping and brushing and this has cause the inevitable loss of body and definition, so heres my way of giving her back some of that blonde bombshell hair. I must stress that this works for me, it may not be the right way.

First, get your tools ready. I use a regular brush, a rat-tailed comb (aluminium), Fiber oil and a rat-tailed wig brush.
Next, Grab a dolly........
And admire the awesomeness that is morning bed head!
Now you may think that is looks fatastic and why would I change it, but this is why
The wig is tangled right through and if not brushed out will end up as a single knot of hair. (but you are right, it does look awesome!)

Right. Starting at the very bottom of the wig and working in a small section, brush out the trangles at the tip of the longest layer using only the end of the wig brush
This is where many of the difficult tangles will be. The wig brush has a very soft rubber core, so the small metal bristles can't pull to strongly on the hair. Be pretty gentle at this stage.

Continue to brush out small sections across the back of the wig. In the next picture only the bottom 4 inches or so have been brushed on the left side, the right is unbrushed.

And the bottom layers tips all brushed. You can see the upper layers unbrushed curls easilly in this pic.

Next, repeat the above on the second layer.

When the second layer tips are brushed, brush out from the crown or parting down through the entire length of the wig.

Ensure also that the underside of the hair is also brushed through.

Then Brush through with a normal hair brush

This is where most people will stop, now that the hair is brushed through fully.

If you wish to tousel the hair its a good plan to apply wig fiber oil. The oil allows the hair to clump more naturally and adds a light lubricative oil to the fibres allowing them to brush more easilly and feel more silky. Fibre oil should be part of a wigs care routine and is readily available on Ebay. Dimples is a good brand.

Once the hair is brushed apply a light coat of fibre oil. Apply each squirt from top to bottom as if spray painting, like a kind of downward flick. Then brush the oil through the hair using the wig brush, you can see that the hair immediately begins to naturally clump.

Next begin separating the hair into sections using the rat-tail on the wig brush. Do this by sliding the tail in to the hairaround 1/2 way down the side of the head (take care not to snag the wigs skullcap)

Then part the hair vertically along its entire length so that there is a clean parting between the sections

Repeat around the entire head

When pulling the brush's tail through to separate the sections you will notice the tangles moving down to the tips of the hairs. If necessary brush these out as normal, though with care they should pop out using only the brush's tail.

The hair will already be looking touseled after completing around the entire head

Next the upper and lower layers need to be separated to allow them to move and curl independently.

Many Wigs (at least the ones we mostly use) are made of horizontal bands running round the head. These can be used as referrence points when determining where to separate the laters.

The Key at this point is not to be precise however. Starting at an arbitrary point on the head (but on the correct band to separate the upper and lower layers) lift the upper layer with the brush tail. Note how its tangled to the lower layer
Separate the upper and lower lay as before when vertically sectioning the hair

Continue this in small sections around the upper parts of the head. Repeat this further towards the crown or parting to add extra body to the hair.

Once the layers have be separated extra body can be added by using a finger combing technique. Open the fingers in to a clawlike gesture, then comb through the lower sectins of the hair, using a side to side shaking motion.

The tips of the hair may require a very gentle re-brush after this to remove any frizzing, but the touseled look should be complete

As a comparison, ths is Cindy's hair on the day the wig arrived.

This effect could be recreated using the methods above, but would require a closer attention to detail and working in much smaller sections. An Afro or Perm Comb can also aid in loose styles like these.


I hope this helps/inspires some to get stuck in with their girls hair. It is a very rewarding practice and keeps your lady looking as gorgeous as ever.

Karrot

Thanks Karrot! I know the drill, fix them up then mess them up and start over. great tips for hair care!

Hi Karrot, my girls are asking if they can hire you to be their hairdresser

Nescio50 wrote:Hi Karrot, my girls are asking if they can hire you to be their hairdresser

If any are at the UK Doll Meet in October, i'll gladly take a look mate. Jess and Cindy both got a tidy up trim this morning.

Karrot

Karrot wrote:

Nescio50 wrote:Hi Karrot, my girls are asking if they can hire you to be their hairdresser

If any are at the UK Doll Meet in October, i'll gladly take a look mate. Jess and Cindy both got a tidy up trim this morning.

Karrot

Lily tells me she'll bring her most tangled wig I'll have a talk with her
Hey, great instructions

now that's what i'd call a tutorial!

A very nice tutorial, indeed!

I just have to ask, are you a hairdresser? If not, you probably were one in a previous life

Hi Karrot,
the minute before I read your instructions I thought I´m doing fine taking care of Brigitte´s hair. Well, I´m wrong, but I have to thank you for that. I´ll take better care now.
Chris

AlexKnight wrote:A very nice tutorial, indeed!

I just have to ask, are you a hairdresser? If not, you probably were one in a previous life

Nope, I'm an IT engineer

Karrot

i guess sifting through lines of programing code has helped you to sift through lines of a wig! ahahahahah

Karrot wrote:I'm an IT engineer

See Alex, he's an IT engineer too, so no more excuses for doing a half-assed job on my hair, mister!

Sorry Alex..........


Karrot