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Tutorial Crafting Your Own Custom Angora Wig ~ ( A Tutorial )

Apr 10, 2013

    1. Edit on 1/10/2018: Happy New Year!

      Really sorry, guys! Life got crazy and I hadn't been on DoA in so long I didn't know we had a photobucket situation. I'll be updating the photos on this thread in the upcoming weeks, so please have patience with me as I do so little by little. Thank you!


      Hello There :)

      This is going to be a step by step tutorial on how to make your own custom wigs. This is my first time attempting this, and I'm taking photos along the way, so that we could learn from my mistakes, together. I should mention that I didn't create these techniques, they were borrowed from a plethora of customizers. :aheartbea

      I also have a tendency to be forgetful, so I might forget to post a photo or two along the way... If I do, I will likely take a photo of another doll's wig progress and put it in.

      I'm going to break up this tutorial in 4 or more parts. Today is the first part. I will update this thread as I go along. There will be tips and anecdotes along the way (like how much angora you should buy in ounces for what size wig, and so on).


      ---------------------------------------------------------

      FAQ:
      ---- Updated on 6/17/2013

      1. Should I purchase or use good angora for my first attempt at making a custom wig?
      -- If you have an old beat up wig that you can cannibalize the hair from... I'd use that instead. For my third wig (I was trying a different style) I cut up an old Jpopdollz wig and used the hair from that wig instead. It was soft enough to handle glue and styling, and I was able to save the angora for a wig that I knew I could make well.

      2. Where do you buy your Angora from?
      -- I love Angora Mohtique, but the prices are not for the faint of heart. 1/4 ounce will run you about $25, and an ounce can run you upwards of $90. It's a better bet to buy more than you think you will need (per project) to allow for mistakes. But again, for your first time, use something else. It will save you a bit of heartache later, and your wallet will thank you.

      This is an estimate of the amount of angora you may need per wig (since my wigs will be for short to chin length wigs, I can't be 100% sure, so don't quote me), which means I can't vouch for how much you would need for a longer wig:

      Short to Medium length cropped hair --- 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of hair
      Chin length hair --- 1/2 to 1 ounce of hair
      Medium Length Hair --- 1 to 1 1/2 ounces of hair
      Long Hair --- 1 1/2

      Short lengths are sold at about 5-6 inches, medium at 8-10 inches and long lengths sell at about 11-12 inches. I like buying the longer lengths, but that's just a personal preference.

      Now, you don't have to buy from Angora Mohtique, but the price reflects the quality. The hair is perfectly clean, combed, and dyed. You can always be super DIY and purchase raw angora yourself. You'd just have to do the cleaning, combing, and dying yourself. If you like a challenge, this is fun and much less expensive. The quality of your final product depends entirely on you, though...

      3. What glue do you use? And how do you keep it from sticking to everything?
      -- I use either Aleene's super fabric adhesive or FabriTac.

      I have a spray bottle with alcohol that I keep on hand. It cleans glued hair off of your wig-spatula and fingers, and if you spray a little alcohol onto a tooth brush it helps to smooth away stray bits of glue on your doll's wig.

      Mire Lapin also suggests using vaseline on the glue bottle's tip to prevent a sticky tip. It's actually incredibly helpful!

      4. Can I use a material that isn't stretchy like the nylon stocking?
      -- Absolutely. You can use gauze and other materials like that. Although I really like the nylons. ;]

      I've been experimenting with baby wipes and Viva paper towels (it sounds crazy, but they're awesome). I soak them in glue and mold them to the dolls head. I make a couple of clips into the 'papery fabric' where it wants to over lap, and I hold it with a rubber band until it's perfectly shaped.

      5. Why do you suggest that I dampen the hair prior to placing it on the wig cap?
      -- It's not a necessary step, but I can tell you from experience that it will save you from wasting a lot of expensive hair and precious time. Flyaways are the most frustrating part of making a wig. Dry hair floats onto your glue, separates from the little segments you're working with and end up like rolling tumbleweeds on your floor and desk. Water helps to keep all those little hairs in check.

      6. Where did you buy your tools (metal spatula) and is there a substitute I could use instead?
      -- My metal spatula was a part of a mosaic/clay making set that I purchased at a craft shop in the U.S (Michaels, to be exact). But you can probably use a comparable substitute if you can't find one (tooth picks, orange wood sticks, wooden popsicle sticks, etc). If all else fails, your fingers work well too.

      7. Is this a quick project? Is this something I can do in a couple hours?
      -- I think it makes a great weekend project. The wig cap takes a day to be completely dry. So trust me when I say that patience is your friend. You can glue the hair in a day, for sure - but if I'm stuck at a stubborn spot I will take a break for the night and go at it with new eyes the next day. I also wait for the glue on the wig to dry completely before I trim the hair, or glue hair to the underside. That way I can see any thinning areas.

      8. Do you sell your wigs?
      -- Nope. No, sir. No, thank you.

      This is quite simply a pleasure project. I do it for fun, and because I have endless curiosity and want to learn how to do things on my own. And I share my limited knowledge because there are a lot of other people like me who just want to try something out themselves and have no clue where to start from.

      --------------------------------------------------------------


      Step One: Making the Wig Cap
      Step Two: Sketching the Hairline and Cutting the Wig Cap
      Step Three: Hair Planning - Marking Hair Follicle Direction
      Step Four: Gluing the Hair, and Styling



      STEP ONE: Making the Wig Cap

      What You Will Need:
      Rubber bands
      Nude Nylon Stockings
      White Glue *multi-purpose glue like Elmer's*
      GLAD Clear Plastic Cling Wrap
      1 Victim Bald Doll (It's easier when it's on a body)


      Layer 1: Clear Plastic Cling Wrap
      Wrap tightly around doll's head. It's ok if it bunches around the face or chin area, so long as it's pulled taught around the scalp, forehead, ear, and back-of-head. You want it to be as tight as you can make it so that the stocking can lay flush against it. This makes it so that the wig won't have any bulging later, in case you want to use your wig cap for a shorter hair style.

      >>PHOTO<<

      I found that it's easier to pull everything towards the chin and place a rubber band there to hold. He will look like King Tut, but it's fine.

      Layer 2: Nylon stocking and rubber band
      Stretch the stocking around the dolls head so that it lays flush against the plastic. The more seamless the stretch, the better the glue will adhere to the stocking - allowing for it to dry well and keep its shape.



      >>PHOTO<<


      >>PHOTO<<

      >>PHOTO<<



      Layer 3: Thick layer of Elmer's glue

      I used a paint brush, but your finger can work just as well if you're lazy or you don't have a big enough brush. The idea is to get a semi-even layer of the glue on the scalp in the areas you want it to be in. Make sure you go a little over the hairline area, as you want to save yourself some room for error when you do step 2.


      >>PHOTO<<


      >>PHOTO<<

      Good guy Kylyk. Doesn't mind all the umm... stuff on his head.

      >>PHOTO<<

      I put some of the glue in front of his ears, so that I could do sideburns. :wiggle


      My Dollshe boy has a rather thick plate on the back of his head, so it took some finagling to get the plastic and stocking flush. If this happens to you too, don't give up hope.

      Let the glue dry overnight. Check again in the morning. If it looks weak in certain areas, place another layer of glue to strengthen them. If you're using Elmer's glue - you're good to go after about 4 hours.

      Here are the boys, with their 'just glued' wig caps:

      >>PHOTO<<


      Next up, Step 2: Marking the Hairline and Cutting the Wig Cap


      I'll update as early as tonight or tomorrow. ^_^
       
      #1 Enki, Apr 10, 2013
      Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
      • x 9
    2. Thanks, guys! ^_^

      STEP TWO: Sketching the Hairline & Cutting the Wig Cap


      Items needed:
      -White pencil
      -Thin tipped scissors (stork scissors work best)
      - Patience and good lighting


      Sketching the Hairline
      I started by taking a white fabric pencil and sketching out a rough placement of where I wanted his hairline, sideburns and neck tape-line to be. It's always better to err on the safe side, so try to draw much closer to the ear, much lower on the forehead, and much closer to his neckline. And if you're drawing sideburns, make them large, so that you can go back - sketch and trim after. Kylyk's hair is not cropped too short, so it won't be much of a problem in this instance.


      >>PHOTO<<

      *I finished drawing the hairline before I removed the plastic, but I just forgot to take a photo of it, so I went back to show you. If the soft part of the stocking looks all wonky in the photo, it's not a cause for concern. The wig cap portion is already hard.*

      Once you're satisfied with the hairline sketch, you will take off the rubber bands from the doll's neckline and carefully remove the "plastic wrap/stocking combo" off the doll's head. I learned with Kylyk that the "plastic wrap/stocking combo" comes off easier if I remove it from the back to the front.


      Cutting the Wig Cap
      When you remove it, carefully peel back the stocking from the plastic. It should come off fairly easy. Now you can start to cut carefully around the hairline you've drawn, until you finally see the wig cap in all its wonky glory.

      Trim slowly and carefully, and make sure you use really good scissors. The wig cap should have a stiff meshy feel.

      When you're done with that, plop it on your doll's head, like so:

      >>PHOTO<<

      Poor Kylyk... He looks like a monk or a really sad pilot. xD


      >>PHOTO<<

      As you can still see, I have white sketches on Kylyk's head that I haven't cut out yet. I sketch out a more natural Hairline than the bowl cut he's sporting... And then take off the wig cap and trim. Repeat if necessary.

      >>PHOTO<<

      It's perfectly fine to trim more than I did in this instance, so that he has a better range of motion around his neckline. Hair will cover that naturally. I pretty much just sketched, removed wig cap and trimmed it from there until I was happy. Now on to the next step. :)




      STEP THREE: Hair Planning - Marking Hair Follicle Direction


      >>PHOTO<<

      Hair Planning
      Now that I have his basic cut down, I want to start planning out how I want his hair to part, and what style I'm going to go with. Kylyk has a very specific hairstyle. You can see why I had to attempt to make my own wig, right?

      Kylyk's hair reaches his chin at it's longest length, but is pretty short on the sides (save for his long elven sideburns). His hair lifts from the right side of his head and flops forward and to the left (kind of like a wave) and comes just short of his lips, going over one of his eyes. The hair on the back of his head meets into a V shape.

      Hair Follicle Direction
      To draw myself a visual map, I section off parts of his scalp and draw arrows in the direction where I'm going to lay down the hair. They're a basic guideline, that will help me out tremendously. That way if I start day dreaming in the middle of his hair transplant (it happens, lol), I'll automatically follow the guides and not mess up. xD


      >>PHOTO<<

      Make sure you remember to draw little arrows by his forehead pointed up (for when you're adding a row of hair to the 'inside' of his scalp). I want to be able to make his hair looks realistic, so I absolutely do not want to see any part of his wig cap.

      You can barely see the little lines in the image below (sorry for the lack of contrast). But they're a general marker for when I start.

      >>PHOTO<<

      I assume that if your doll's hair is going to go down over its forehead, it won't really be necessary to place hair beneath his wig cap... But it's required if there's any lift at the root.


      :chocoberryTIP::truffle

      >>PHOTO<<

      Don't throw away the cling wrap when you peel it off the stocking. Just put it on your doll's lap for safekeeping. You're going to use it again when it's time to start placing the hair on the wig cap. <3


      Next Up: Gluing the Hair and Styling! :D
       
      #2 Enki, Apr 11, 2013
      Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
      • x 4
    3. So far, at day 3, it's pretty easy. I thought it would be more complicated - but it's actually kind of fun. I haven't made it to the gluing portion, yet. So let's hope it's still entertaining. xD

      I might try another technique this week to make the wig cap. If I do, I'll take photos of that one and let you know how that comes out as well.
       
    4. chrstphrl, Shandrel, Harlequin-Elle, Eldurwen, Gothic-Diurnal-Hime ---- Big giant hugs to you guys, thanks!!!


      Ok, peeps. There are a few things I've learned this weekend that I'll share in the hope you don't make the same mistakes and have to start all over...

      1. Buy your angora from a valid rep. When I finally got around to opening the package I'd received ages ago, I noticed the hair I had was stick straight, and stiff like bristles. Nothing at all like the angora hair I thought I ordered (soft wavy). It was too late once I contacted the seller to get my money back, so I went on with the project (Big Ugly Mistake). ---- I have since then purchased the good stuff from a valid rep. It's coming in this week, so I'll be using that next.

      2. DO NOT use Aleene's "No Sew" fabric glue. It dries a crusty white, and creates a helmet out of hair... Very unsexy and untouchable. I will be looking for glue that is used for gluing rhinestones on fabric. I hear it holds better, and dries clear. I'm going to play round with it today and hope for the best.

      3. And this I'd probably the best tip I can give: Dampen the hair prior to placing the small clumps on the head (this is only if you aren't using wefts). Why, you ask? Simple... It helps to keep the strands together and prevents a million sticky flyaways. You will lose less hair since the clumps like to stick together, and it will still glue to the wig cap and make your life much much much easier. This is especially true for when you're doing short styles...

      P.S Michaels just came out with a 40% coupon today, so you know I'll be in the Adhesives aisle looking for the right glue to buy for this project. ;)
       
    5. Could you tell us which supplier you get your angora from, if you don't mind me asking? I really want to try this once I've got some spare time! :D
       
    6. Sure. ^^ I originally bought the (ghetto) mohair wefts on ebay. I'll show you the package with the blond hair, so you know not to buy it.
      --------

      For the new wig, I went to Angora Mohtique and bought a few ounces of her Exquisite Premium hair. As soon as the haul comes in, I'll take photos and show you. Her stuff is genuine, so I have no real worries.

      I'll also be updating the thread with better photos of the wig cap making process since I have to start a new one tonight.
       
    7. I just got in the Angora hair haul and the hair is gorgeous and soft! It's so pretty and ethereal.
      I can't wait to start using it. :D I'll post and update again tonight as soon as I get home. <3

      >>PHOTO<<

      Chocolate ------------ Espresso ------------- Plum ------------------ Crimson ---------------- Platinum
       
      #7 Enki, Apr 17, 2013
      Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
      • x 2
    8. Very interested to see this happen! I want to make my own wigs and your method seems great. A question though, do you know if the glue you're using is like PVA? PVA glue is quite thick but dries clear as long as you don't use a lot c: It's often used in paper mache kind of stuff too.
      Also, I'm forever jealous of everyone for having Michaels and Jo-Annes (I think that's it) and Wallmarts. Nothing so convenient down in Australia :(
       
    9. I think PVA is very similar to E6000? It's thick, clear, kind of stringy, comes in a tube? I have that on hand.
      EDIT: Is PVA like white glue?

      I'm going to test a couple of different types of glue tonight, to see how they glue/dry before I work on the actual wig itself. I'll mark them down and take photos.

      I think so long as there's a comparable product in your country, you should be ok. ^_^ Are there art or hobby stores in your area, by chance? Perhaps they would have a wider selection of products. <3
       
    10. Thank you so much for doing this tutorial, Enki! How many ounces of angora hair did you get for your wigs? Trying to figure out how much to buy since they come in 1/2-3/4 oz amounts~ :3
       
      • x 2
    11. Dream of Isis - I think the amount of Angora hair you need (it sells in ounces, like you said) depends on the wig you are making. It's a better bet to buy more than you think you will need (per project) to allow for mistakes.

      This is a guesstimation (since my wigs will be for short to chin length wigs), I can't vouch for how much you would need for a longer wig:

      Short to Medium length cropped hair --- 1/4 to 1/2 ounce of hair
      Chin length hair --- 1/2 to 1 ounce of hair
      Medium Length Hair --- 1 to 1 1/2 ounces of hair
      Long Hair --- 1 1/2 (2 ounces is the basic amount used for re-rooting Blythe dolls)


      EDIT: --- Keep in mind the length of your Angora, too. Short lengths are sold at about 5-6 inches, medium at 8-10 inches and long lengths sell at about 11-12 inches. I like buying the longer lengths, but that's just a personal preference.

      Thanks, Laurali. ^_^ At least if I make crazy mistakes, you guys can learn from mine and won't have to repeat them. xD
       
      • x 2
    12. This was my Glue test area. Ha xD I cannibalized an old Jpop 'mohair wig' to test glues. I used a stocking over a plastic paint can (like a giant wig cap), and glued the pieces down.

      Glues for testing:
      -Aleene's Jewel It
      -Elmer's White Glue
      -E6000
      -Aleene's Super Fabric Adhesive


      >>PHOTO<<

      Although I forgot to take photos of the test, the straight winner was Aleene's Super Fabric adhesive, its similar to the E6000, but odorless. E6000 works the same, although the scent is strong and it's much more stringy (like hot glue).

      This is what the Aleene's glue looks like:
      http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aleene-s-Platinum-Bond-Super-Fabric-Textile-Adhesive/17299866

      I had a theory on how to lay the hair down (for long locks) and wanted to give it a go. I wanted to take photos, but even with my handy tools I still got glue on my fingers and couldn't snap any shots, so I'm going to have to wait for the hubby to take photos as I'm working on the next wig.

      I wanted to see if "1/4 ounce of hair" would be enough for a chin length cut... And found out the hard way that you definitely need a 1/2 ounce. I had to add some black to his platinum hair. So now my boy looks a little less like a cool blonde surfer and more like the love child of Cruela DeVille and that guy from The Cure. XD Ahahaha!

      I have to say... I learned a lot, hopefully my next wig will go smoothly and you can see everything step by step.

      >>PHOTO<<


      Sheesh, so emo.

      I hope some styling products will help tame it a bit. At least tomorrow brings another chance to start over. ;) I'm going to take proper step by step photos tomorrow and the day after. I still have three boys in wig caps left to wig; so photo updates coming soon.
       
      #12 Enki, Apr 17, 2013
      Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
      • x 4
    13. Thanks Masume, thank you AngellDoll!

      I'll definitely order 1/2 ounce MORE of the platinum stuff next time to make his proper wig, although this one is kind of cute. Since it's dry now, I can put some WEN conditioner and a little serum to keep the curls defined and shiny.

      EDIT--- I updated my last post with the photos I'd forgotten to put in last night, so scroll up for more info.
       
    14. I am glued (With PVA) to this tutorial, wonderful!
      Your first wig looks fantastic and realistic. I just wanted to ask if you think using an alcohol based glue in place of the white glue would make the wig washable? It may be harder to use though as they tend to get stringy.
       
    15. I'm glad you guys are trucking along with me. ^_^ Thank you, Elderwen & Rumo

      (xD Thank you,) redastor - do you mean for making the wig cap water resistant? I haven't tried FabriTac - but maybe that would be a good one? It's permanent and liquidy so I would assume that you could wash the wig cap with no adverse reactions. I was actually kind of wondering about whether or not FrayCheck would work, too. It tends to leave fabric pretty stiff... --- Also, is PVA like white glue?

      The glue I'm using is clear and thick - like hair gel - and sticks permanently to fabrics. I doubt there's a single mm on that wig cap that isn't water safe... xD ----- I think you can get away with spritzing a wig with a lot of water and conditioner, but I don't know if I would necessarily wet/soak it like I would my own hair.

      +++ You never know what kind of dyes were used on the hair you purchased, so please do all of your wig spritzing and conditioning off of the doll's head, or at least cover the doll with plastic wrap to prevent possible stains if you wet the hair. This is also true when you're gluing dark hair onto wig caps.
       
    16. I tried FabriTac for a project like this (Pic of the end result, linked cause doll is offtopic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cowpewter/8369162217/ )

      It worked, but it was really stringy and messy and hard to use and my fingers wound up covered in it (and mohair), even though I was trying to use a toothpick to apply it. The end result may be completely waterproof, but I wouldn't be able to do any sort of precise style with it. Also, FabriTac (which is acetone-based, it says on the bottle you can thin it with straight acetone) will EAT THROUGH plain plastic wrap. It is not enough to protect your doll's head. I was very very glad I tested the idea on a Monster High before trying it on a more expensive doll. There was visible damage to the hard plastic cap (it was a CAM) on the top of the doll's head where the glue ate through the plastic wrap.

      I wanted to try FabriTac cause I didn't want a wig that would soften and melt in water, but was still flexible, and FabriTac dries in a few minutes vs the hours of PVA, but next time I'm going to try PVA and just know that I should use caution and not ever soak the finished wig in water.
       
      • x 2
    17. STEP Four: Gluing the Hair & Styling


      Tools:
      - Water (to lightly wet the hair)
      - Stork Scissors (to trim hair)
      - Metal Spatula (to assist when gluing)
      - Tweezers (to help position hair when gluing)
      - Clear goopy adhesive
      - Tooth brush
      - Angora hair
      - Paper or cardboard to wipe the tip of your glue off of
      - Towel (to only use for these kind of projects)

      >>PHOTO<<




      Prep Your Doll

      I wanted to be sure that Claude's skin is protected, so I've covered him in plastic wrap to prevent any accidents.

      >>PHOTO<<


      How to start:

      For Claude, I will be doing a short modern pompadour style cut. It will be a warm reddish tone mixed in with a bit of chocolate brown. I have no idea why I decided this particular cut would be for him, but I'm just going to go with it for now. xD

      >>PHOTO<<

      The Angora hair I received comes in little envelopes. Each envelope carries about 1/4 ounce to 1/2 ounce of hair each.
      Each grouping of hair is about 5cm wide x 19cm long.

      I start by separating 1 (1cm wide x 19xm length) piece from each color that I will be using. Once I've separated my pieces, I lightly wet my fingers and run them down the length of both colors separately to make the strands stick together better. This prevents flyaways and makes it easier to avoid sticky fingers.

      For short hair, I'm going to need small pieces. To trim the hair from each piece, I grab my handy tweezers and hold the hair I want to glue (hold low on the hair). I then cut off a little section at a time, no more than 1 1/2cm long.


      Gluing

      I place a dot of glue in the area I want to start in (in this case, it's his neck/hairline). The glue I work with has a very thin tipped applicator, and it makes it easy for me to place a small dot of glue along the bottom.

      I carefully place the piece of hair onto the glue with my tweezers, making sure my tweezers are not touching the glue. I then grab my metal spatula - dab a little bit more glue on it - and press the glue onto the top 1/3 of the hair, pressing it further into the glue so that it is flush with the scalp.

      --- The metal spatula is AMAZING. If you've ever frosted a cake, then you're familiar with how it works. It helps to smooth out large clumps of hair by spreading them over the glue-able area. <3333

      >>PHOTO<<

      I go around the perimeter until I'm satisfied, and then start on the 2nd row. Please be sure to glue your new row so that it covers the scalp area. I tend to place the new bead of glue on top and slightly above the last piece of hair. I don't want bald spots - or spots of dried glue to be visible.

      >>PHOTO<<

      Remember - 1 bead of glue per clump, and then a tiny bead of glue on the top 1/3 of that hair (to spread it and lay it flush on the scalp).

      Once I'm done with the bottom part, I will move on to the sides of his head. Again, I start on the bottom and work my way up. It's ok if I have the hair a little long, I can always go back and trim some if I don't like the length. I'd rather err on the safe side.

      >>PHOTO<<

      Just continue until it meets with the other hair. Now do the same on the other side...

      >>PHOTO<<

      Up until this point, I've only been using the red hair, so this next row will be black. The hair moving up along his temples will begin to be interspersed with both colors from this point on.

      >>PHOTO<<

      Black/Brown row

      >>PHOTO<<

      Keep going around his head in an upward spiral towards his crown (you know that area where men tend to go bald?)

      >>PHOTO<<

      Because I don't want to see the glue exposed, I will mix the two hair tones together so that it is a seamless transition from one to the next. I will cover the empty scalp area with a thin layer of hair all the way up and let it dry...

      I will then separate long strands of hair for the top pieces. I place a tiny dab of glue right in the center of the strands that I will be gluing. Just enough so that it sticks down, but not enough for the glue to show on the strands themselves.

      >>PHOTO<<

      Place the strands in the direction from which you want the hair to lay. This is done so that when the glue is dried, you can wet and maneuver the hair forward or back and no one will see the evidence of how it was stuck on.


      I'm sure there are probably better ways of doing this, but being self taught and theorizing my way to a completed wig - this is the best that I've come up with. :sweat This is my second angora wig - I'm definitely no expert.

      Continued...
       
      #17 Enki, Apr 19, 2013
      Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
      • x 1
    18. continued...

      Once the top is dry, I will carefully remove the wig cap from Claude. I want to make sure I place a bit of hair underneath his wig cap so that I can style the hair up, if I please.

      >>PHOTO<<

      Make sure you place the hair in the direction you would like for it to be styled in. I placed the strands at a diagonal - facing the center.

      >>PHOTO<<

      Once your glue dries, you can place the wig back onto your doll.


      Styling

      This is where your handy tooth brush comes in. xD You can wet the brush and lightly pass it over the hair. It will help to remove any stray glue strands that happened to escape your notice. Brush the moistened hair in the direction you would like for it to go.

      Because it is Angora, I am able to use a little bit of conditioner and some hair mousse for lift. I place a dab on my tooth brush, disperse it around and then comb that through the hair.

      >>PHOTO<<

      Et Voila! :aheartbea


      If you guys decide to try this, please post photos here! :D I'm going to keep working on the wigs and get better. If my techniques improve, or if yours - lets update our findings. <3
       
      #18 Enki, Apr 19, 2013
      Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
      • x 5
    19. Is that super glue? Cuz I have a tube of crazy glue laying around...
       
      • x 1
    20. Do you know where I could find a metal spatula similar to yours?
       
    21. I you have a local Michaels - there's a kit for $12 (ask the ladies where they've seen large tweezers) that has 1 large set of tweezers, 1 small set of tweezers and a double sided metal spatula. I think it's in the mosaic section. ---- they should still have a 40% coupon out.... So cheap cheap cheap.

      And everything can be reused for other things.


      But you can use popsicle sticks, tooth picks, orange wood sticks... Anything that will help you spread the glue.
       
    22. How long did you leave the fabric glue to dry on the hair before moving on to the next layer above it? I'd be afraid of the overlapping hair sticking to each other...o.o
       
    23. It depends. I don't wait very long for the bottom, but I wait about 30min to an hour for the top pieces (or I use a fan).
       
    24. How long did the angora take to ship out to you?
       
    25. These pictures look absolutely hilarious, especially the head cap making. Hehe. XD Anyway, the finished product looks amazing. I might give this a go. Where did you end up getting the good angora from in the end?
       
    26. they look really good! i like the look of the mohair you found. you can wash them if you change your glue. my boys would kill me if i made them a mohawk but, i do have an incoming little boy that might like it.... so what are you going to try next?
       
    27. Thank you: puffin463, praeva, mydaffer, Idoru, Narihde

      Roztastic
      : That's so true! xD My poor dolls, I'm glad they can't talk. Haha! --- I bought my mohair at Angora Mohtique.

      Gothic-Diurnal-Hime: She ships either the same day, or the next day. I ordered some more on Thursday and it shipped Friday. It's 2-3 day delivery, I think.

      Fushia Lace: I actually made another one last week, I just forgot to post it up. ---- Oooh, you make wigs! Maybe you can help answer a couple of questions for us newbies?
      What kind of glue do you use, if you don't mind my asking? And do you have any recommendations for how you lay the longer 'parted' pieces? I want to be able to make the wigs look as realistic as possible, and without bald spots or glue spots. I have no plan on selling mine, it's for personal use.
       
    28. Aww, I'm glad I could help. ^^

      I did start/finish another wig this past week. I had an old and slightly battered JPOPdolls faux mohair wig lying around, so I spritzed it with some wig conditioner (1/4 tsp of fabric softener/per 1 cup of water) combed out the flyaways, trimmed the ugly ends and used the hair.

      See: Old wigs have their uses. :3 They can be cannibalized and their hair repurposed.


      [​IMG]

      Dont mind his hairstyle too much... Can you tell I was inspired by my avatar? xD
       
    29. i use the 527 for the caps and the 3000 (the smaller bottle as its easier to control the application) for applying the hair. they can be washed with no problem. yes, i know the smell is a problem if i cant get some air flow when i work. i work from the bottom up and i just go a "row" at a time with the application of the hair. i am not fond of wefts so much. as i wash the wig when i am done, i double check for bald spots. parts... i fold over the hair for the (side)part and glue down the underside. that make sense? for a straight part i fold both sides under and glue them down butted up against each other. i do not press down very hard or glue comes up through the hair and you have a ugly mess.
       
    30. Thanks so much for posting such a detailed tutorial :)

      I'm afraid I'm a little stupid though, I'm still not sure I understand how you do the part? Any chance you could post some close ups of the wig parts? I'm really struggling to get them to look decent :/
       
    31. Is the 3000 like the E6000?

      Yes, the butted up part sounds about right! I'm glad i'm on the right track. &#9829; Sometimes I'm not sure if I'm doing it 100% correctly. xD
       
    32. Followed your link from flickr -:nowords:This is wonderful!
      And you're asking me questions!?:? Adding your know how to my arsenal!

      The only thing I can offer: if using "Fabri-Tac"or the 'Aleens" version,
      use "Vasline" on the tip of the bottle to reduce glue string-ies
       
    33. Thanks for the tutorial! Definitely helped :) This is my third wig, and there are still a few issues, but I like the result.
      [​IMG]
      My biggest issue was the hairline: I made it too high! Thankfully the bangs help hide that a bit. The wig is also really thick, and every time I try to make them thinner they just turn out thick! What do you do? Your wigs look so fine!
      Also! I used the E6000 and it worked out very well, in my opinion. There were a lot of strings though. And flyaways! I cannot stress how much easier it would have been if I had dampened the mohair first. DAMPEN THE HAIR FIRST! Learn from my mistakes lol, and have less green hair floating around your craft room xD
       
      • x 1
    34. I really love your wig, zomjirate! Such a cool colour :)

      Did you dye mohair or is it a different kind of fibre?
       
    35. Sorry it took so long to get back to everyone! ^^; I went to Disney for the weekend. xD

      zomjirate
      , You did it!!! :D :D :D I'm so proud of you, look at how beautiful that turned out. &#9829; &#9829; &#9829;
      Yes, see - you MUST dampen the wig. LOL It helps reduce loss of hair. I learned that the hard way, too.

      When I place the hair onto the glue (it's very similar to the E6000 - just scentless) I smear/spread it with the metal spatula so that it fans out. It helps reduce the bulkiness.

      Mire Lapin, you are actually the person that inspired me to make my own! I love your dolls. The boys have such chic hair cuts. :D

      Vaseline on the glue nozzle is an awesome tip! Thank you. Stringiness and glue stickiness does become a problem. :aheartbea The Vaseline will help a ton.

      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      EDIT: I love how helpful everyone is in this hobby. It reminds me why I've been a part of this for as long as I have, and why it's brought me so much joy. &#9829;

      A few friends were able to impart additional information this past weekend (for wig parts) and I wanted to share. This is a visual tutorial on how the wig part was created (without showing any glue spots, hurray!!!). The tut is not mine, I'm just sharing knowledge. <3

      I'm going to make another wig cap tonight and practice this technique tomorrow. I'm really excited. :fangirl:

      PART 1
      http://beansproutmomo.deviantart.com/art/BJD-Wig-Tutorial-PART-ONE-366609492

      PART 2
      http://beansproutmomo.deviantart.com/art/BJD-Wig-Tutorial-PART-TWO-367246332
       
      • x 1
    36. Em- I bought my mohair from a seller on Etsy and she custom dyed it for me :) Hope that helps!

      Enki- Thank you, you are too kind! I couldn't have done it without your help <3
       
    37. One more thing, for the "Americas", the plastic wrap called "Cling Wrap" by Glad will survive almost all glues. I tried some bargain bin stuff and it melted into the wig cap.

      @Enki: TWEEZERS!!! Thank-you; now able to place the hair precisely and keep it there, before smushing it down with a pointer. Took a few trys; I have a weird pair of tweezers that you squeeze to open.
       
    38. Glad cling wrap is the only kind I use, too. ^_^

      Yes, Tweezers have saved my poor sticky fingers! &#9829; And you're totally right. They do take a little finagling.
       
    39. Do you have a Hobby Lobby like store in Australia? If not, you can use Amazon to order the glue you need. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=glue

      Another question, how would you do a side part? And did you ever get to test which glue worked best? I tried E6000 for another project and it made me dizzy.
       
    40. Another question: do you glue all the hair on layer by layer without drying sessions in between or let it dry after all layers are attached? I'm confused.
       
      • x 1
    41. What are you planning on making, chibi_fluffy?

      I want to do either a wavy side-part or a finger wave (well, more likely the former because I'm told the latter is very very difficult).

      I did some more searching for angora and I found a place that has stuff that looks similar to the original poster's stuff for $25 per 1/4 ounce. Oh my gosh, I'm going to freak out this whole project with those prices. Like that one time I used the super expensive acrylic paint for the first time... and then mixed the wrong color...
       
    42. side parts are actually easier then center parts. and finding good mohair/angora is a pain *_* not much shows up under angora so you can look at mohair. it really depends on how the seller lists it. Don't worry about expense. this is not a cheap hobby lol!
       
    43. I want to make a Black and white wig, parted in the middle, back is short going longer toward the front for the white side, short all over for the black side.
      The hard part is that it's not something I see in synthetic wigs or fur wigs, and mohair wigs are always too long, even if I can commission someone to make it I'm not sure they would get the long white/short balck with short/long back to front.... xD

      I really need to try this out > w<
      I may try a mix of mohair and angora... I'm really curious about angora as I never touched any.
       
    44. Enki is probably out enjoying the sunshine (not!), so if she doesn't mind (*points out window*, "Sheep!")....

      @Gothic-Diurnal-Hime: Yes, depending on what glue you are using, give it time to dry between rows.
      This could be the time it takes to complete a row or a bit longer; depends on glue formula and how it reacts with
      the temp & moisture in the air*.

      @Chibi_Fluffy & zekarmisama:
      Do a search for Angora doll hair. Lot of places raisings the goats also sell the fibers too.

      Lest we forget that angoramohtique.com raised the goats. Sheared the goats. Washed the hair, combed it,
      dyed it, condition the hair and re-combed it before offering it for sale.

      There are stores on Etsy that will sell you raw or washed angora fibers (most at a shorter length)for a lot less, but trust
      me, it is really labor intensive to comb, wash and dye (then re-comb) your own fibers. Then again, who says you have to use
      Angora? Enki's technique works with all sorts of fibers; from human hair to Raffia.
      http://www.mohairhouse.com/
      http://www.mohairwig.com/mohairweft1.html - have not bought from them myself.

      Made this one from leftover Tibetan Lamb scraps (cutting hair from the hide)
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkleynoon/8717277612/

      * Sorry, I make epoxy glues for a living,
       
    45. Wow this looks really interesting. I have been really annoyed trying to find shorter wig styles and this looks like the way to go.

      Well I don't have an excuse I have 4 alpacas and 6 angora's. I also have last years shearing sitting in bags downstairs.
       
    46. Yeah, I've been trying all sorts of search terms. I know I need some sort of combed mohair. Well, I've also been messing around with some tibetan mohair lately because I have been scrolling through several ideas on doing the hair of Jimmy Kent from Downton Abbey.


      Lol, yeah, this hobby is expensive. I don't mind shelling out for well-made things, but when it comes to shelling out for crafty artsy supplies sometimes I don't trust myself. But on account I already spent so much money on the doll, it's probably silly to put him in cut-rate hair...
       
    47. Try these searches: "suri alpaca doll hair" "mohair doll hair supplies"
      Horse and yak will work too.

      @whitewolf::lol:
       
    48. Mire Lapin ~ Sir, you are my hero!!! Thank you for helping out when I wasn't available. &#9829;

      I'm sorry I've been away so long, guys. I had no idea you had extra questions. :sweat I've been crazy busy this past month and a half, and haven't had much more than a couple of minutes to hop on DoA. I'm going to hop back on tonight and answer all of your questions. <3

      ~<3
       
    49. I got my angora from angora mohtique in the mail and it is worth every penny. It's nicer than my hair! I could stroke this all day long. And the wave to it looks perfect on Niccolo.

      But I haven't gotten the glue so I haven't tried to make the wig yet.
       
    50. &#9829; Thank you all for being so nice! &#9829; --- I updated the first page with a FAQ. :D

      zekarmisama
      - Isn't Angora Mohtique's stuff gorgeous? :) I sometimes wish I had dolls with longer hair, so I could show how vibrant the angora is in real life. I think glue is a personal preference... Although I really like FabriTac, now. I hope you start, soon. It's pretty fun, you just need a bit of patience and zen (specially with flyaways).

      Gothic-Diurnal-Hime - You'll do great! ^_^ Try to practice using less expensive hair first, so you get the hang of it. If you have an old beat up wig, try clipping the hair off of it, very close to the scalp and use that for your first attempt. Your first time won't be pretty, but it won't matter. You'll know what to do without it costing you a fortune in good angora. ~~ That way when you're ready, you can use the good stuff.
       
    51. Enki: Thanks!! It just shipped out so I get to start that wig very soon! One more question, how many ounces of angora fiber would I need for a medium length SD size wig? I have my main wig project for my girl Alma coming up.
       
    52. The sizing info is on the first page (first post), in the FAQ. ;)
       
    53. Well, I finally finished it. It's a mess but only a practice round.
      [​IMG]
       
    54. Great job! She looks a little like Princess Merida. :)

      If you want a little more definition (to tame the curl) and it's synthetic fiber, use a tiny bit of fabric softener + water and comb through.
      A little leave in conditioner works really well for natural fibers, too.
       
    55. My brother said the same thing, lol. :sweat Okay, I tried the fabric softener thing and it helped but I ended up having to throw it away. It was trying to stain her despite the 4 vinegar soaks prior to making the wig. The fibers only cost $4, so I'm buying more later and try again by buying good quality angora this time.

       
    56. Enki/Mire/Anyone, I finally braved my first practice wig, and it turned out better than I was expecting. Not a keeper, but not a big, gluey mess of fur either. My main problem was the parting. I want a middle parting and used the technique where you cut a slit in the cap where you want the parting to be, stick hair on the underside of the cap, either side of teh slit, and then pull up through the slit, stick down lightly to the top of the wig and fix the slit closed with glued fabric. All that will only make sense if you already know what I am talking about. XD. OK, my problem came when I tried to glue the slit back together again. I the best way to do it would have been to turn the wig inside out. However, I was concerned that might warp the wig cap. So I tried it by holding it upside down and sticking the fabric across the slit that way. Oh my. I could not get the front sides of the slit to stay together at the hairline. It was just too fiddly to get fingers in there and hold it all shut whilst simultaneously pressing sticky fabric onto it (It is a CLine wig). Any hints and tips on how to manage this?

      Also, if you buy your mohair loose, how do you get it to the length you want? I stuck down long lengths and then trimmed it once dry. Is there a better way to get natural-looking ends to long hair?

      Right, bracing myself to have another go.
       
    57. Natural looking ends to long hair - you can buy "feathering shears" at beauty supply stores or online (amazon has a whole slew of things) or if you'd rather not pay a bunch for specialty scissors you'll only use a few times, you can feather the ends by holding your scissors on a diagonal and use shallow little snips (I learned this trick from a friend who cuts hair for a living) There are also a bunch of tutorials on youtube
       
    58. Thanks for that Girrl. I do use that feathering approach, but it never looks neat enough on fine, straight hair, I don't think, or perhaps that is just me. I tried razoring once. That was no good either. I might look into feathering shears. What I did with the one I have just made is use the natural ends of the hair on the bits where they would show them most, so the lowest layer of the back of the hair and round the hairline. The less neat cut ends could then get lost in the upper layers, if that makes sense. It worked fine, which is more than I can say for my partings...

      More ideas for partings for tiny heads that bulk out easily!
       
    59. Believe it or not it made sense to me. Do you have a styrofoam ball? How about T-pins?
       
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