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Which do you prefer: Buying heads and bodies separate or complete dolls?

Aug 17, 2010

    1. Depends on the budget. If i really love the doll and i cant afford it and its limited if they can sell it separately id buy the head 1st and worry about the body later.
       
    2. I have 3 complete dolls, and 7 heads on different company bodies. Since I'm gonna spend anyway I prefer to have the heads I like on bodies that I like too.
       
    3. I'd prefer to buy a complete doll but if I really love the head I'd go for it. Like the K-doll heads, I'd go for one of those in a flash lol.
       
    4. I think it depends on the size, too. I own only tinies (around 15 cm) and I had a hard time finding a body for my floating Lati Yellow head. I see many more bodys only on higher sizes.
       
    5. I would definitely prefer to have a full doll! But, it also depends on how much said doll is and what my bank account is looking like:blush I've only had a few times where I have been able to purchase the full doll.
       
    6. I'd rather buy complete so I don't have to hunt down a body, but I've bought or traded at least half a dozen floating heads - and my first 3 dolls were purchased as heads originally and I hunted bodies down later. However I've gotten in the habit of buying a body at the same time I know I am getting an event head now so I don't have to deal with finding one when I realize I'm in love and keeping it.
       
    7. If the complete doll offers me the best body type and sculpt for the character I have in mind, I'll get it. But most of the time I find myself doing hybrids mostly because of this.
       
    8. Since I'm ALWAYS broke :...( I rarely buy a full doll, I usually buy the head first, then the body.
       
    9. I prefer to buy a full doll.
      however, I try short to make a hybrid. I bought a dollzone body for my Larina DIM:kitty2
       
    10. I definitely prefer to buy complete dolls because, with very few exceptions that are entirely character driven, I'm very fussy about wanting my dolls to be on matching company bodies. I deal with tight money issues by buying on layaway. Early on in this hobby, I tried the floating head thing and quickly discovered that it created a terrible angst within me that just wasn't worth it (because I constantly worried about their need for a body, which ruined my enjoyment of the doll.):sweat
       
      #550 PoeticSoul, Mar 11, 2018
      Last edited: Mar 11, 2018
    11. Yes, because my budget is not enough to buy the whole. I'll buy a head first and then think about its body.
       
    12. I've been sitting on a head for a year and a half now mostly because I was very indecisive for what body. Then when I did figure out what body I wanted family stuff came up, moved, health issues, basically haven't been able to purchase the body. For the future I will always go for a full doll, unless like this head, it is limited.
       
    13. I have never hybrid a doll b4 but i am very tempted get a newer body for 2004 Petite Ai, still searching tho cos i want a taller body in yellow skin.
       
    14. I like to buy a lot of heads because the body takes up space.
       
    15. I have to say I prefer to do it by buying the head first and then body. I do it this way cause I take more pleasure in the customizing then in getting a full doll. I mean yes it is awesome to get a really eccentric full doll that you feel that you couldn't have ever thought of creating. Yet, at the same time I feel more pride in creating one myself.
       
    16. Personally, I love buying complete dolls because then the doll would be complete in the first place. However, I bought two heads this year, and still haven't gotten them bodies which really frustrates me.
       
    17. Whole doll if it's possible. I have 2 heads and 1 body. It really feels strange when I see a head only.
       
    18. I love complete doll but my place right now can't store a lot of large dolls (65-70 range) so I opt to mostly buy heads only with a few body from some companies for diversity.
       
    19. I prefer to buy a complete doll if it suits my doll's personality.
       
    20. I prefer to buy a complete doll, as it’s easier for me. I can imagine I’d have multiple heads floating around waiting for me to sort out a body and who knows how long that would take me to do.
       
    21. I'd rather buy a complete doll, but if the body shape isn't what I imagined for the character I would buy them seperately.
       
    22. I think for a first-time buyer, as someone who was just recently a first-time buyer myself, I would recommend buying a full doll that comes with both the head and body together.
      I happened to luck out and find the matching body that worked with my head (since Venitu is super complicated and apparently only looks entirely right on his Timeless body), but it took MONTHS of hunting to happen upon one, and it could have taken longer. And I think being new, the wait to have my first BJD put together was pretty torturous. All the research was a little overwhelming too, because I had the fear (while looking at other potential options), that I would get one that didn't fit/didn't match the resin/etc.

      That said, if you're going for an easier to match head/body and you happen to not like the particular head/body that comes with it, then I would say by all means, go for a hybrid. :)
       
    23. I prefer a complete doll because there won't be any colour difference or sizing issues.
       
    24. I prefer full dolls. Because, I can save more time, if I buy full dolls.
       
    25. I've always prefered complete dolls, but recently I began to fall in love with particular bodies. For example all Dollshe classic line. They are so good by itself and make such a nice hybrids with different heads. It's so tempting. Preferences always changing in this hobby
       
    26. I like complete dolls better. But I have a lot of floating heads
       
    27. I really dont like when resin doesnt match perfectly so I always gotta buy a full doll.
       
    28. I like buying complete dolls better. Since I'm new to the hobby I don't really know how to mix and match parts.
       
    29. I prefer complete dolls, but sometimes you have no choice. Like if a doll is being discontinued and you only have money for the head. Or if you buy second-hand.
       
    30. I would prefer to buy full dolls, that way I know that the body and head go together perfectly, but I usually can't afford dolls that way, even with layaway as it's not usually long enough. It's easier to buy the head then get a body, via layaway after I've saved up some. Though it does result in a lot of floating heads. Buying separate, for me, has the benefit of not spending so much on a full doll while still getting to see if the head will actually fit in with what I have in mind for my crew. I've had a couple heads where I thought they would be perfect but then I actually get them and they sadly just don't work. If a head doesn't work out, I can sell it and try again without the hassle of trying to sell a whole doll.

      I also like some artist sculpts that only make the heads so then I have to buy them separately.
       
      • x 1
    31. I bought one head (Venitu) during his final release even tough I wanted the full doll, because I didn't have a PayPal account in my own name back then (And naww you know, you try to assure your parents you don't spend hundreds on dolls but save everything for mortgage like a good kiddo). The sales came so out of nowhere that I felt guilty using so much money on it all of a sudden, so I assured myself I'd get the body later when I'd get my parents off my back. I regret-regret-regret my decision so, since I recently started to look for a body, and there is slim chance I'll get even the body for the price I would have snatched a full doll for back then. Although as slim are the chances my parents would have agreed for a full doll in the first place, even if its value just grew.
      I never buy floating heads brand new now on if I want a full doll, but might consider if something is discontinued and a head I really want pops up on second hand market and is relatively easy to find a body for. And of course hybrids, but so far I haven't had any of those. Or my Venitu, who borrows a Ringdoll body with a neck extension, but he was never supposed to be.
       
    32. I'd prefer a full doll since it's easier but I am quite picky when it comes to the body and joints. If i don't like the body I'd definitely opt just for the head.
       
    33. I like making hybrid dolls each with their own head and body from different companies. It makes them feel very unique.
       
    34. I would prefer to buy full dolls that way I wont have to worry about matching resin or proportions but sometimes the head is nice but I don't like the body or vice versa so I do see the want to buy sepreatly
       
      • x 1
    35. I prefer buying complete dolls because it will be easy to match the color of the head and the body. However, sometimes there are only heads available, so I have to find a body to match the head, which makes me confused.
       
    36. With the nature of my finances and the characters of my dolls I have to buy heads and bodies separately. But I would very much like it if their were some option or if I just had the funds to buy both at the same time from the same company. It's quite annoying to have floating heads reminding me how unfinished my little band is. But I'm slowly working on that.
       
    37. It depends... But I mostly like to adquire parts separeletly because it is economically better for me.
      Another reason, I am really patient too so I don't care about waiting a lot.
       
    38. For my avatar I bought the head first. Then waiting for the body was a pain. My DC girl is a full doll. Third is from two different companies, but this time I choose the same dealer to buy from, so He will come home as a full doll. I just don't like floating heads around.
       
      #578 Triexiz, May 15, 2020
      Last edited: May 15, 2020
    39. Out of my dolls, only one is a hybrid. He was going to be heavily modded and I wasn't really sure what I was doing so I bought just the head to work with first. On top of that, I didn't have the money at the time to buy a full doll. Everyone else was body and head together as they came from the company. Personally, I like having them ready to go as soon as I open the box.
       
    40. I like buying whole dolls, especially with default faceups I like, since I don't really like the idea of sending a facesculpt in the mail (a lot of packages go missing). However, if I find a sculpt for a doll I can't find anywhere else, then that's a different story :)
       
    41. I prefer full dolls, but with the majority of mine, I didn't like the body they normally came with or I could only purchase them as a head. But that's fine, I like being able to choose everything! That way I don't have to compromise aesthetics or poseability.
       
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    42. Only once have i gotten a head without the body, and it took me two bodies to work. Don't want to do that again!
      Even prefer dolls already with face ups. eyes I am willing to install, but for the rest, I want them done when i pick them out.
       
      • x 1
    43. I'm a hybrid addict. It's just way too tempting, with all the amazing heads that pop up secondhand and the affordability and (IMO) beauty of ResinSoul bodies. At first it was just heads and bodies, but lately I've been splicing together different bodies-- this pair of arms, that torso, etc. So far it's surprising how often it can work, probably because they're mostly RS. I do feel like a bit of a Dr. Frankenstein when I'm over at my work table swapping feet tho :lol: I know some purists in the hobby probably would see my dolls as abominations but I like to think of them as unique.
       
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    44. I've been buying full dolls most of the time. Tempted to buy a few bodies and try them out, but am worried about having bodies just vibing around with no heads. If things don't work out I could just sell the extra body, but I've been low on time recently due to life events right now. So, I don't think selling, packing, and shipping a doll body is feasible for me right now, or well spending money on a body in the first place. I may do so in the future, but until now I window shop :aeyepop:
       
      • x 1
    45. I prefer the complete doll.

      I bought a head once, and another doll for it's body, but then ended up buying the dolls head a body from the same company that the doll head was from and returning the body to the doll it came with.

      Another time I had bought a head separately, and a body from another company, then ended up buying the head a body from it's own company instead, and again. Then I actually had to go find a head for the abandoned body. This is my only hybrid doll.

      I am not good at making hybrids, and I don't know what I would do with just a bunch of heads, so I just get the complete doll.

      I am almost tempted to get a new body for my Resinsoul Gang because I don't like his company body on him, he needs something taller and broader, but then I would have to find a head for his original body, and that sounds like a pain.
       
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    46. After owning two hybrids, it depends on whether both head sculpt and body matches the original characters I have in mind, and in case it does, if I have the budget during the purchase. For my first hybrid (AngellStudio Rebus LE head + Immortality of Soul Class70 body), I chose to buy the head sculpt first because it is perfect for one of my characters but having him as a full doll was too pricey at that time. Not to mention that the head sculpt is limited and I do not want to miss out. No regrets in my decision because years later, I found a better body for him through Immortality of Soul's event wherein the Class70 body can be purchased at a discounted price. :XD:

      For my second hybrid (Doll Family-H He Lan head + Immortality of Soul Class65F body), while buying the full doll is affordable, the body she came with does not match her warrior persona. As a result, I bought just her head and with great timing, Immortality of Soul was in the middle of an event wherein their Class65F body is both discounted and with free shipping. Both head and body arrived at the same time and made me feel that I got her as a full doll despite coming from two BJD companies :lol:.
       
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    47. In an ideal world, I would prefer buying complete dolls. Less hassle that way.

      Alas, I am both persnickety and fickle, so most of my dolls have ended up as hybrids in some form or fashion (JDF event head/SDF girl body, Crobidoll head/DF-H body, Comibaby head/Leekeworld body) or have otherwise had bodies purchased separately (F60 Juri 2012). On the plus side, doing things this way means I'm far less afraid of trying things out than I used to be!
       
      • x 3
    48. It all depends on the brand.

      Some brands I loooove their bodies, others not so much. Also will depend on what I have planned for the doll, the clothes I want to put it in, etc.
       
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    49. I prefer the complete doll, and now I'm also giving preference to painted dolls from the store. I'm interested in learning how to paint the heads one day, but it's still a bit of a long way off.
      I just assembled my first hybrid doll, but I prefer the full doll. I don't want any more floating heads. :)
       
      • x 1
    50. Complete doll, always! I bought a head for a project once, and I couldn't finish it... looking at the unfinished head makes me sad ^^"
       
      • x 1
    51. I enjoy making hybrids, even if somethimes it's a fail. But I must admit it is less a hassle to buy a complete doll.
       
      • x 2
    52. So far full bodies give me less anxiety. The prospect of making sure colors match along with proportions without seeing the two together from the start is a bit too daunting for me. Maybe with more experience down the line I'll try out making a hybrid.
       
      • x 3
    53. All my dolls are hybrids. Two of them started out as full dolls but I found that I didn't like the head/body combo like that and ended up playing musical bodies with the heads. Resin match? Who is she? I have some dolls that match better and some that match worse and I don't have a lot of feelings over it, I'm more interested in the proportional fit... sometimes to the extent I also end up hybriding other body parts. I don't think I'm going to be buying a full doll any time soon :sweat
       
      • x 2
    54. I hate hybriding so much. Nothing brings me more anxiety in the doll world :horror: Resin match doesn't have to be 100%, but the undertones must match or I will go insane. There's too much risk in that for me to be willing to take the loss of trying a second body so it's easy to refuse to do it.

      I'm picky with bodies too so it removes the temptation of almost all new dolls! :thumbup
       
      • x 1
    55. Complete dolls for me, I’m too lazy to research matches :huh?:
       
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    56. Earlier in my collecting I was fine with just buying heads and then later finding a body for them however these days I am much more inclined to buy full dolls. I'll only buy floaters if I can find a body right away.
       
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    57. I definitely prefer complete dolls. Of over 30 BJDs and 11 years in the hobby, I have only 1 hybrid. While the resin match is pretty close, and it fits the character I was trying to shell, its so much simpler to just buy a complete doll. Especially since I like tan and fantasy colors and those vary considerably between companies.
       
      • x 1
    58. I am cursed with liking either the heads or the bodies from a company. There are only a couple exceptions and I'm holding dearly onto those...
       
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    59. If you check out my profile, I probably have more hybrids than non hybrids. I also have some really unconventional hybrids, Valentine is a Dollzone head, on a supergem body, with Dollshe hound legs to give him longer legs, which fit together surprisingly well. Vidania for now is on a feeple60 body, but with a SupiaDoll chest. I hybrid bodies as much as I hybrid heads onto new bodies. I have many dolls who would not be possible if they weren’t hybrids, and other dolls who needed bodies that weren’t the bodies they came with, whether that meant taller, or broader, or different proportions. Sometimes, I just have a doll that’s too expensive as a full doll (like the Twigling obsidian dolls) so I buy the head I needed, and hybrid it on a less expensive body.
       
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    60. I definitely tend to buy them separately. The issue: I tend to find buying heads more exciting than buying bodies, so I have way too many floating heads at the moment.
       
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