How to Apply a Reborn Mohair Wig

Reborn dolls sometimes need a hairstyle change.

Add new hair to your reborn doll with ease, by using a premade mohair wig. Some doll makers root single strands of hair into the doll's scalp with felting needles, to create wispy hair. This process is time-consuming and arduous. To create the look of a thick head of hair, some doll makers opt for wigs. They look natural in less time and can be changed more easily than needle-rooted hair.

Things You'll Need

• Electric shaver
• Cloth measuring tape
• Reborn doll
• Size 0 steel crochet hook
• Rubber gloves
• Paint stripper -- labeled as vinyl-safe
• Soft cloth
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Tacky craft glue
• 5/8-inch craft paintbrush
• Mohair wig
• Comb

Instructions

1. Shave off any old hair using an electric shaver, if necessary. Some crafters may have purchased a bald reborn doll head, while others may be restoring a reborn doll.

2. Remove each strand of rooted hair with a size 0 steel crochet hook. Dig into the hair root, and pull it out with the metal hook. Repeat until each hair is gone.

3. Put on rubber gloves to protect your skin. Dab a small amount of paint stripper onto a soft cloth. Test it on a small patch of the doll's scalp to make sure it is vinyl-safe. Then, wipe the entire scalp in circular motions. This cleans and removes any paint from the old hair.

4. Smooth the scalp with fine-grit sandpaper. Sand only the scalp area to remove any molded hair lines.

5. Brush tacky craft glue onto the scalp of the reborn doll using a 5/8-inch craft paintbrush. Turn the wig inside out to prepare it. Brush glue onto the wig's crown and sides in a thin, even layer.

6. Position the inside out wig so it is centered on top of the doll's head. Gently pull down the sides of the wig onto the doll's head, turning it right-side out. Pull down the wig's sides, if it's slightly crooked, until it is even.

7. Wipe off any excess glue from the doll's skin and hair with a soft cloth. Allow it to dry overnight. Brush more glue onto the underside of the wig, if it moves around when pulled gently the next day. Let it dry again overnight.

Tips & Warnings

• If the old doll is wearing a wig, you may be able to pull it off from the back of the head rather than shaving it. An old spoon can help push the wig off.

• It is often easier to assess the head size on a bald doll. Measure the crown, just above the ears -- from one ear to the other -- of the reborn doll using a cloth measuring tape. Reborn dolls wear wigs from 10 to 16 inches, and the wigs come in different colors and textures.

• Vinyl can be sanded, but keep the sanding to the rooted hair area only.

• For a more wispy look, thin out the wig after it is glued, using thinning shears.

• The finished wig hair can also be straightened with a blow dryer and comb.

References

• Today People; Bogus Baby Boom: Women Who Collect Lifelike Dolls; Mike Celizic