By Virginia Obeius

Most male dolls sold in America today have short hair plastered to their heads and not very versatile, to say the least. Changing this one aspect of your doll’s appearance can have a huge impact on the character and need not be a daunting task to even the newest makeover artist.

REROOTING 101

Blaine, Mattel’s handsome boyfriend for Barbie, is a great choice for learning rerooting because he has a soft vinyl head and prerooted hair holes. However, you can use these same techniques on harder-headed dolls such as Matt from Robert Tonner and action figures with molded hair and no holes. You can also root additional hair into an existing style to add highlights/lowlights, create fullness, or create a new part.

Step 1: Remove the Hair Time to channel that inner 4-year-old as you grab the scissors and start chopping off locks! Once the hair is shorn as close to the scalp as possible, you can start yanking the remaining tufts out with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Remove the head from the body and grab any remaining strands from inside the scalp.

Step 2: Thread the Hair One way to root the new hair is to use the hair like you would a thread. Take seven or so individual strands together and dampen the end to keep them together. Clip to an even length if necessary. Then thread the hair through the eye of a darning needle and insert the needle into the head from the top down through the neck.

Step 3: Knot the Hair Pull the needle out through the neck, leaving some hair outside the top of the head and the rest sticking out through the neck. Tie the end of the hair that is sticking out of the neck into a knot and snip off any excess hair after the knot.

Step 4: Alternative Threading Method Another way to root the hair is to use a thread to pull the hair strands through the head. First, push a loop of thread through the eye of the needle and pull it through about an inch and a half. Push the needle down through the head and out the neck as before, leaving the loop hanging out the neck and the remaining thread out the top. Place the knotted hair into the loop.

Step 5: Pull the Hair Through If you’re using the alternative method, pulling the thread will also pull the hair out with it. With either method, gently pull the end sticking out the top of the head (hair or thread) until the hair knot is secure against the inside scalp. Now you’ve got your first root!

Step 6: Finish the Head Repeat that process until all the holes are rerooted. One of the major advantages that rerooting has over wigs is the versatility in styling. As you can see from the picture, this method also will work better than wigs for styles that are pulled back tightly from the hairline.

WIGS AND STYLING YOUR HAIR

If you don’t have the time or inclination to do a reroot, or want to be able to switch between different hair types/colors easily, then wigs are a good option to consider. The first thing you need to know is the right size to buy. Find this by measuring the head circumference with a string and then measuring the length of that string on a ruler. A typical 1/6-scale head will probably be 4 to 4-1/2 inches or a size 4 or 4/5 wig. Quarter-scale dolls typically wear size 5/6 wigs. Since wigs tend to vary and slight differences can greatly affect the fit, I suggest purchasing a few sizes at first to see what works best.

Oh, and don’t worry that male wigs hardly ever seem to come in sizes 4-6. Just find a female wig that has the part, color, and texture (curly or straight) that you want. Then cut it to within an inch of its life.

Step 1: Trim Down That Fabio 'Do Now that your man has long, flowing Samson locks, let’s give him back some of his masculinity with a nice, short hairdo. Anchor the wig on the head with straight pins pushed all the way in so they don’t obstruct your cutting/styling. With one hand, hold the ends of a 1/2-inch chunk of hair slightly away from the body. With your other hand, hold a razor blade against the hair at about a 15-degree angle to the hair. Cut the hair using short, downward strokes as if you were rubbing the hair. This will result in a layered, natural effect rather than a hard edge.

Step 2: Shape the Hair Continue to “rub” the razor in downward strokes against the hair, shaving off a little every time until the desired style and length is achieved.

Step 3: Compress the Style Remove the wig and cover the head with plastic, then replace the wig. Douse the head with very warm water and arrange it in the desired style. Without disrupting the style, place a section of pantyhose over the head and secure at the neck. This will hold the hair down and in place while it cools and dries.

Step 4: Finish the Wig Once the hair is completely dry, remove the pantyhose and secure the style using hairspray or gel. Not bad for a glamour girl wig, eh?

You can see more of artist Virginia Obeius’ repaints and OOAK dolls at www.ForeverVirginia.com.