How to Fix Reborn Doll Eyelashes

The eyelashes on an awake reborn are very fragile. Artists put them on at the very end of the reborning process because they are so easy to disturb. They are easily crushed and bent, can be easily knocked out of place or ripped completely off during a procedure such as rooting, and if put on before painting is finished, most eyelashes will melt during baking (almost all lashes are synthetic—very few are made of human hair).

When they are attached to the reborn at the very end of the reborning process, only a thin line of glue is used to hold them in place. To use too much glue would look bulky and unrealistic. Under normal conditions for a reborn, this amount of glue will be just fine. But should a child get a hold of a reborn, or clothing be pulled too roughly across the face, or so on, it is possible for eyelashes to become at least partially detached. But here's the good news: it is easy to fix!

I am going to show you two different ways to fix your reborn's eyelashes. The first method is for eyelashes that are only partially detached. The second method is for lashes that are completely detached, or for replacing the eyelashes altogether.



 These are the tools I use for applying eyelashes: tweezers, toothpicks, and wet cotton swabs (Q-tips). It is easier to use Q-tips that are pointed at the end (they are usually found in the make-up department of stores), but you could use standard Q-tips as well and just snip the ends a bit to make them more pointed and less fuzzy.

You will also need some glue. I recommend using a craft glue such as Tacky Glue that is easy to clean up should you accidentally get some on the eyeball. If you use a glue such as Superglue, you might end up with a permanent smudge on the doll's eye.

Method 1: Partially Detached Eyelashes

First, you will squirt a small amount of glue onto a spare piece of paper or a paper towel. Next, dip the very tip of one of your toothpicks into the glue. Get just a small amount of glue onto the end of it. Too much glue on the tip will be make it hard for you to maneuver the toothpick in the small space between the detached eyelashes and the eye.

Now you will use the toothpick to "paint" the glue onto the bottom edge of the eyelashes. Don't spend a lot of time on this part because the glue will begin to dry quickly. Get the glue as close as you can to where the eyelashes are still attached. We want to make the lashes as secure as possible. Try not to bump the eye or the reborn doll's face with the glue too much. But if you do accidentally get some glue where it shouldn't be, don't worry; since you are using a craft glue, it can still be cleaned off while the glue is wet.

Have one or two clean toothpicks sitting nearby and use one or both of them to gently, but firmly, press the eyelashes into place against the eye socket. Once you are satisfied with the positioning of your reborn doll's eyelashes, grab one of the wet Q-tips and use it to gently wipe off the excess glue from any place it might have smeared. You can use this wet Q-tip to gently press against the base of the eyelashes and push back any glue that might have squished out onto the eye a bit while you were pressing the lashes into place. Once you are finished with that, you are done! You need only to let the eyelashes dry and your reborn will be as good as new.


 Method 2: Completely Detached or New Eyelashes

With this method, instead of "painting" the glue on with a toothpick, you're going to put the glue directly onto the eyelashes. (Note: If you are putting on completely new lashes, BEFORE you put glue onto them, you'll want to use the tweezers to temporarily set them in place so you can cut them down to the correct size.) Start out by squirting a line of glue onto a spare piece of paper or paper towel. Next you will pick up the eyelashes with tweezers (it is much easier hold onto and manipulate the lashes without damaging them if you use tweezers rather than fingers). Dip them strait down into the glue and get a fine line of glue onto the base of the eyelashes. Now, still holding onto the eyelashes with the tweezers, fit them into place by first setting the edge of the eyelashes into the outer corner of the reborn's eye socket. I like to use a clean toothpick to hold that corner in place with my other hand while I finish setting the eyelashes into place, gradually bending them in toward the inner corner of the reborn's eye socket near the nose.

Once you have it set up against the top of the eye, put down the tweezers and grab a second toothpick to help the first toothpick gently, but firmly, press the eyelashes into place against the top of the reborn doll's eye socket. Once you are satisfied with the positioning of your reborn's eyelashes, grab one of the wet Q-tips and use it to gently wipe off the excess glue from any place it might have smeared. You can use this wet Q-tip to gently press against the base of the eyelashes and push back any glue that might have squished out onto the eye a bit while you were pressing the lashes into place.
Once you are finished with that, you are done! You need only to let the eyelashes dry and your reborn will be as good as new. If you have any questions, please post them in the comments below.



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