How to Care for Reborn Mohair
You loved gazing at the photos of your reborn doll online, and her hair just looked so darn cute in the photos. But now that you've taken her out of her box, her hair looks, well, a little messy. (Your hair would be messy too if you had taken a several day journey by box!) So now you're holding your beautiful reborn baby and wondering just how to go about caring for mohair. Here are the answers to a few questions you may be asking:
Can I brush my reborn's mohair?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to brush his or her hair. Mohair is the closest there is to the silky soft feel of newborn hair, and so it is almost always used on reborn dolls to create a realistic feel. However, mohair does have the tendency to bunch and mat sometimes, so extreme care should be taken when brushing out the tangles. A professional reborn artist always seals the hair from the inside of the head to prevent the hair from coming out. However, just like human hair, mohair can tear if too much force is applied. I recommend using a leave-in conditioner spray, such as Johnson's No-More Tangles, to help you gently brush out any tangles.
Can I wash my reborn's mohair?
Yes, your reborn's hair can be carefully washed. Shampoo and conditioner are just fine as well. In fact, every time I create a reborn, I wash their hair with shampoo and conditioner before offering them up for sale. Never immerse your reborn into water; this could ruin his or her body. Instead, hold the head beneath a sink faucet for washing, supporting the head just as you would a real baby's head. Be careful to not get water below the eyebrows on the face. If you have an open-eyed reborn doll, the water could damage the eyelashes. Water could also seep into the nose (and ruin the backing) if his/her nose has been opened. When you are done washing, gently pat the hair with a towel and allow it to air dry.
Yes, most styling products are fine for a reborn's hair. I typically only use water and leave-in conditioner. If you plan to leave your baby up for display, then you really do not need more to create a style. But if you like to hold your reborn a lot or perhaps take him or her out shopping, you might want to use something more to hold fancier hair-dos such as curls in place. Mild styling gels and mousse work wonderfully and are easy to wash out with a little bit of shampoo. Never spray styling products onto your reborn as this could damage the vinyl or react with the gloss on places such as the lips. Gels and creams are best, and hairspray is definately out!
I hope this guide has given you some help on caring for your reborn's mohair. Styling a reborn's hair is loads of fun, and they don't even wiggle around while you do it! So go grab a comb and a spray bottle of water and start styling away!
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Posted in: Collector Tips on Monday, July 11, 2011 at at 6:21 AM