Rooting Hair Patterns

Tutorials
Hair Rooting Patterns

Note: These tutorials and photos were created by me, Natalie Merritt, and are FREE for public use. Do not redistrubute electronically or by printed material without my written permission.

Rooting a part

A part is two rows of hair that "zipper" together. From the baseline, start in a wide V and work your way to the crown. Add one plug and immediately pull the hair towards the other side. IE. Add a plug on the right side, pull it to the left. Add a plug on the left side, pull it to the right. The trick is to add hair plugs closely enough so that there are no gaps in the hair, but yet it's not so bulky that the hair will bunch. To avoid this, root widely at the bottom and form a V as you get to the crown. It will take a try or to to fully understand, so don't get discouraged if it doesn't come out correct the first time. I highly recommend you practice on a cheapy doll just to get the hang of it.

Blank head

Red dot indicates the top or the crown of the head. The blue line is the molded base line in a blank skin head. While it is recommended, it is not necessary to follow the baseline.

Root Placement

When rooting in rows, make sure that you place the next row up in between the row below it. This makes for maximum head coverage and also allows the hair to lay flatter on the head, avoiding bouffants.

	No part Root tightly along the base line in even intervals. Work in a spiral towards the crown from the base in even intervals, laying the hair like shown above.
	Center part Root fairly tightly along the base line in even intervals. From the base line, root in a spiral towards the crown of the head, leaving a small path down the center for the center part. Add the part last.
	Side part It's best to mark the line of the part with a pencil or gel pen. Root tightly along the base line in intervals. From the base line, root in a spiral towards the crown. Leave a path for the side part and add the part last.
	Thinner style Useful for boy hairstyles, and clinging short bobs. Root the hair loosely along the baseline, and move in a spiral towards the crown. Root the spiral loosely at the bottom, and as you work towards the crown, move the roots closer together.
	Ponytail style Root two rows closely together at the baseline, leaving the rest of the head without hair. This will allow for a thin, tight ponytail. For thicker ponytails, root more rows loosely behind the first two.