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 with Tension Method

Material:
1/4th inch dowel rod, cut to about 4 inches in length
Size 7 embroidery needle
Thumb tack
Hobby Glue
Pliers
Metal wire cutter

Create a hair punching tool:

1. Use the pliers to hold the embroidery needle steady. With the metal wire cutters, cut the eye of the embroidery needle at a 45 degree angle (as shown in photo) so that the needle prongs are staggered.

 

2. Push the thumb tack in as far as it will go into one end of the dowel rod. You might need to hammer it a little to get it to go in. Make sure it goes in straight. If the end splits, flip the rod over and try the other side. Remove the thumb tack once it is in all the way.

3. Using the pliers, push the pronged needle into the hole made by the thumb tack. Make sure you push the needle in so that you feel it go into the wood a little. Glue the needle in place.
4. Wait until glue dries then the hair punching tool is ready to use!
Your needle may break some times while you're rooting the head. Simply clip yourself a new pronged needle, remove the old broken needle from the dowel rod with pliers and use the pliers to stick in the new needle. No new glue is really required unless the needle is loose in the hole.

Hair Rooting Instructions:
1. Loop the hair on your finger.
To do this, pull out a strand of hair to the length you'd like it on the doll (ie. waist length). Then, double this over on your finger and cut the length of hair. Keep the hair pulled tightly on your finger so it stays together in one strand.
2. Hook the hair onto the tool. Slide the longer prong along your finger until the strand of hair slips onto the prong. It might take a couple of tries to get all of them on at first, but soon you'll be able to do this in your sleep. :)

3. Pull hair strand back.
Pull the hair tightly to keep the hair from flying out of the prongs.
4. Punch the strand of hair into the head.
Keep the prongs vertical and push the needle in until it hits the end of the dowel rod (or the back of the head.
5. Pull the puncher out.
The hair will remain in the head. The hair is held in by the tension of the vinyl and will not come out unless it's yanked really hard. If you mess up, you can remove your mistakes like this.
6. Repeat steps 1-5.
Punch a row through the entire head. Step up about a 1/8th of an inch and start a new row.
Tips:

As far as rooting patterns go, that will take another web page. In the meantime, study any doll's hair patterns to get a good idea of how to go about rooting the hair. Generally, hair is done in a spiral, starting from the outside edge and working their way to the top of the head.That's it!! The tension method may take a few times to get used to, but it's relatively easy and quick to do. If you have any questions or need any clarifications, feel free to contact me.

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