Learning to Re-root Sindy Doll hair - Toy Polloi

A skill I have wanted to learn for ages is how to re-root doll hair. After an afternoons training from Jolly Dolly Shop I thought it was time I had a go at the process from start to finish. Check out how I got on.
Check out Jolly Dolly Shop: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JollyDol...
Hair bought from My Little Custom: mylittlecustom.com/
#vintage #dolls #hair #sindy #repair #custom #restoration
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[@lindabutler9523]

A pair of forceps will make the inside scraping go much faster and be easier on the fingers. There are several rooting techniques that can be useful in different situations. You did great with this method!

[@sithcarebear1]

This definitely looks like a tedious process but I can see how it could be relaxing and therapeutic once you get a rhythm. Bless you Dave for having the patience to learn the process and give the rest of us some much needed hints to make things go more smoothly. I can’t wait to see you finish this project. She will make an amazing addition to the crew. Thank you as always. Your videos have meant so much to me over the last two years. I have learned a lot and you have helped me find a much appreciated escape from the wild ride that is the world around us these days. Cheers my friend.

[@macorourke2222]

Great video Brother. I always wonder how to do that. My Vintage 12" Star wars Princess Leia could benefit from a new hair doo. Thanks always for sharing Your Adventures 😀 👍 ♥️ 🇬🇧🇨🇦🌎🎉🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉🎉💯💯💯💯

[@hayleym2122]

This looks like fun!

[@vammamandmore4772]

First time I've seen this done,so cool now wife has plans for me and her bald one

[@daverage4729]

Great to see Sindy getting a bit of TLC. My cousins both used to have Sindy dolls as well as Sindy's playhouse. My Action men used to great fun performing rescue ops there. Great memories. You did a great job btw Dave!

[@mx472000]

Love how you used the same computer sound effect from the TV pilot movie of "The Six Million Dollar Man".

[@ejaysgroovygalsguys9234]

You can create a part by thatching hair from one side over to the other. That will cover up the bare space and give a nice natural looking part line. You can also help the hair to lay down closer to the head by pouring some boiling water over it and letting it dry.

[@karenphillips8197]

If you dip the head into hot water first it loosens the glue to make it easier too remove… that was the long way to re root, just cut small strands and poke in with a re rooting tool not a needle then put glue in the head to hold it in place and smoosh around

[@MiamiMillionaire]

Interesting 👍

[@draigaur9543]

just laughing at a memory you brought back to me, my action men used to rescue my sisters cindy doll from kidnappers and other precarious situations. great video, and a very good job on the hair !

[@daverage4729]

Lol! I used to re-create the SAS storming the Iranian Embassy with my cousins Sindy's Dreamhouse with my Action Men. Many a Cindy was saved those days. Nice to know I wasn't the only one. :)

[@mantahurrah7400]

Extremely well done for a first re-rooting job! I might recommend looking for a doll that has more ruined hair next time, though, since that factory hair looks to have actually been salvageable.

[@toypolloi]

Thanks. It's fun to learn these techniques. I'm on the hunt for another to have a second go with now. I learnt a lot and would do things differently next time.

[@mantahurrah7400]

@@toypolloi Oh, yeah, re-rooting is an extremely interesting and diverse process, just so many different ways to restore and customize. I'd offer my help with sewing techniques for doll clothes, but as I have absolutely zero online presence I'm not sure if it'd be worth your time.

[@antman2919]

Might try this technique on my own head.

[@toypolloi]

I need to as well!

[@alexandraleigh]

I was soo excited to see you learn this I have been doing Restoration and makeovers of fashion dolls since the early 1990s and it is a tedious but so rewarding process for those in the USA and in England if you have beauty supply shops that carry hair extension packs check for Saran wefts a medium length package may do up to 3 dolls and you have such a wide range of colors too! Needles for leather sewing here come in large packs of 15 assorted as well if you find you need different sizes for comfort or larger projects.!! You did amazing and thank you for sharing the process!!

[@MrLethal1986]

Think this turned out great only advice I would give is use a leather sewing awl to make things easier. Instead of having to thread the needle you just punch in then loop the thread or in your case hair over the hook on the needle then pull it through. Great fix.

[@jibberjabberactionfigure]

Hello Dave, great hair restoration! U could give her Leia buns, but she even looks good as she is. How about hair punching a latex mask for Halloween!?!

[@BrynSmith76]

It's I skill I should learn really, I have a vintage Princess Leia that needs new hair and a She-Ra and Galoob Golden Girl too.

[@toypolloi]

Smaller heads, but the same process. I see people reroot Pippa dolls and they are very small. I have one of those I'd like to work on.

[@frankschuler2867]

They aren’t dolls…they’re action figures…haha. J/k. Great job! I should probably use this information to re-hair all of my sister’s dolls whose heads I shaved as a kid!

[@RazHolly]

I was juuuust talking to my girlfriend about this! We got 2 16 inch Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus dolls that have hair that is disintegrating, and a my little pony that had a buzz cut by the original owner. I know it wasn’t simple to reroot, but you sure made it look like it’s something that could be done by anyone if they just try. Loved the video as always!

[@toypolloi]

I'd say give it a go. It feels daunting, but once you get going it's really not so bad.

[@superbatcat1278]

Great to learn a new skill,and a nice change of pace.

[@ScootDoot1977]

Love you vids…. I’ve rerooted many dolls and as much as I love the result I hate doing it I use the reroot tool method by punching the hair in, much faster lol many a Jem doll has thanked me for it…. Well done

[@CrabOfDoom]

Glad to see you're taking on a new skill! Anyone collecting Megos or looking to find a GI Joe nurse is probably going to need to have an idea of how to do this, sooner or later. Even some of the 90s Marvel large-scale figures have rooted hair, and being able to replace damaged hair is going to make already-rare female figures more affordable to acquire, in less-than-mint condition. For styling your Sindy, I think thatching the front part and giving her a hot water rinse to relax the fibers are the biggest things that will help her. Neither is hard, especially on a larger-than-Barbie head, and I'm sure your friend will have good tips for you. Speaking of, for your next project, you can make getting the needle eye through the head a little easier by folding a flexible heating pad over the head for a few minutes, plugging for a few, then letting it warm again. Works great on making harder vinyl heads softer, without water or damage. Using less hair per plug is not only easier to thread, but will put less stress on the holes, and reduce the chance of tearing the scalp. Sindy looks scaled to take it well, but smaller heads like Megos would certainly be more delicate.

[@08andylee]

Sindy is a good doll to start with. She is very easy to re-root.

[@MonkeyboysToys]

Your patience is remarkable sir. I don't think I would find this relaxing at all. But what an amazing result. Very impressed.

[@toypolloi]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Tim-57]

Hey Dave Very interesting video with a good outcome, liked the hair colour choice. Looked very tough on the finger tips as well.

[@toypolloi]

The first hour was really tough, but you soon learn how to go with it. Was actually good fun and I look forward to doing another.

[@Tim-57]

@@toypolloi It was very interesting Dave, I hope to see more from you with this. Whenever I sew tough fabric, I use a small set of hobby pliers to pull the needle through...saves my finger tips.

[@Siansonea]

I'm glad to see you branching out into doll stuff. Your Sindy doll has a bountiful head of hair now, and she looks much better. I personally prefer the lock-and-loop method of hair rerooting, I find it a bit easier to do, and I like how it duplicates the chain stitch appearance of factory rooting inside the doll head. Not only is this ideal from a restoration standpoint, I'm putting the doll back the way it was originally, but it eliminates the bulk of hair inside the head that can at times distort the contours of the head. The knot method is a good choice too, and I've used a tiny crochet hook instead of a needle to pull the hairs through, and it works really well once you get the hang of it. My least favorite method is the 'poke' method, which is quite popular because it's one of the fastest methods. Basically you just poke a loop of hair into the hole from the outside, so that a small loop is inside the head. Then you put glue inside the head to keep the hair from pulling out. I just don't like the addition of any kind of glue in rerooting, because glue tends to change over time in unpredictable ways, and it's pretty much always for the worse. Can't wait to see Sindy's spa day, I'm sure her crowning glory will be first rate when you're done.

[@GermanNightmare1976]

That's truly relaxing to watch. And what a nice head of hair. Well done learning a new skill and leaving a trodden path. Kudos!

[@toypolloi]

Thank you! 😊

[@billybobbarklow8289]

Dave, my friend. Over the past several years of watching and rewatching your vids, I've learned and used just about every technique and suggestion you've used. Most to great success, even polished some to my own comfort. But I dont think I'd have the patience to do this one. I'm so glad I have grandsons, lol. Terrific job and great vid. Keep 'em coming. Cheers to Mrs. T.P., stay well and safe.

[@toypolloi]

Wow, thanks

[@gieselats]

Cindy is happy again. She became grey. Great job Dave. It so satisfying when things get fixed and look brandnew again. Wow. I am astonished every time i watch your videos. Keep up the good work.

[@toypolloi]

Thanks. It's not grey, it's silver blonde 🤣

[@mitchellpawlina586]

I think they call it platinum blonde, if I am not mistaken.

[@mitchellpawlina586]

@@toypolloi Dave, I do believe they call it platinum blonde. Definitely do another doll, it was just too satisfying to watch. And relaxing!

[@gieselats]

@@mitchellpawlina586 yes. I got it now. Thanks

[@baragoth]

Looks like a completly different doll! Pretty much brand new.

[@pingASS_]

Looks great!

[@shannondoe2800]

This is a wonderful skill to have, I was really pumped to see you working on 'girl' toys too!! Thank you for suffering through your first re-root for all of us lol. Trust me, thick hair on a doll is much better.

[@sdavifcom]

Hey Dave. That is pretty remarkable. I was unaware this was something possible. I think you did a very good job. I gather your hands must feel quite sore after an hour or two...

[@toypolloi]

Thanks. The first hour was tough, but you soon learn what works. It became quite enjoyable by the end.

[@eyresy67]

Excellent informative video, not something I thought I would ever choose to watch, but you still made it interesting. I want to have a go now. Great work

[@toypolloi]

Thanks. It's good to learn all these techniques as you just don't know when they will be needed.

[@zarnistastudios]

New skill acquired!! Well done.

[@subtwo2418]

Interesting how that’s done, nice methodical work 😎👌🏼

[@toypolloi]

Thanks. It's a slow process. But relaxing.

[@bobbym8732]

~...Yes...really appreciate it everything you do...Learning repair NOT just the toys for BOY...also girL weLL generaLLy everything...now i wonder if you can making restore repair on SHE Ra Vintage 80s toy vids...thank you

[@billysamboy]

I wonder if you could use some kind of crochet hook, so you don’t have to try an thread the needle all the time

[@falken_gt4]

Is this the same process that Gooch and Warney use? Good job 👍

[@EvgeniiaGubin]

I know that this video is already a year old, but if someone finds it, then you need to pour boiling water over your hair, then it fits more tightly to the head, and the parting on the head can be hidden, just before pouring boiling water on the doll’s head, you need to take small strands from the tufts of hair closest to the parting and move them to the other side, do the same with the hair on the other side of the parting and pour boiling water, the hair will be fixed and there will be no wide distance in the middle of the head.

[@eugenerusselnash]

I do not know if you thought about softening the head in warm water to increase the speed of threading the hair instead of working against the plastic? Just a thought? Very Best

[@danje748]

Looks really nice. I noticed you put a nice bend in the needle to the end of the video as well. =) One question, at the bald head I noticed there where some regions with a lot of holes in the head and some with fewer. Did you reuse all holes or did you end up doing a more even distribution of the hair?

[@toypolloi]

The needle just bends as you use it so it was not on purpose, but it does help. I used most of the original holes and added lots of new ones to give the hair a thicker coverage. That was what was suggested to me and it seemed to work well. Cheers

[@kieronball8962]

A new skill, skilfully demonstrated, by the skilful Dave, for Toy Polloi! :)

[@toypolloi]

😀

[@williamwallace9427]

Entertaining as usual !

[@newwavepop]

about 15 years ago i made a custom Barbie of my girlfriend at the time, who had a goth style mohawk and almost all the things you are doing here are the same things i did at the time so i guess i did it right LOL. i cut the sides of the hair off then reached in with tweezers and pull the stubble out. but then the hair left in the mohawk section was too thin and didnt have an even hairline so i used a sowing needle and added extra hair along the hairline so it looked much better. i tied a knot in each strand to keep it from coming out but didnt think about tying the knot in the middle so i could put both ends through. luckily i just had to fill along the hairline and not reroot the whole head that would take forever. i bought a book shelf your standard 6 foot high 3 foot wide book case and made the middle shelf a little dollhouse sort of modeled to look like her room and put i little removable piece of plexiglass on the front and attached a little light inside.

[@bikyfotopoyloy278]

👍✔️

[@IceWolfLoki]

I guess now you have the skills to tackle Princess of Power action figures.

[@toypolloi]

They are a bit smaller, but I think I would certainly give it a good go.

[@IceWolfLoki]

@@toypolloi If you can find a way to fix a broken waist it would be great to see. Not necessarily waist action feature but the waist the leg/crotch part having come away from the rest of the body under spring pressure because the lip on centre peg has snapped off in part. At a guess I think replacing the lip by gluing a o-ring in it's place might work.

[@RedXPower]

My brother makes custom dolls all the time. You could say that working on Marvel and DC 1/12 scale figures is his passion and adding hair is his specialty. If you're in need of assistance here, just look up Autobotjohn on KZbin or FB. I'm sure that he can give you some pointers with this hobby.

[@toypolloi]

Thanks. I will look him up.

[@julinda777]

😯😃👍🏻

[@vengeance1701]

Is there a general pattern to follow? Outside to inside? Inside to out? Left, right, front, back, etc?

[@toypolloi]

I started and the bottom and worked up. Following the original holes, and adding more where it look thin. Not sure if this is the best method, but it allowed me to keep the new hair out of the way as I worked.

[@vengeance1701]

@@toypolloi Thank you:) Plan on sharing a video learning how to style doll hair? I'd be interested!

[@gamerid6507]

id say good job for a 1st time

[@andybennington637]

Plugging away...lol

[@ScoobyDoo-bx8vr]

You should have rinsed the head with boiling water to make the hair lay flat

[@camcordernonsense5264]

i cant imagine working in a factory all day feeding doll hair. im guessimg after 9 hours you have 1 and a 1/2 doll heads done?

[@toypolloi]

They use a machine that does it a lot faster. A head in a few minutes.

[@johnperry9287]

Platinum blonde, nice choice! 👍

[@toypolloi]

Thanks! 😊

[@thecraftydm]

Looks a ton better than what she started with

[@TheTitaniumBunker]

on a lot of the doll customization channels I watch they soak the head in just boiled water which softens the glue, making it easier to pull the old hair out of the neck hole, could you give that a try?

[@mitchellpawlina586]

Do you want her to join the ranks of your action guys. There may be a lot of fighting in the ranks, if you don’t get more dolls. One cute doll,, amongst all those action guys,Definitely sounds like disaster. LOL By the way, excellent job and the hair repair ,She definitely looks 100% better.

[@IceWolfLoki]

He has that custom female action man, so really he'd be making the situation better so long as the females get along.

[@brianm6337]

"it's not perfect" "I'm not sure what I'm doing" *Pulls a doll out that looks damn good* Now, with the hair styling.. I use spray starch. It's fabric, and the starch is formulated for fabric. I usually do enough to keep it all from flying away when there's static electricity weather.

[@kingerikthegreatest.ofall.7860]

Poor Sindy went bald.

[@toypolloi]

She had certainly seen better days.