Help with re-hairing?

:-\ when I first started I tried to use a teeny tiny wire and it was so thin it would snap sometimes as I pulled the hair through.

from what I understand, you CAN make your own tool if you take a needle and cut the eye at an angle. I'm not sure how it's done, I've never done it so for your safety don't go by what I say... There are people here who can explain it better and give you inexpensive ideas on handles for holding the needle

I always stretch the plug holes with a thumbtack before I add hair, regardless of which method I'm using.
It can be the thickness of the wire too, I've found 26 gauge jeweler/crafting wire works best.

28 gauge is actually smaller than 26 so I don't know what to tell you...

I bought the needle that dollyhair sells, and did it the same way you're saying, tied the not in the middle... and the needle fit just fine in the pony I rehaired... it was time consuming but she got done in about 4 hour's... I took break's to break up the task. But that seemed to do the trick just fine, but I also did it on an adult g1 sweetheart sister, not a seapony.

I use hemostats, a sewing needle & fishing line (4 pound is what I think I have). I find it sturdier & more forgiving than wire. Just remember to take breaks, or wear a glove. That stuff will make your hands sore!

Like Beth said, you can make your own tool (thought I recommend saving up for a dollyhair tool - I got one as a gift and LOVE IT, but I used a bigger needle than what it comes with). Here's how you can do it:

Go to Hobby Lobby and buy a pack of sewing needles (and if I could remember off the top of my head what size I'd tell you - I haven't had to replace a needle in about 2 years!). Does anyone have a suggestion for size?

Snip off part of the eye (I think I used Mr. Skeen's wire snips) at an angle so that one side is longer than the other - this longer side is your "guider" and will be inserted first into the plug holes to "guide" the rest of the hair in, but make sure you leave enough of the shorter end to still hold the hair. You can snip off the pointy end of the needle too if you want, depending on how big the handle part you make will be. My own needle is probably less than an inch long from where it goes into the handle to the prongs.

Then, find a non-mechanical pencil with a good, unused eraser and cram the non-prong end into it. Make sure you push it as far as it will go to keep it from sliding further when you use it. Secure it with superglue or something and let it dry.

OR

While at the craft store, buy an exacto knife that has removable blades in a metal handle, the kind that has the little collar thing that tightens to hold the blade in. Remove the blade. You can insert your needle into the handle and tighten the collar down until it holds the needle in. You may need to use pliers to get it tight enough.

Rehair!

I use needle nose pliers to make sure the 'loop' part of the wire is flat, but inevitably the wire breaks after repeated use. I do the whole thumb tack thing too. There are some awesome suggestions on here I think I'll snag too! Thanks ladies (and gents?)!

As far as the paint along the hairline cracking.. well.. that is why I generally avoid FBRs and try to find relatively unblemished ponies to dye with fabric dye in stead. Sealing the paint with mod podge or something similar before rehairing might help. The only thing to do is just rehair and then try to carefully touch up the cracked areas. I find that taking breaks helps too, as the more you rehair, the warmer the plastic gets, and then the hairline cracks more because the plastic is more mailable under the paint (hope that made sense).

I found a easy way of doing it (shorter way anyways lol) is to do 2 plugs at once. I used a jewelry wire. Beadalon, it has good flexibility and it is .012 in 0.30mm....got it at a craft store, just widened the holes with a thumbtack a little and the wire fit through here is the link to a site that shows you how to do this method but in it they used dental floss but the jewelry wire is more durable and doesnt cost anymore than $4 a roll. How to Rehair My Little Pony Manes | Pony Customs


good luck and hope this helped some

I thought this way was cool. "the lock and loop method" If you have a 1.00mm crochet hook

YouTube - How to re-root your doll - Lock & Loop Technique

MidnightChyld said:

I thought this way was cool. "the lock and loop method" If you have a 1.00mm crochet hook

YouTube - How to re-root your doll - Lock & Loop Technique

Click to expand...

Wow! I never thought of using a crochet needle to do it! Thank you so much for sharing that, I know it'll at least save my fingers

MidnightChyld said:

I thought this way was cool. "the lock and loop method" If you have a 1.00mm crochet hook

YouTube - How to re-root your doll - Lock & Loop Technique

Click to expand...

WoW!! That was so interesting!! Might have to buy a crochet needle and try this...she didn't show it on the pony though. Wonder if the hair plugs are big enough or if I would have to use a long needle like she did with the doll?? Mmmm...must try...as soon as my daughter goes back to school and my son takes a nap LoL...

Yea I thought it was cool too! I have not tried it though. I assume it would work? She says she ties the last two plugs together and fastens them with a bit of glue, you know otherwise it would undo like pulling a strand on a sweater. You think it would work with a needle instead?

MidnightChyld said:

Yea I thought it was cool too! I have not tried it though. I assume it would work? She says she ties the last two plugs together and fastens them with a bit of glue, you know otherwise it would undo like pulling a strand on a sweater. You think it would work with a needle instead?

Click to expand...

Well...that's what she was using on the actual doll head (a long needle). But the crochet needle looked easier to use...just wonder if the pony plug holes are big enough for the crochet needle. I MUST buy a crochet needle asap and test it out 'cuz that looks SO much easier!!