Questions from a beginner: Storage, wigs, and more

Hello everyone,

Thanks to the help of some very friendly people here and also in Japan, Snow Miku has arrived and I was able to dress her up for the first time! It was incredibly exciting since she is my first DD and she looks absolutely adorable.. but the process left me with quite a few questions that I would love to hear your thoughts on. 

1. Is the wig fitting process supposed to make me want to tear my own hair out? 

I followed the instructions from Volks and lined up the front, held it down and gently pushed the wig downwards, but it would not move no matter how patient I was with it. I started with a wig cap, failed multiple times for 20 minutes, and then just took the wig cap off and tugged the bottom edges (where there is fabric underneath the hair) as carefully as I could - which Volks says not to do. Is there a trick to this that I'm missing? I felt like I needed to stop pushing since I was ruining the shape of the wig. 

2. For those who use body tights, is it normal to have the tights bunch up around the armpits?

Or maybe it's because Snow Miku is an SS bust? I couldn't seem to get everything smooth around her chest and armpits. I watched a few videos of other people dressing her with body tights on, and some also showed the same bunches/wrinkles. Is there a way to smooth everything out or is this a sacrifice needed for stain protection? 

3. Would you recommend the Volks Wrapping Blanket for DD?

I ordered a stand and am waiting for it to be shipped (guessing the 2nd anniversary is keeping Volks Japan busy!), but started to think I would keep Snow Miku in her box or in another "container" to protect her from direct sunlight most of the time. I'm considering the Wrapping Blanket since I feel bad just putting her in her original box, but I wonder if the blanket is really worth $33. Would it be the same if I went to the store, purchased the softest white towel I can find, and used that instead? If you have your own method/alternative, I would love to know! 

4. How careful does one have to be with managing temperature/humidity/sunlight/dust/etc. when storing DD?

I used to work with Nendoroid Dolls and honestly never really thought about any of the above, so I'm wondering how far I should go to keep Snow Miku as "healthy" as possible. Do you simply open your window for good air circulation and keep your DD away from the sun in a box or on a stand? Or do you have a dehumidifier and store your DD in a tinted glass container in a temperature controlled room? 

Thanks in advance for your time! All advice is much appreciated! 

 

 

 

Omg I'm glad you were able to find your Snow Miku! 

1. I slightly manhandle my wigs to get them on. This could be hard with Miku's wig since it has twintails. You won't be able to fully do it but what helps me is turning the wig inside out. Then I line up the forehead spots with one hand and pull the wig back. Did you get a pitatto ring to go with the wig cap? They make getting the wig on without the cap trying to escape way easier!

3. I've never touched the wrapping blanket specifically by Volks, but have transported dolls without carriers or boxes wrapped in soft white towels. The blanket idea might be better though. Towels tend to be rough because of the absorby fabric and that could potentially scuff something. Default DD faceups tend to be relatively tough though when compared to individually done ones in my experience though.

4. If you really want her to be more of a display piece than a doll to play with, I'd recommend checking out a case like Ikea's Detolf. If you remove one of the shelves you can fit standing DD sized dolls in there. There are also mods to change the height of the shelves if you want it to be more exact to Miku's height. I've seen these specific ones used for figure collections. I live somewhere very dry so I've got nothing on the humidity part, but I've stored figures for years in my Detolf out of direct sunlight and they've stayed in fantastic shape. It really does cut down on the dust but it isn't sealed. Taking time to dust off figures and dolls is part of caring for them to me.

39 minutes ago, Hiruma said:

I started with a wig cap

Her wig shouldn’t require a cap. You should only need a cap if the wig material is black or another dark color. Miku’s should be undyed linen, so no danger of stains. One upside to Miku is that you can get third party wigs for her, and Volks usually includes a wig with their Miku outfit releases. 
 

39 minutes ago, Hiruma said:

Is there a trick to this that I'm missing?

Miku’s wig is a tight fit, and because it’s a ponytail wig it uses a firm cap as opposed to a stretchy one. The best way to put it on is to pull her head off and then slowly work it into the wig while supporting the wig in your palm.  
 

39 minutes ago, Hiruma said:

I ordered a stand and am waiting for it to be shipped (guessing the 2nd anniversary is keeping Volks Japan busy!), but started to think I would keep Snow Miku in her box or in another "container" to protect her from direct sunlight most of the time.

You shouldn’t need to keep a vinyl doll stored in a box, but you don’t want them in direct sunlight all day either. Keeping her out in a place where sunlight isn’t directly hitting her all day long should be fine. Resins are a different story, but even so I keep mine out in a room that doesn’t get a lot of light and mine haven’t yellowed yet. My girls only go into their boxes when there is construction going on in my house, but that’s to protect them from dust and debris that might stain them.

The wrapping blanket is good for travel, and it has a pocket to protect the dolls head. I usually put a resin face protection mask on them, put them in the blanket, and then put them in a carry bag.

 

39 minutes ago, Hiruma said:

How careful does one have to be with managing temperature/humidity/sunlight/dust/etc. when storing DD?

Humidity can be an issue if you have them in outfits dyed dark colors. You don’t want them to come into direct contact with any heat source. As far as dust, you will need to dust them off from time to time. I bought a large round artists paintbrush with soft white bristles for that.

 

10 minutes ago, rainglow said:

You won't be able to fully do it but what helps me is turning the wig inside out.

I am pretty sure with Miku’s wig, turning it inside out will ruin it. The fibers are pulled tight across the cap in order to create the ponytail look, and that’s why they use a firm cap instead of a stretchy one for ponytails. If the cap were soft the fibers would end up pulling loose from the base. In Miku’s case stretching the cap will pull the fibers back out of the twin tails, and after that they will never lie flat on the skullcap.

9 minutes ago, rainglow said:

Omg I'm glad you were able to find your Snow Miku! 

Indeed! Thanks again for your help! 

And thank you very much for the input. I thought about turning it inside out, but I ended up tugging it downwards because (as BeyondTime has just mentioned a second ago) I was afraid of damaging her hair... I did get a Pitatto ring but I didn't use it because I didn't have an issue with the wig staying - it didn't even seem like it would fit Miku's head! 

Also appreciate the info about the blanket and the Ikea shelf! I will see what options are available at the local Ikea and hopefully get a start on setting up Miku's new home. 

Thanks, as always, for the information, @BeyondTime! 

I was only focused on working the wig onto her head today, so I'll definitely try working her head into the wig tomorrow. 

Also appreciate the additional details about the blanket and caring for Miku in general. I think I'll just order the blanket from Volks USA and get her some extra haircare products while I'm at it. I upgraded my sewing station for her last week so another $33 won't hurt... that much. 

And thanks for the note about Miku's wig! It's good to know that there are stretchy wigs out there. For a while I was thinking about what I had gotten myself into as I struggled with her wig. 

 

26 minutes ago, Hiruma said:

I did get a Pitatto ring but I didn't use it because I didn't have an issue with the wig staying - it didn't even seem like it would fit Miku's head! 

The weight of that wig is part of why it fits so tight. If it fit loosely it would slide right off her head. Miku has a big head too, so you probably won’t need anything to keep wigs in place on her. 

 

18 minutes ago, Hiruma said:

And thanks for the note about Miku's wig! It's good to know that there are stretchy wigs out there. For a while I was thinking about what I had gotten myself into as I struggled with her wig. 

Cotindoll sells a variety of wigs in Miku and Snow Miku colors. 

https://www.cotindoll.co/categories/8--9-inches

10 minutes ago, Hiruma said:

so I'll definitely try working her head into the wig tomorrow. 

When you pull her head off do it slowly. The vinyl is very sturdy, but the neck peg has a bend in it and you really want to move it gently over the bend to reduce wear and tear. 

53 minutes ago, BeyondTime said:

I am pretty sure with Miku’s wig, turning it inside out will ruin it. The fibers are pulled tight across the cap in order to create the ponytail look, and that’s why they use a firm cap instead of a stretchy one for ponytails. If the cap were soft the fibers would end up pulling loose from the base. In Miku’s case stretching the cap will pull the fibers back out of the twin tails, and after that they will never lie flat on the skullcap.

Never had a Miku wig so I wouldn't know about the hard cap 

I haven't had fibers pulling from the base on soft caps and I do this on every wig I own.

11 hours ago, rainglow said:

I haven't had fibers pulling from the base on soft caps and I do this on every wig I own.

Ponytail wigs are made a bit differently in order to make the hair looks like it’s pulled across the scalp and bound into a ponytail. The fibers get run from the hairline to the crown and then tucked into the cap. The ponytail is stitched onto the crown and it conceals the place the fibers were tucked in. If the cap was made to stretch, the fibers they pulled across the scalp would pull back out of the crown and wreck the hairstyle.

Miku’s twin tails are a bit different because the fibers really are pulled into a tail and bound with a piece of fabric. The problem is if the cap stretched the fibers would pull back out of the tail, and the piece of fabric isn’t made to be removed to allow for straightening out the twin tails.

A real person with a ponytail usually has to redo their ponytail a few times each day just because the hair works loose from the tie as they move around, and this is kind of the same concept except you aren’t meant to disassemble her twin tails, so they designed the wig to make it harder for the tails to work loose from their tie.

One of my earliest wigs was a hard cap ponytail wig as well, and I learned the hard way not to pull on the bottom of the back because it can pull hairs out of the bindings.

For me, the easiest way to work with that kid of wig is to do the opposite of normal- set the back hairline in place at the bottom of the head, and then wiggle the bangs forward until it's sitting correctly. If needed, you may be able to gently pull on the wig cap under the bangs since that area is not part of the ponytails. 

13 hours ago, BeyondTime said:

Ponytail wigs are made a bit differently in order to make the hair looks like it’s pulled across the scalp and bound into a ponytail. The fibers get run from the hairline to the crown and then tucked into the cap. The ponytail is stitched onto the crown and it conceals the place the fibers were tucked in. If the cap was made to stretch, the fibers they pulled across the scalp would pull back out of the crown and wreck the hairstyle.

Miku’s twin tails are a bit different because the fibers really are pulled into a tail and bound with a piece of fabric. The problem is if the cap stretched the fibers would pull back out of the tail, and the piece of fabric isn’t made to be removed to allow for straightening out the twin tails.

A real person with a ponytail usually has to redo their ponytail a few times each day just because the hair works loose from the tie as they move around, and this is kind of the same concept except you aren’t meant to disassemble her twin tails, so they designed the wig to make it harder for the tails to work loose from their tie.

I know how a real life ponytail works? 

That's why I said "This could be hard with" and "You won't be able to fully do it" in my original comment. xD While it doesn't apply to this specific Miku wig because it's a hard cap- which is new news to me- on SOFT fabric wig caps you can flip them and it makes the process way easier.

6 hours ago, Jezrah said:

For me, the easiest way to work with that kid of wig is to do the opposite of normal- set the back hairline in place at the bottom of the head, and then wiggle the bangs forward until it's sitting correctly. If needed, you may be able to gently pull on the wig cap under the bangs since that area is not part of the ponytails. 

Thanks for the information! I don't think I ruined the wig but I certainly "damaged" it a little bit while trying to learn how to put it on correctly. I wish I just asked first instead of trying to follow the instructions from Volks - all that "gently pressing downwards" didn't do Miku too much good! I feel like I can fix it but I'm not touching her hair anymore today...

And I'm sorry if I've caused a bit of an argument here. I appreciate all your input, @rainglow and @BeyondTime! 

 

On 11/5/2021 at 2:42 PM, rainglow said:

I know how a real life ponytail works?

I often struggle to explain things that I can picture in my head, but need to put into words on paper. Not knowing anything about a person you are talking to on the internet makes it harder. A woman, or a man who has had long hair, would know what its like to deal with one, but a guy who never grows their hair out would only know if they pay attention to people fixing their pony tails. I opted for that explanation, because I had no way of knowing which group you fall into, and it wasn’t easy to describe how Miku wigs can be damaged.

Ponytail wigs are annoyingly uncommon too. You either get them with a limited doll, or you get them with a Dream Choice / D’Coord. Outside of that only a handful of wig makers offer them, so no way to know if someone has seen one in person. 
 

On 11/5/2021 at 2:48 PM, Hiruma said:

Thanks for the information! I don't think I ruined the wig but I certainly "damaged" it a little bit while trying to learn how to put it on correctly. I wish I just asked first instead of trying to follow the instructions from Volks - all that "gently pressing downwards" didn't do Miku too much good! I feel like I can fix it but I'm not touching her hair anymore today...

Snow Miku gets an annual outfit release, and those outfits almost always come with a wig. If your Miku wig is damaged don’t stress too much, because you should have a chance to get replacements. There are a few third party sellers too, and a few places make their wigs in Miku’s color. Miku is a Gateway Doll, so lots of people capitalize on that. The drawback to the yearly Miku outfits is that they tend to be pricy. 

On 11/5/2021 at 3:51 PM, BeyondTime said:

Snow Miku gets an annual outfit release, and those outfits almost always come with a wig. If your Miku wig is damaged don’t stress too much, because you should have a change to get replacements. There are a few third party sellers too, and a few places make their wigs in Miku’s color. Miku is a Gateway Doll, so lots of people capitalize on that. The drawback to the yearly Miku outfits is that they tend to be pricy. 

Thanks for the info! I did notice that the Glowing Snow set comes with a wig as well which was a relief. I think I might look into a Snow Miku-colored wig from a third party seller after I save up some more. Maybe a shorter style that is more manageable! 

2 hours ago, Hiruma said:

Thanks for the info! I did notice that the Glowing Snow set comes with a wig as well which was a relief. I think I might look into a Snow Miku-colored wig from a third party seller after I save up some more. Maybe a shorter style that is more manageable! 

I also didn't want to ruin my Snow Miku's original wig so I got her a different wig in the Snow Miku color for her to wear.

Here is a quick picture to show. If you like it I can do a quick dig for you to see if I can find the listing again!

 

Spoiler

 

2) yawp, it will bunch up somewhere..... If she isn't wearing something super-dark, or you're sure it won't be an immediate stain problem - go without! (also invest in stain-remover stuff, if she will be wearing staining prone outfits)

3) Not really, no. I just have a nice white pillowcase use for traveling needs, way cheaper!

4) As long as you keep your girl out of daily strong sunlight, she should be fine. Mine live on my desk, on stands or sitting in a chair, where direct sunlight during the day is minimal. Also just far away from the heating vent blowing hot air so don't need to worry about anything warping

On 11/7/2021 at 11:52 AM, Roxanne said:

I also didn't want to ruin my Snow Miku's original wig so I got her a different wig in the Snow Miku color for her to wear.

Here is a quick picture to show. If you like it I can do a quick dig for you to see if I can find the listing again!
 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Thanks for the photo! That looks fantastic and does seem more manageable. I'll have to wait (save) a bit before I can get her more items so no need for the "quick dig". I really appreciate the thought, though! 

16 hours ago, Chise said:

2) yawp, it will bunch up somewhere..... If she isn't wearing something super-dark, or you're sure it won't be an immediate stain problem - go without! (also invest in stain-remover stuff, if she will be wearing staining prone outfits)

3) Not really, no. I just have a nice white pillowcase use for traveling needs, way cheaper!

4) As long as you keep your girl out of daily strong sunlight, she should be fine. Mine live on my desk, on stands or sitting in a chair, where direct sunlight during the day is minimal. Also just far away from the heating vent blowing hot air so don't need to worry about anything warping

Thanks for this! I have the paint remover that apparently works for stains as well and am waiting for Dream Rescue to get restocked. Since I've never owned a doll like this I feel like I'm still quite paranoid and afraid of all the possibilities, but it's great to know that a nice pillowcase works and lighter clothes (shouldn't) do much damage! 

23 minutes ago, Hiruma said:

I have the paint remover that apparently works for stains as well and am waiting for Dream Rescue to get restocked.

Not sure about a paint remover working on vinyl stains. As far as I know all of the vinyl stain options are a mild bleaching agent. 

Don’t panic too much over stains. Once you get used to stain treatment they are more of an annoyance than a problem. The one part to really protect is the face, and too a lesser extent the rest of the head. You can stain treat any part of the head except the face, but it’s a pain due to the need to keep the stain remover away from the face. 

7 minutes ago, BeyondTime said:

Not sure about a paint remover working on vinyl stains. As far as I know all of the vinyl stain options are a mild bleaching agent. 

Don’t panic too much over stains. Once you get used to stain treatment they are more of an annoyance than a problem. The one part to really protect is the face, and too a lesser extent the rest of the head. You can stain treat any part of the head except the face, but it’s a pain due to the need to keep the stain remover away from the face. 

I'm not entirely sure either, but the ZM Paint Remover eco for Dollfie from Volks says that it's "Good for removing body staining". I guess I'll find out when I try to work on my first stain! 

And thanks for the feedback - I ordered a face cover as well so I hope that will help me protect Snow Miku's face.

21 minutes ago, Hiruma said:

I'm not entirely sure either, but the ZM Paint Remover eco for Dollfie from Volks says that it's "Good for removing body staining". I guess I'll find out when I try to work on my first stain! 

And thanks for the feedback - I ordered a face cover as well so I hope that will help me protect Snow Miku's face.

The Paint Remover is not for stain removal on DDs. Sometimes dye smudges onto resin dolls, and you can simply clean the resin surface with thinner and a cotton ball.

Due to the porous nature of vinyl it will not work by merely wiping the surface. The thinner will not properly impregnate the vinyl to bleach the stain.

I mean you're free to try... But I personally don't recommend it. (ie soaking the vinyl in solvents can cause soften, or distort the material)

The above comments are mostly my opinion from my personal experiences and I rarely have staining issues myself... so there are probably people who are more qualified to give their observations. OTL

Edited November 9, 2021 by Subaru

2 hours ago, Hiruma said:

I ordered a face cover as well so I hope that will help me protect Snow Miku's face.

Here is a blog post and video showing how to put it on when you need to. It’s not obvious unless you’ve purchased a new Super Dollfie.

https://dollfie.volks.co.jp/blog/2020/09/08/002882.html

Super Dollfie need face protection a bit more than DD, so I only really use the face cover for transport or if I need to store them in a carry bag for a bit. I was told Super Dollfie are more prone to having the face-up rub off, so people sometimes use the face mask while dressing them. With a DD they don’t flop around as much as an SD, so just be careful not to touch the face and ideally wear white cotton gloves when handling them. I usually just use gloves when I handle the clothes because my dry skin tends to catch on the fibers. 
 

You can probably bank on what Subaru is saying about the paint thinner. She knows a lot about this hobby. 

On 11/8/2021 at 4:01 PM, Subaru said:

I mean you're free to try... But I personally don't recommend it. (ie soaking the vinyl in solvents can cause soften, or distort the material)

Thank you very much for the information! I am brand new to this so I will definitely take your advice and use it for... something else! I picked it up as it was relatively cheap and Dream Rescue was out of stock. 
 

On 11/8/2021 at 6:10 PM, BeyondTime said:

Here is a blog post and video showing how to put it on when you need to. It’s not obvious unless you’ve purchased a new Super Dollfie.

https://dollfie.volks.co.jp/blog/2020/09/08/002882.html

Super Dollfie need face protection a bit more than DD, so I only really use the face cover for transport or if I need to store them in a carry bag for a bit. I was told Super Dollfie are more prone to having the face-up rub off, so people sometimes use the face mask while dressing them. With a DD they don’t flop around as much as an SD, so just be careful not to touch the face and ideally wear white cotton gloves when handling them. I usually just use gloves when I handle the clothes because my dry skin tends to catch on the fibers. 

You can probably bank on what Subaru is saying about the paint thinner. She knows a lot about this hobby. 

Thanks for this as well! I do have white cotton gloves when I handle Snow Miku directly, and I've read on various sites that I should be extra careful with the face since I can't just try to rub things out as it would ruin the look. 

One other question if I may: Do I need to remove the wig before storing Snow Miku to avoid possible staining, or should it be alright if I have a head cap? Her hair isn't particularly dark so I'm hoping I don't have to worry too much about her fringes staining her face, and I would prefer not to have to take her wig on/off too often as the process is still quite challenging to me! 

5 minutes ago, Hiruma said:

One other question if I may: Do I need to remove the wig before storing Snow Miku to avoid possible staining, or should it be alright if I have a head cap? Her hair isn't particularly dark so I'm hoping I don't have to worry too much about her fringes staining her face, and I would prefer not to have to take her wig on/off too often as the process is still quite challenging to me!

The hairs themselves won’t stain. The only wig I know of that caused stains from the hairs was Chihaya Kisaragi’s default wig, and her wig had dye powder in it for highlights. The part that stains is the cloth cap, and Miku’s should be undyed cloth - a light beige colored material. There won’t be any stains from undyed cloth.

Removing the wig for storage may help preserve the shape of the wig, but I probably wouldn’t worry too much for short term storage. 

5 minutes ago, BeyondTime said:

The hairs themselves won’t stain. The only wig I know of that caused stains from the hairs was Chihaya Kisaragi’s default wig, and her wig had dye powder in it for highlights. The part that stains is the cloth cap, and Miku’s should be undyed cloth - a light beige colored material. There won’t be any stains from undyed cloth.

Removing the wig for storage may help preserve the shape of the wig, but I probably wouldn’t worry too much for short term storage. 

I didn't expect a response so quickly. Thank you very much @BeyondTime! The wig stays on, then.

I really appreciate all this information and am learning tons from everyone on this forum!