What do I need to style MDD wigs?

Hello,

I was wondering what they use to make the doll's hair look so much more, for lack of a better word, better. Some of my MDDs came with instructions on how to make the hair match the box art, but I cannot seem to pull it off. 

Perhaps it is just a problem on my end. Either way, I would love to hear what you would recommend for me to get for styling my dolls' hair. I already have a reliable brush which I use on them frequently.

 

Wigs are admittedly a challenge to work with, especially if you're used to real hair instead. One, wigs have wefts that you have to try to hide. And two, the hair is technically plastic, which definitely behaves differently than real hair. Heat makes a MUCH bigger difference on the wigs than it does on real hair. And frustratingly, it's hard to find tutorials for doll wigs specifically, as opposed to either rooted dolls or cosplay wigs. Personally I've found cosplay wig tutorials more helpful for learning how to style my dolls' wigs. 

We could use photos if there was something specific you were trying to do, but here's some general tips:

1. When using heat, it's the position the hair COOLS in that's the most important. You're basically slightly melting the plastic, and re-forming it by letting it cool in the new position/shape. I definitely messed this up in my earliest attempts because I got impatient lol.

2. Not all fibers can take the same amount of heat. Test with like, a clipping or a strand in the back.

3. Styling product: while you can technically use hair spray, it's hard to keep it from getting on doll's faces and clothes. A gel product is easier. I've been using Got 2 B Glued Styling Spiking Glue: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FIU0SCW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Been pretty successful with it, imo. 

As someone who comes from a long cosplay background and uses that knowledge in doll wig styling I can second the choice for Got2B, especially if you want to go with very gravity-defying and spiky styles, but also just to set fringes etc.

It holds very well without looking shiney or slimy or anything. I use the ultra version though, in the black packaging. And I usually combine it with the spray version also. Heat is also a key here, you can set things very well with a blow dryer on a low setting.

In terms of avoiding anything getting on your dolls while styling, I just wrap the securely in plastic foil, tightly around the head and like a cape on the body, I feel it is easy to style that way.

Thank you very much for the insight! I will definitely keep that hair gel in mind for the future!

I didn't know the hair was like plastic, luckily I have a good hair dryer on hand.

I have attached an image of my Marisa. I have tried styling her hair so that the fringe hides the parts on the sides where the hair goes stiff (the curved hair on the left of the photo, what I assume you meant by the wefts), but it is pretty troubling to get the fringe how I want it and to cover the wefts at the same time.

 

I really like Volks' water wax for styling wigs. You only need a small amount, and it seems to absorb well into the hair and hold the style for a long time. There's also their wig mist, which is like a light hairspray, but I prefer the wax.