Make Up and Seal - By public Request.
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:32 am
At request I am posting this thread about the Make Up repairs to Natasha.
Background: (If you are not interested in this part skip down to 'Make Up'.
Natasha arrived on 30th July 2008. Here is a picture just before she left USA for Australia.
Very soon the make up to her lips, face. nipples and finger nails started to peel or more accurately 'flake off' in small bits. Here are some pictures taken in mid to late August.
The issues were discussed at the time in TDF and with Abyss who sent me all the repair kits free of charge. A reasonable action considering Tash was barely one month old.
The repair kits arrived by mid september. On advice and following instructions with the kit I cleaned the areas of flaking with acetone and a soft cloth, applied the pigment colour, mixed adhesive and dlimonene to a consistancy of pourable honey, and, using a No 8 synthetic flat hobby paint brush painted over the newly covered areas.
The problem however continued. You can see how pale she is here (October) yet still has the shiny face.
I tried to use ordinary RG make up but found it wears off almost immediately. So that was pointless. By November I was considering a new face and approached Abyss. When they advised they do not ship faces without Make Up (I was not going to have a repeat) or take credit cards for payment (bank to bank transfers are expensive and a pain to organise) I decided to take the risk and give Tash a complete makeover.
Make Up.
What I used.
Powder make up colours. Soft tip make up applicators. Silicone adhesive. D-Limonene. Flat synthetic hobby paint brush (No 8 is good).
What you need.
Time, patience, a love for your doll and a clear idea of how you want her to look.
Step 1. Remove all existing Make Up. I was advised not to use strong solvents (d-limonene, acetone, white spirit).
So I used my thumb. With Tash's face still on her skull and her lying comfortably on the bed I held her face and worked the side of my (right) thumb over small areas at a time. The sealer came of in flaky bits. I worked away down to the underlying silicone then moved on to the next small area. I had a cloth handy, dipped in alcohol, to remove the flaked off bits which tend to stick to the silicone. The crevice areas (ears, nose, etc, are difficult but you just have to work away).
It took several days and many hours to do.
Important note:
Using just the thumb it may be difficult or impossible to remove the original sealer if it is well adhered. Don't forget Natasha's sealer was flaking off anyway. I tried on a test and practice piece of silicone where I had sealed in some colour and cannot, to this day, wear it off. If that is the case skip step 1 and go to step 2.
You might be able remove the sealer with solvents - but if you go down that path do a test first on some silicone where you have sealed in some colour. And be very cautious and careful with your girl and use very sparingly.
Step 2. Apply the powder Make Up. Tash's whole face was now clear of all the original sealer and colour. If your girl still has some colour and sealer that is OK so long as the sealer is well adhered, if not keep removing till you cannot remove any more. Ensure the face is clean by wiping with an cloth dampened with acetone, followed by wiping with a cloth dampened with clean alcohol. Allow to dry.
With the powder sponge applicators I then applied the coloured powder to the areas I wanted that particular colour.
One has to be careful here. The sponge applicators are thickish so to get an even line where the colour ends is tricky.
Practice first on a test piece. Have a paper tissue handy to wipe off if you smudge over the line.
Be careful when doing the lips as some powder can fall in onto the teeth. Wipe off immediately.
Once the colour is on to your satisfaction use the applicator (different one for each colour) to rub and work the colour into the silicone for an even appearance. Keep doing till you have it right, even and how you want it.
Ensure there are no loose bits of powder because when you paint on the sealer they will smudge.
Important Note:
The colour powder stains the silicone. A temporary tattoo I did on Tash three months ago with just lightly coloured powder is still visible - though it is fading. So don't apply powder where you do not want it.
Step 3. Apply the sealer. I decided to apply the sealer only to the areas where I put the coloured powder. Tash has no blush or sealer on her cheeks or face. I only sealed the lips, around the nipples and finger nails.
Of course the eye liner is still original apart from touch up with black pigmented silicone adhesive (using a toothpick).
Squeeze out some silicone adhesive on a plastic lid or container and slowly add drops of d-limonene mixing all the time. At first they do not mix well. Keep at it. Try to minimise bubbles. When it is smooth enough to paint on but still quite thick then you have it right. Experiment on a test piece first and practice - I did. Not too runny and not too thick. It has to be paintable but not run.
Then with the hobby paint brush paint over the coloured areas you want sealed in. In my case the lips, around the nipple (not the tip as I like her 'white pointers') and finger nails and toes. The make up around the eyes is not sealed as it does not wear away much and is easy to re do.
Important Note:
Keep a tissue handy to wipe the brush after each stroke so as not to contaminate the sealer with different colours and keep the brush fresh.
Try to apply even coverage with minimal strokes and not keep going over the same area.
Step 4. Allow to dry. Once you are happy with the result allow to dry for 24 hours or until the sealer is absolutely touch dry if longer is required.
Important Note:
I cannot over emphasize enough the need to test and practice before working on your doll. I did.
Because if you have sealed the colour in right it will be very difficult to remove so any mistakes are sealed in as well.
Here is Natasha after her makeover in December 2008 - about March 2009 this photo. You will notice a few small shiny bits around the eyebrows and under the eyes. That is where I could not get my thumb to remove the original sealer back then.
Since then, and while Tash was waiting for her new knee joints (May / June 2009), I had plenty of time to remove the last of the old sealer and do a touch up all over. In some small areas this was re colouring over the sealed areas I did and sealing over again.
And hence Mechwizards approval and the photo and thread 'Beautiful Natasha' which prompted this "tutorial".
And indeed, I believe she is.
I think that covers it. If the moderators want to reduce the size of the pictures then please do, I don't know how.
muzza
Background: (If you are not interested in this part skip down to 'Make Up'.
Natasha arrived on 30th July 2008. Here is a picture just before she left USA for Australia.
Very soon the make up to her lips, face. nipples and finger nails started to peel or more accurately 'flake off' in small bits. Here are some pictures taken in mid to late August.
The issues were discussed at the time in TDF and with Abyss who sent me all the repair kits free of charge. A reasonable action considering Tash was barely one month old.
The repair kits arrived by mid september. On advice and following instructions with the kit I cleaned the areas of flaking with acetone and a soft cloth, applied the pigment colour, mixed adhesive and dlimonene to a consistancy of pourable honey, and, using a No 8 synthetic flat hobby paint brush painted over the newly covered areas.
The problem however continued. You can see how pale she is here (October) yet still has the shiny face.
I tried to use ordinary RG make up but found it wears off almost immediately. So that was pointless. By November I was considering a new face and approached Abyss. When they advised they do not ship faces without Make Up (I was not going to have a repeat) or take credit cards for payment (bank to bank transfers are expensive and a pain to organise) I decided to take the risk and give Tash a complete makeover.
Make Up.
What I used.
Powder make up colours. Soft tip make up applicators. Silicone adhesive. D-Limonene. Flat synthetic hobby paint brush (No 8 is good).
What you need.
Time, patience, a love for your doll and a clear idea of how you want her to look.
Step 1. Remove all existing Make Up. I was advised not to use strong solvents (d-limonene, acetone, white spirit).
So I used my thumb. With Tash's face still on her skull and her lying comfortably on the bed I held her face and worked the side of my (right) thumb over small areas at a time. The sealer came of in flaky bits. I worked away down to the underlying silicone then moved on to the next small area. I had a cloth handy, dipped in alcohol, to remove the flaked off bits which tend to stick to the silicone. The crevice areas (ears, nose, etc, are difficult but you just have to work away).
It took several days and many hours to do.
Important note:
Using just the thumb it may be difficult or impossible to remove the original sealer if it is well adhered. Don't forget Natasha's sealer was flaking off anyway. I tried on a test and practice piece of silicone where I had sealed in some colour and cannot, to this day, wear it off. If that is the case skip step 1 and go to step 2.
You might be able remove the sealer with solvents - but if you go down that path do a test first on some silicone where you have sealed in some colour. And be very cautious and careful with your girl and use very sparingly.
Step 2. Apply the powder Make Up. Tash's whole face was now clear of all the original sealer and colour. If your girl still has some colour and sealer that is OK so long as the sealer is well adhered, if not keep removing till you cannot remove any more. Ensure the face is clean by wiping with an cloth dampened with acetone, followed by wiping with a cloth dampened with clean alcohol. Allow to dry.
With the powder sponge applicators I then applied the coloured powder to the areas I wanted that particular colour.
One has to be careful here. The sponge applicators are thickish so to get an even line where the colour ends is tricky.
Practice first on a test piece. Have a paper tissue handy to wipe off if you smudge over the line.
Be careful when doing the lips as some powder can fall in onto the teeth. Wipe off immediately.
Once the colour is on to your satisfaction use the applicator (different one for each colour) to rub and work the colour into the silicone for an even appearance. Keep doing till you have it right, even and how you want it.
Ensure there are no loose bits of powder because when you paint on the sealer they will smudge.
Important Note:
The colour powder stains the silicone. A temporary tattoo I did on Tash three months ago with just lightly coloured powder is still visible - though it is fading. So don't apply powder where you do not want it.
Step 3. Apply the sealer. I decided to apply the sealer only to the areas where I put the coloured powder. Tash has no blush or sealer on her cheeks or face. I only sealed the lips, around the nipples and finger nails.
Of course the eye liner is still original apart from touch up with black pigmented silicone adhesive (using a toothpick).
Squeeze out some silicone adhesive on a plastic lid or container and slowly add drops of d-limonene mixing all the time. At first they do not mix well. Keep at it. Try to minimise bubbles. When it is smooth enough to paint on but still quite thick then you have it right. Experiment on a test piece first and practice - I did. Not too runny and not too thick. It has to be paintable but not run.
Then with the hobby paint brush paint over the coloured areas you want sealed in. In my case the lips, around the nipple (not the tip as I like her 'white pointers') and finger nails and toes. The make up around the eyes is not sealed as it does not wear away much and is easy to re do.
Important Note:
Keep a tissue handy to wipe the brush after each stroke so as not to contaminate the sealer with different colours and keep the brush fresh.
Try to apply even coverage with minimal strokes and not keep going over the same area.
Step 4. Allow to dry. Once you are happy with the result allow to dry for 24 hours or until the sealer is absolutely touch dry if longer is required.
Important Note:
I cannot over emphasize enough the need to test and practice before working on your doll. I did.
Because if you have sealed the colour in right it will be very difficult to remove so any mistakes are sealed in as well.
Here is Natasha after her makeover in December 2008 - about March 2009 this photo. You will notice a few small shiny bits around the eyebrows and under the eyes. That is where I could not get my thumb to remove the original sealer back then.
Since then, and while Tash was waiting for her new knee joints (May / June 2009), I had plenty of time to remove the last of the old sealer and do a touch up all over. In some small areas this was re colouring over the sealed areas I did and sealing over again.
And hence Mechwizards approval and the photo and thread 'Beautiful Natasha' which prompted this "tutorial".
And indeed, I believe she is.
I think that covers it. If the moderators want to reduce the size of the pictures then please do, I don't know how.
muzza