Okay ... several weeks later, after doing the filling (and a repaint, costume, etc.) ... DONE! Here is Vianne, the finished doll:

Now, in case you're completely baffled as to what you are doing, here is a little illustration demonstrating how this reroot works.

Here are a few extra tips to consider:

• Once in awhile, you'll tighten a plug, and it will slip right through the scalp. This happens when you absentmindedly fail to loop it with the incoming plug, or when the vinyl between the plugs rips a little. I recommend panicking freakishly. After panicking, under a bright lamp, whip out tweezers (or a needle), go inside the head, and try to save your row. Once you go through this ordeal once, you'll take care never to let it happen again.
• Your needle will become your "Precious". You'll not only use it to get the hair through the head, but also to separate plugs and fork out strands from your hair stash. Keep it secret. Keep it safe.
• Remember to change your threads frequently.
• High quality reroot: hundreds of tiny plugs. Poor reroot: just a few thick plugs, leaving plenty of bald spots.
• A high quality reroot on a 11 1/2 inch doll will take you about 12-16 focused hours to complete.
• After you complete the "hairline circle", you can fill in the reroot by doing circle inside of circle. Or you can do rows back and forth, from front to back. Generally, you'll want the top of the head thicker, and the nape of the neck sparser.
• When you're done, rinse your doll's hair in hot water, and brush it back slick as it is cooling. This will make it lay more naturally.
• You can purchase gorgeous saran hair from Tina Amantula at Dollyhair.com.

Hope this was useful! Happy rerooting!

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