Noob-ish Wonderings (Noob has been schooled, thanks)

[Icy_Sunset]

I'm still far away from purchasing my first doll but I am determined to eventually own a small herd.
My girlfriend and I are looking rather intently at two sites in particular to order from. Dollmore (Youth Dollmore Adam - Larme possibly, and oodles of others) and Iple House (Soo Ri and Louis). Has anyone ordered from them before? If so, was it an easy and/or painless process? I'm having a lot of trouble understanding the ordering because of the spotty English translations (and I can't read kanji for beans). Will my complete kanji-retardation make things harder for me?
I love most of their designs and I'm hoping I can get one. xD;

Also, I really want to go to a doll meet. Do any of y'all know of anything at all close to Caddo Parish, Louisiana? Driving is an issue for me but I've got some friends with better access to transportation. Still, I can't make super-long trips.
Are there, at least, some BJD-owners down here?

And another question, my gf is seeking to do a custom dye of a white wig. Any tips? I know it can't be a human-product but what else would work? I'm all into natural dyes. Last I checked, she was looking for various types of green.

Thanks for putting up with my noob-ness.

[Vampiresmama]

I can't help you with the wig dye question or the local meet ups.. good luck finding one though! :)

I ordered my first doll from Iplehouse and it was so easy. *nods* It's always nerve-wracking to order your first doll but Iplehouse has great communication (at least when I ordered). I've only ordered clothes from Dollmore but their customer service is great as well. You really can't go wrong with those companies in my book. :) I never had a problem ordering from either of them, or understanding the sites. Good luck!

[Icy_Sunset]

Bah, if I can't find a meet up, I'll try to make one. LA hobbyists seem to come out of the woodwork when you're least expecting it. xDDD

But thanks much for the feedback. I've been getting pretty worried on and off about communication, and my gf is even worse. xD; But, oo, the dolls are so pretty.
Who did you get from Iplehouse?

[aernath]

I also ordered my first doll from Iplehouse. :) Love them! Their dolls are my favorites. *cough* I've three Soo Ris and a Tan Lion now on the way. heh heh
Their customer service is wonderful. Or at least has been for me.
(I bought the first Soo Ri from them, the rest second hand market.)

I've also purchased a Dollmore Sleepy Eyes Pado from Dollmore, and they were wonderful as well. Once that little bugger is in the mail, it's QUICK! I didn't know the number of the exact wig I wanted, but gave them links to pictures of it being worn in one of their other pages for a coat, and they got me the exact one I wanted! *dance*

Anywhoo... as far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong with either company. ^_^
I paid via Paypal in both cases, and it was very simple and straight forward.

As to dying wigs? Not a clue. Sorry. And Oralndo is a bit of a trek to Louisiana for me. ;) But I'm sure there are folks nearby you!

[MieAga]

I concur about Iplehouse and Dollmore. Iplehouse makes amazing dolls and are very willing to help. Ordering instructions are fairly easy to follow on their website.

Dollmore will do their best to substitute default eyes,wigs,and outfits as you request. We got our Model Doll Ipsea in 8 days. She was shippied in 5 days! Face up and all!!!

as for wig dye...Ctrl-Atl-Delete use to carry them. They quit their business last year, but maybe she can advise you as to where she got the dyes:
http://www.ctrl-alt-doll.com/dolls-wigs-c-2_27.html

[Icy_Sunset]

Thanks so much for all the feedback, guys! It's much appreciated. =D
Now to save the moneyz. >>;;

MieAga, I'll be sure to get in touch with someone from the site. Thanks.

[Rosebud]

At the Ipplehouse site did you check out the English section of it. It is in pretty good English. Some of their answers are funy. I haven't actually bought from them yet, but their English descriptions as pretty good.

[Icy_Sunset]

At the Ipplehouse site did you check out the English section of it. It is in pretty good English. Some of their answers are funy. I haven't actually bought from them yet, but their English descriptions as pretty good.

Yah, I only browse the English sections. It's just that some of the translations are very ambiguous and I'm pretty retarded most of the time so I run into trouble. xD;;

[aernath]

heh heh Any questions, just ask us. Post a link, and we'll give you our translation of their translation! ;)

[Vampiresmama]

Bah, if I can't find a meet up, I'll try to make one. LA hobbyists seem to come out of the woodwork when you're least expecting it. xDDD

But thanks much for the feedback. I've been getting pretty worried on and off about communication, and my gf is even worse. xD; But, oo, the dolls are so pretty.
Who did you get from Iplehouse?

My first doll was Iris. :) I don't have her anymore but I gave her to my bff. I have to say that they're good about getting back to you if you have a question. I usually got an answer the next day during the week. It obviously took longer on the weekend.

[Rosetta_Nettle]

And another question, my gf is seeking to do a custom dye of a white wig. Any tips? I know it can't be a human-product but what else would work? I'm all into natural dyes. Last I checked, she was looking for various types of green.

As far as dyeing goes, it depends on what the wig is made out of. Here's a chart from Pro-chem of what fibers their various dyes will dye. (http://www.prochemical.com/productuse.htm) There are other dyes in existence that will dye synthetic fibers (Aljo stocks them (http://www.aljodye.com/main.html)), but they require specific chemicals to bond and significant ventilation systems, as well as keeping the item immersed in water at high heat for a significant length of time. Also, in my experience, there's always dye transfer from dyed synthetic goods, to the point that I'm too paranoid about staining to use them on my dolls. (I'm a professional dyer who mostly dyes synthetic fabrics, which I how I'm acquainted with most of this information.)

[Icy_Sunset]

As far as dyeing goes, it depends on what the wig is made out of. Here's a chart from Pro-chem of what fibers their various dyes will dye. (http://www.prochemical.com/productuse.htm) There are other dyes in existence that will dye synthetic fibers (Aljo stocks them (http://www.aljodye.com/main.html)), but they require specific chemicals to bond and significant ventilation systems, as well as keeping the item immersed in water at high heat for a significant length of time. Also, in my experience, there's always dye transfer from dyed synthetic goods, to the point that I'm too paranoid about staining to use them on my dolls. (I'm a professional dyer who mostly dyes synthetic fabrics, which I how I'm acquainted with most of this information.)

I hadn't thought about staining before now. D: Thanks so much for the information, that'll keep us from doing anything too stupid. We didn't realize how uncommon green wigs were until we started looking (at least, the green she's after). There's more blues than I can count, highlighter-yellow, and uber reds. We'll try to get ahold of a wig one way or another. Now that I know more sites, we might have better luck.

[Rosetta_Nettle]

I hadn't thought about staining before now. D: Thanks so much for the information, that'll keep us from doing anything too stupid. We didn't realize how uncommon green wigs were until we started looking (at least, the green she's after). There's more blues than I can count, highlighter-yellow, and uber reds. We'll try to get ahold of a wig one way or another. Now that I'm know more sites, we might have better luck.

Well, even commercial wigs can stain, but I haven't had a problem with it yet. I think I've heard rumors that the silicon wig caps that help prevent wig slippage also protect from staining somewhat.

Have you tried JpopDolls' site (http://jpopdolls.net/) yet? They seem to be out of stock on a lot of colors, but I know I've seen some green (this, in two tones (http://www.jpopdolls.net/sahara.html); this, also two tones (http://cgi.ebay.com/For-Super-Dollfie-New-Boys-wig-Frankie-size-8-9-Bck-Lme_W0QQitemZ120161405776QQihZ002QQcategoryZ84635Q QtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262) ; The "Jelly" color is looking greenish on my monitor (http://cgi.ebay.com/fits-SuperDollfie-SOAH-TORI-NEW-WIG8-9-Jelly_W0QQitemZ110238983471QQihZ001QQcategoryZ8463 5QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l126 2)). They've got an eBay store too, they're nice to deal with and they ship really quickly. You could always try emailing them to ask. Kstarr seems to be another name that comes up frequently in reference to odd-colored wigs, but I don't think they've currently got a website. Last I heard they were redoing it, and planning to continue in the wig business.

Otherwise, the sewing section on DoA has a multitude of threads on how to make your own wigs from commercial wefts. (also how to make your own wefts.) There's a lot of prepared weft out there in obnoxious anime colors.)

(Otherwise, there's always the second-choice color backup plan. At a certain point, you end up having to decide whether texture/style is more important or color. One of mine's ideal wig would be an olive green wig suitable for boys, but nobody makes olive green wigs, especially not in a guy's style. I'm now looking at white and silver, since there's more selection in those colors.)

[Icy_Sunset]

Well, even commercial wigs can stain, but I haven't had a problem with it yet. I think I've heard rumors that the silicon wig caps that help prevent wig slippage also protect from staining somewhat.

Have you tried JpopDolls' site (http://jpopdolls.net/) yet? They seem to be out of stock on a lot of colors, but I know I've seen some green (this, in two tones (http://www.jpopdolls.net/sahara.html); this, also two tones (http://cgi.ebay.com/For-Super-Dollfie-New-Boys-wig-Frankie-size-8-9-Bck-Lme_W0QQitemZ120161405776QQihZ002QQcategoryZ84635Q QtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262) ; The "Jelly" color is looking greenish on my monitor (http://cgi.ebay.com/fits-SuperDollfie-SOAH-TORI-NEW-WIG8-9-Jelly_W0QQitemZ110238983471QQihZ001QQcategoryZ8463 5QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l126 2)). They've got an eBay store too, they're nice to deal with and they ship really quickly. You could always try emailing them to ask. Kstarr seems to be another name that comes up frequently in reference to odd-colored wigs, but I don't think they've currently got a website. Last I heard they were redoing it, and planning to continue in the wig business.

Otherwise, the sewing section on DoA has a multitude of threads on how to make your own wigs from commercial wefts. (also how to make your own wefts.) There's a lot of prepared weft out there in obnoxious anime colors.)

(Otherwise, there's always the second-choice color backup plan. At a certain point, you end up having to decide whether texture/style is more important or color. One of mine's ideal wig would be an olive green wig suitable for boys, but nobody makes olive green wigs, especially not in a guy's style. I'm now looking at white and silver, since there's more selection in those colors.)

I finally located a green wig that's the right color (and head size), or close enough if you account for my monitor settings. It's a long-haired wig and we'll have to get creative with the stylings but we're pretty happy with it. =D

I signed up for DoA but it required mod activation or somesuch (this was some time ago) and I was never allowed in. I would like to check out making my own wigs (if just to make some crazy stuff) so I might reattempt to sign up on DoA.

[snowwhite6887]

I ordered loadsa clothes from Dollmore and a Pado Girl and also my Adam Klara Klum is in the mail as we speek...its super fast and payment is sooo easy and u get free gifts tooo :P

[twospiritdolls@yahoo]

Hi Rosetta, It would be easy to make a wig from wefted mohair and dye it the olive color you would like for your boy, I am talking about REAL mohair not what all the wig companys call mohair, some are but the majority of them are actually tibetan lambskin and mohair is finer and comes in many lengths as well, the wig would be easy to do an style as well, if you are interested PM me and I can Hook you up with instructions etc. Bobaloo