Why use high-quality materials?
On this page, I would like to inform you about the significant difference it makes when using high-quality materials. It starts with the blank itself and ends with the hair.
The blank
The blank is the basis for our reborn baby. This is where everything begins. If we do not have good starting material, we can try as hard as we want. We will not achieve a beautiful result. It's like with any work of art. Imagine you are painting on a rough, uneven stone. You will not be able to paint as well on that as you would on a nicely smoothed stone. Besides that, it is also important to use only genuine reborn blanks. I will explain why exactly here.
With a blank of inferior quality, you will notice that the colours do not adhere properly and always look painted on. Here is a comparison:
Inferior blank
The colours sit ON the blank and do not properly penetrate the vinyl. It always looks painted.
High-quality blank
The colours merge with the blank. Additionally, a high-quality blank has a certain transparency that simulates the natural skin texture.
The colours
The situation with the colours is similar to that with the blanks. High-quality colours can be applied much better and result in a much more beautiful colour ratio. I also immediately noticed that the high-quality colours are significantly better pigmented. At first glance, the price for the high-quality colours may seem very high. But they last a long time. I have now designed two blanks and it feels like nothing has come out of the paint pots. A drop is mixed with water and that is already enough to achieve a nice colour coverage.
The brushes
One might think that the brushes don't matter. But that is not the case. So what are the differences between the brushes? Brushes of inferior quality do not absorb the paint as well. They also lose bristles quickly. And you don't want those in the paint application for the baby. Additionally, high-quality brushes last significantly better. So one should not be blinded by the price here either.
The sponges
Sponge is sponge, right? A very clear NO. I initially used cheap cosmetic sponges that I had shaped myself. That works, but the result cannot compare to the sponges I now use. I ordered the structure sponges from once so real and I can unconditionally recommend them. Basically, I buy all my materials there. Any other well-stocked reborn shop would certainly do just as well. But I can only speak about the materials from once so real. The high-quality sponges absorb the paint better, just like the brushes, and they distribute the colours more evenly. It is significantly more pleasant to work with these sponges. If you are shaping sponges for mottling yourself, make sure that you do not have clean edges. These must always be uneven so that the edge does not show in the mottling.
The rooting needles
I can tell you a nice story here as well. I looked at the needles and thought: Yep, they are felting needles. So I bought the "cheap" felting needles. And what do you think? Yes, it works, BUT: The needles do not penetrate the vinyl as smoothly, they do not pull the hair well, and above all, they leave unsightly puncture marks in the vinyl. I can only advise everyone against using simple felting needles.
The little nails
For the little nails, I first used UV gel. That works quite well, but it quickly looks like a French manicure, which is of course totally out of place for babies. I then came across the powders from E Borns. I have not used this yet. But from what I have seen in reviews and videos, it is convincing. As soon as I have used it, I will update this point here.
The sealing
You shouldn't skimp on the sealing either. It's important that your babies are properly sealed so that you can enjoy them for a long time. Here, it's especially important that you choose a matte finish so that your baby doesn't shine. I initially used a regular acrylic varnish. However, it didn't apply very well and wasn't waterproof. You must pay attention to that.
The hair
When it comes to hair, it's very important that it is of decent quality, as it cannot be easily replaced. Additionally, poor quality hair quickly looks very unnatural and tangles faster, appearing straw-like. Currently, I can only provide a picture of poor quality, as I haven't started rooting my babies yet. But as soon as I'm ready, I will update this point as well.
Too thick, synthetic hair
This is synthetic hair that is far too thick for baby hair. It looks absolutely unnatural.
Mohair hair of inferior quality
This looks better, but we can see that this hair appears very straw-like and is not as silky as one would expect from a baby.
The eyes
When it comes to the eyes, it is important to pay attention to good quality so that the eyes look as realistic as possible. Personally, I prefer glass eyes, as they have more depth and are also less likely to scratch easily. However, they are of course more fragile and must be handled carefully. Lauscher eyes are recommended. But there are also other eyes of good quality. Why is this so important? Imagine you have designed your baby to look really beautifully realistic. If poor-quality eyes are put in, it immediately looks inauthentic. Good quality eyes are the be-all and end-all for reborn babies!
The filling
For the filling, you also need to pay attention to the appropriate quality. Never use any filling materials that are not explicitly designated for use with reborn babies. There are several reasons for this:
- The fabrics can react with the vinyl and discolour it or otherwise damage it.
- The materials can have toxic fumes.
- The material may be too light, making it difficult to weight the baby.