How to Dye Mohair for your Fashion Doll, Fairy or Mermaid
I did a bunch of experimenting with coloring mohair before I found the method that works best for me. The easiest method I have found is done using Rit Dye. I usually start with snow white mohair, but some interesting effects can be created by layering color over other natural shades of mohair.
To prepare the mohair for dying you need to have the piece cut to the size you want. Always cut mohair with a razor blade ( exacto knife) on the skin side. Do NOT use scissors when cutting mohair or any other type of fur. Slice gently through the skin side of the piece just enough to part the skin and not to cut the hair on the other side.
I use a large stainless steel pot that I reserve just for dying mohair. The amount of dye and the amount of water will vary depending on the depth of color you are trying to achieve. Lighter shades would use more water and lesser amounts of dye. Deeper shades require a more concentrated solution. I put my water in the pot and bring it to a low simmer, add the dye, stir to dissolve it and turn off the heat. You do not want the dye bath to be boiling, just very hot.
Now, back to the the mohair. Wet down the mohair piece under warm water and use a little dish detergent to wash it gently. This step is important because the wet mohair takes the dye better, and the dish detergent allows better penetration of the dye into the hair. Rinse the suds out under warm water, and gently squeeze out the excess water.
The mohair can now be added to the dye bath. Again, depending on the depth of color you want, determines how long you leave the piece in the color. If I want a very slight tint of color, I will literally dip it in ( holding with a tongs ) and pull it right back out. Usually though, I leave the piece in for about 3 - 5 minutes only. The fur absorbs the color very quickly when it is pre-wet. Ten minutes would be the longest I would leave it in. Remember, wet mohair is going to look a lot darker than when it is dry, so your final color may be much lighter. You can always re-dye it darker if need be.
Once the hair has achieved the color desired, remove it from the dye with the tongs. Toss it in a pot or bowl and get it over to the sink. Dye stains badly so you want to avoid dripping it on your countertops or floor. I usually lay down newspaper on the counter, just in case. Maybe I should have mentioned that first...LOL!!
Rinse the mohair under cool water until all the water runs clear. Then, I add a little dish detergent and gently wash the piece again, and rinse thoroughly. I also like to give the fur a little vinegar and water dip just to make sure the dye doesn't run. I then lay the mohair over the shower rod to drip dry. It usually takes a day to dry, as the skin holds the moisture.
Once the mohair is dry, you can use it as you see fit. I have not had any problems with using Rit dyed mohair on any 16" doll, but have had a few instances of the dye staining the vinyl on Barbie dolls. The mohair I used on my Ellowyne was hand dyed by me in a combination on brown and a touch of yellow dye. I dipped it for less than a minute to achieve the honey blond shade. The second Ellowyne below is wearing pink mohair that I dyed with Rit pink.
