The Story Behind Those Tiny Hairs: Reborn Hair Rooting Explained
There is something very special about a reborn baby with rooted hair. When you gently stroke their little head, the hair moves just like real baby hair, and those tiny strands can make such a difference to the finished look.
At Willow Tree Reborns, we love the extra realism that rooted hair can bring to our babies, but it is also one of the most time-consuming parts of creating a reborn. We don’t root our babies ourselves, so we work with Sweet Roots, a specialist reborn hair rooter, to give our rooted babies the beautiful finish we are looking for.
So, what exactly is hair rooting?
Rooting is the process of putting individual strands of hair into the vinyl head of a reborn baby. Rather than placing a wig over the head or painting the appearance of hair onto the vinyl, a very fine needle is used to insert the hair strand by strand.
The rooter works from a planned hair pattern, carefully following the way newborn hair naturally grows. This includes the direction of the hair, the little crown at the top of the head and the areas where hair would naturally be finer or slightly fuller.
Depending on the rooting style, one or a small number of hairs can be placed into each tiny needle hole. This is what gives a well-rooted reborn its soft, natural appearance rather than the hair looking like small plugs across the scalp.
For our babies, Sweet Roots uses premium mohair and a fine needle to create that delicate newborn look. Mohair is popular for reborns because it is soft and fine, making it a lovely choice for recreating the texture of baby hair.
Why is rooted hair so expensive?
This is one of the questions we are often asked, and when you see what goes into it, the price starts to make much more sense.
Rooting is very, very time consuming. Each individual strand needs to be placed by hand, and the rooter has to work with care and patience to achieve an even, natural result. Sweet Roots explains that the process takes many hours, with the hair being directionally rooted, trimmed and worked into place as the head is completed.
It is not simply a case of putting some hair into the head and brushing it into place. A skilled rooter has to think about density, direction, hair colour, the size of the baby and the overall look of the finished reborn.
The quality of the hair also makes a difference. Good quality mohair is soft, fine and well suited to creating that delicate newborn appearance. Specialist rooting takes skill, equipment, materials and a great deal of patience, which is why a beautifully rooted head can add a fair amount to the cost of a reborn.
For us, it is about choosing the right baby for rooted hair and making sure the finished result is worth that extra investment.
Why do we use Sweet Roots?
We chose to work with Sweet Roots because rooting is a specialist skill, and we want our customers to receive the best finish we can offer.
Sweet Roots has more than ten years of experience in reborn rooting and offers different hair colours and rooting styles. The hair is directionally rooted and, once complete, sealed inside the head to help keep the strands secure.
This means that while we concentrate on the painting, finishing and little details that make each Willow Tree baby special, our rooted babies can have their hair completed by someone who focuses on this particular part of the craft.
We think that attention to detail matters.
Are rooted babies suitable for everyone?
Rooted hair is a wonderful choice for collectors who love the most realistic baby look and enjoy taking a little extra care of their reborn.
It is especially lovely for collectors who enjoy gently holding, cuddling and changing their babies, as the hair can be softly brushed and styled. It does, however, need more care than painted hair.
A rooted baby may not be the best choice if you are looking for a doll that can be handled like a traditional children's toy. The hair is delicate, and repeated pulling, rough brushing or lots of vigorous play can cause strands to loosen over time.
For this reason, we would recommend rooted babies for adult collectors and older children who understand that their reborn needs gentle handling. If a reborn is intended for a younger child who wants to play in the same way they would with an everyday toy, a baby with painted hair can be a much easier option.
It is also worth remembering that a little hair movement or the occasional loose strand does not mean anything has gone wrong. Rooted hair is still made up of individual fibres, so it needs to be treated with the same gentle care you would give any delicate feature on a reborn.
How do you care for rooted mohair?
The good news is that rooted hair does not need to be difficult to look after. It simply needs a gentle touch.
We recommend using a soft baby brush or a clean, soft toothbrush and brushing in the direction that the hair has been rooted. Avoid pulling through knots or trying to force the hair into a style, as this can put unnecessary strain on the individual strands.
If the hair needs a little help with styling, a light mist of water or a suitable reborn/mohair conditioning spray can help. It is better to spray the brush rather than soaking the baby's head, as too much moisture around the scalp can cause problems with the materials inside the head.
Try not to brush rooted hair more than you need to. Unlike painted hair, it can become messy and fluffy, and that is perfectly normal. A gentle tidy when needed is much better than repeatedly brushing it just to keep every strand perfectly in place.
We also recommend keeping rooted hair away from heat, strong sunlight and anything that could snag or pull at it. When changing outfits, take a little care around the head and hair rather than pulling clothing over the baby's head without thought.
And please don't panic if you find the odd strand in the brush. Some hair movement and small amounts of shedding can happen with rooted hair, even when it has been professionally completed and secured.
Rooted hair or painted hair?
There really isn't a right or wrong choice.
Painted hair gives a beautiful, low-maintenance finish and can look incredibly realistic when it has been painted with fine detail. It is a lovely choice for collectors who want their baby to need very little hair care.
Rooted hair adds another dimension because you can actually see and feel the individual fibres. The hair catches the light, moves when the baby is cuddled and can be gently brushed into place.
For some collectors, that little head of soft hair is what makes their reborn feel complete.
For others, painted hair is the perfect finish.
At Willow Tree Reborns, we love both, and we choose the finish based on the baby we are creating and the look we want to achieve.
The little details make the baby
Creating a reborn is made up of hundreds of small details, from the layers of colour in the skin to the tiny creases, delicate lashes, realistic nails and, of course, the hair.
Rooting is one of those parts that can take many hours but may not be obvious until you hold the finished baby in your arms. That is when you notice the way the little hairs move, the softness against your fingers and the tiny crown sitting on top of their head.
It is a labour of love, and that is why rooted babies carry a higher price.
When you choose a Willow Tree baby with rooted hair, you are not just paying for “hair”. You are paying for specialist materials, skilled handwork, hours of patience and another layer of detail that helps bring your little one to life.
And once your baby arrives home, all they need from you is a little gentle care and lots of cuddles.
A little Willow Tree tip
If you are new to rooted hair, don't be afraid of it. Treat those little strands gently, keep styling simple and remember that realistic doesn't mean perfect.
A few wispy strands, a little fluff and the odd hair out of place are all part of what makes a rooted baby look so beautifully newborn.
