Hair rats

[kerry]

I am collecting my hair to make my own rats, but as this is going to take ages I wondered if anyone could advice me on which length to buy and also if anyone knows a uk website which sells them? I found this site, but it would save me on postage to buy from the Uk. http://www.adiscountbeauty.com/page73.html
Thanks
Kerry:)

[jitterbugdoll]

Foam rats can be cut to fit, so you can purchase a longer one and customize it to suit your needs.

[Cheesecakecutie]

hi there i got one in a hairdresser supply shop called Sallys on hambridge lane Newbury...hope that helps...they may have a web site or you could ring them ! hope that helps x[huh]

[AllaboutEve]

There is a Sallys in central london too, I went there about a year back and I can't remember exactly where it was somewhere near Shaftesbury Avenue. I will find out for you. They had the spongey rats there when I visited.

I made my own out of hair stuffed into tights that I cut and sewed up. I didn't have a lot of hair saved up so I snipped up some tights and used that as stuffing too and it worked very well.The good thing about this is you can squash them about to change the shape of them if you need too by pulling the filling around.

Hope that's of some use.:)

[kerry]

Thanks, I think Ill have a go at the part hair part chopped stocking idea:)

[Fleur De Guerre]

Sally's is actually on Shaftsbury Avenue!

[Rosie]

You can use fake hair also. I'm sure Sally would have that too.

[ohairas]

Hi~
I think the stockings and false or real hair rats work much better than the foam ones. I have a hard time getting pins to stick into those, and also they're *so* pefrectly shaped that it looks unatural sometimes. The others you can mold to the shape of your head, where as the foam ones seem too stiff and can stick out from your head.
Best wishes!
Nikki

[Sunny]

Hi~
I think the stockings and false or real hair rats work much better than the foam ones. I have a hard time getting pins to stick into those, and also they're *so* pefrectly shaped that it looks unatural sometimes. The others you can mold to the shape of your head, where as the foam ones seem too stiff and can stick out from your head.
Best wishes!
Nikki

I ditto that completely.

I actually use rats all the time for my 1860s hairstyles - I just got back from an event at which I did my hair (in a tent in the middle of the woods!) that way for five days straight. My rats are made from hair off my brush. I wadded it up and wrapped it in those super-invisible nylon filament hairnets. It's completely invisible, very moldable, and can be pinned through unlike the foam ones or even the stocking ones. And even if I miss hiding a little bit, it's still my hair and doesn't show up like foam. If it's taking a long time to gather your own hair, you can use a cheap hank of synthetic hair to stuff into the net. Sally's, over here, has hair hanks for $5.

[Cheesecakecutie]

actually use rats all the time for my 1860s hairstyles - I just got back from an event at which I did my hair (in a tent in the middle of the woods!) that way for five days straight. My rats are made from hair off my brush. I wadded it up and wrapped it in those super-invisible nylon filament hairnets. It's completely invisible, very moldable, and can be pinned through unlike the foam ones or even the stocking ones. And even if I miss hiding a little bit, it's still my hair and doesn't show up like foam. If it's taking a long time to gather your own hair, you can use a cheap hank of synthetic hair to stuff into the net. Sally's, over here, has hair hanks for $5

That is a fabulous idea do you just sew the hair net up when you have enough hair??? I have very long hair as do my daughters should fill a hair net in a week i reckon. ooooh am excited....squeak:D

[Sunny]

That is a fabulous idea do you just sew the hair net up when you have enough hair??? I have very long hair as do my daughters should fill a hair net in a week i reckon. ooooh am excited....squeak:D

Well, "enough" hair is just up to you. :) The goal is to have a wad of hair (or two wads) that's the size and shape you want your rat to be. The nets are very, very fine, the "invisible" ones that come in little envelopes. All I did was put the hair in it and just wrap the net around it multiple times. It's hard to describe, but just do it and you'll see. There's no need to sew it or secure it in any other way.

I have long hair, too! And it's fairly thick, and a lot always comes out on my brush. It still took me several weeks to accumulate enough for my rats. I think I stored it in an old medicine bottle. A hair receiver would've been nice!

[MissHuff]

I keep meaning to save my hair to make rats out of because I lose such a ridiculous amount throughout the day. You can literally find it everywhere in my house. The running joke is that if you visit my house you leave with a piece of me.. :rage: Although it's my own hair something irks me about making a rat out of it for the purpose of stuffing my hairdo. I don't know why. It's just dead hair.

Does anyone else feel a little weird about it?

[Small Town Girl]

Miss Huff,I can see where you'd think it strange.I'm not quite sure about it myself.I think the wording sounds gross, "wadding up dead hair."I have personally not tried rats, although I am saving some hair to try that.I'll try it if you do.I think that I can have enough hair ready pretty soon.What do you think,do you want to try it?[huh]

[ohairas]

I too have wads lying around, lol! They do look nasty!!
I'm waiting to find the perfect hair reciever for my vanity. There are some nice ones on the bay, but I need to stay off the bay right now... been very bad!!

Nikki

[Miss Dottie]

I bought a vanity set for my dresser that had the perfect hair recepticle (sp?) and in about a week I filled it with hair.

I have some hair rats that a friend gave me from when she used to dress vintage "back in the day" (that day being the height of the swing craze from 1996 to 2000) and whenever I use them, they seem so well, BIG. So I want to make my own a bit smaller as to not overwhelm my face.

[jitterbugdoll]

A friend of mine is actually giving me a couple of hair rats (made from real hair) from the 1940s. I suppose that it could be considered gross to wear someone else's hair, but for some reason it's not bothering me too much. However, I think I will avoid leaving them (or those made from my own hair) sitting out on my vanity or bathroom counter, because they do look rather icky. lol

[epr25]

I know this may sound stupid but hair rats are used to make the volume up in your hair when wearing rolls ect. Right.

[jitterbugdoll]

I know this may sound stupid but hair rats are used to make the volume up in your hair when wearing rolls ect. Right.

Yes, they are used to make your hair appear thicker, or to add height/volume to various styles, like reverse rolls.

[epr25]

I'll have to try that. My real hair won't hold teasing. I could tease it to an inch of it's life and a few minuted later just put my fingers through it. This is a good option for me.

[jitterbugdoll]

I'll have to try that. My real hair won't hold teasing. I could tease it to an inch of it's life and a few minuted later just put my fingers through it. This is a good option for me.

Sounds like hair rats would be perfect for you. You will have to let us know how you fare with them. :)

[MissHuff]

Miss Huff,I can see where you'd think it strange.I'm not quite sure about it myself.I think the wording sounds gross, "wadding up dead hair."I have personally not tried rats, although I am saving some hair to try that.I'll try it if you do.I think that I can have enough hair ready pretty soon.What do you think,do you want to try it?[huh]

Ok Let's do it. I'm gonna start today, I have a little porcelain box that would be a great makeshift receiver.

[Kim_B]

I'll have to try that. My real hair won't hold teasing. I could tease it to an inch of it's life and a few minuted later just put my fingers through it. This is a good option for me.

Epr25, I've seen your hair in person and it looks mahvelous, dahlink! ;)

Wow, that sounds a bit stalkerish...hehe, sorry! :o

[Small Town Girl]

Ok Let's do it. I'm gonna start today, I have a little porcelain box that would be a great makeshift receiver.
Excellant!!! I don't know why I didn't think about storing mine in a box,that's a great idea! I'll start tonight.Good luck!:)

[kerry]

A friend of mine is actually giving me a couple of hair rats (made from real hair) from the 1940s. I suppose that it could be considered gross to wear someone else's hair, but for some reason it's not bothering me too much. However, I think I will avoid leaving them (or those made from my own hair) sitting out on my vanity or bathroom counter, because they do look rather icky. lol

Just caught up with this thread. My teenage son thought I was gross when I asked him to save me his hair (he has long hair). :)

[MissHuff]

Just thought I'd give a little update on how my rat is going so far. I'm 3/4 of the way there to a good sized rat. Now the fiance thinks I have a problem with hair because I carry tweezers with me at all times to pluck my eyebrows and I have a box full of hair on my vanity.lol

[ohairas]

Oh that's funny Miss Huff!!
Nikki

[KittyT]

For those of you who try foam rats, in order to get the pins to stick in it, you have to pull the plastic tips off of your hair/bobby pins. Then they'll stick in with no problem!

[Miztorif]

I found this site recently. I have not ordered from it so I dont know how good or bad they are, but I plan on ordering soon. I am still learning how to do rolls. I am at work right now & cant add my avatar picture, I looked like Mickey Mouse the first time I did them!

http://secure.ultracart.com/catalog/KREMB/up_do_rollers/

[Miss Neecerie]

I found this site recently. I have not ordered from it so I dont know how good or bad they are, but I plan on ordering soon. I am still learning how to do rolls. I am at work right now & cant add my avatar picture, I looked like Mickey Mouse the first time I did them!

http://secure.ultracart.com/catalog/KREMB/up_do_rollers/


OK...I LOVE YOU!

LOVE LOVE LOVE with great big huge fantastical capital letters!

I used to have numerous sets of the corkscrew looking things, they were the only thing that held my curly hair up...over time, I lost all but one of them, and the store I got them at had long since closed.

you found them for me!

Have I mentioned that I LOVE YOU ?

[Miztorif]

OK...I LOVE YOU!

LOVE LOVE LOVE with great big huge fantastical capital letters!

I used to have numerous sets of the corkscrew looking things, they were the only thing that held my curly hair up...over time, I lost all but one of them, and the store I got them at had long since closed.

you found them for me!

Have I mentioned that I LOVE YOU ?


Wow, and this is only my second post!- Its good to be a noob :)

[Miss Neecerie]

Wow, and this is only my second post!- Its good to be a noob :)


oh...and "Welcome to the Lounge"!

*pulls out the really posh velvety vanity chair and makes you a super swell drink*

[Miztorif]

oh...and "Welcome to the Lounge"!

*pulls out the really posh velvety vanity chair and makes you a super swell drink*


Why Thanks
(I moved the rest to the appropriate thread-Thanks for the heads up

[Miss Neecerie]

Why Thanks :):offtopic:
I didnt see an introduce yourself thread so here goes. I am 36 I live in Montery, Ca. I have been a life long fan of 1940-1950's style & culture. I am "recreating" myself. I have been trying to teach myself the hair & makeup techniques. So far I havent maimed myself too badly (My parents really wanted a boy, but I am able to work on cars but curlers perplex me)
However I am more into the pinup look :) I cant think of anything else now-so I am so glad I have joined this group & I look forward to meeting everyone.
Tori


There is one in the Powder Room: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=4323

and another one somewhere In the Observation Bar....

Monterey is a lovely town....I have fond memories of visits there.

[Small Town Girl]

I thought that I'd update my progress.I have one rat made already and am working on another.
Miss Huff I think that's so funny! I only just saw your post!Congratulations!

[nyx]

This is going to sound really dumb :o I've heard of rats before, but haven't used them. The idea of making my own sounds great since I lose crazy amounts of hair and need a lift when doing rolls. I get the general idea of them; however, would anyone mind posting a picture of one of your homemade rats, so I have a better idea of what I'm doing? I am a boob when it comes to sewing anything, so I need a picture to help.

[ohairas]

ROFL!! Well, I might take a picture tomorrow, eww.... they were are nasty looking little "critters".
I take a big wad of hair and kinda roll it in my hands sorta like making a play dough snake. Just till it's about 3-4 inches long or so and then pat the ends to make it more blunt. Hope that makes sense! I don't use them very often, and if I did I would proably put a few stiches in them, use the panty hose over them, or a hairnet to keep them together more. As it is, I just reshape them somewhat each time I need them.
Nikki

[MissHuff]

As gross as it sounds I seem to have lost my hair rat somewhere in the chaos of rearranging my bedroom. I finally got enough hair to get it together and I kind of wadded it all up until it all kinda looked like a wad of steel wool and wrapped it up in a hairnet to keep it all together. I wish I knew where I put it.. [huh] Oh well, I lose soo much hair it won't be long till I'm ready to make a new one.

[ScarlettTurner]

What an interesting thread. I'd never heard of hair rats, or saving one's own hair. Great idea, though!

[Ellie Jane]

*MissHuffs hair rat escaped in the confusion and is now living comfortably in a dark corner, out of the way of bobby pin stickings*

[Ellie Jane]

Couldnt resist, I'm gonna make one up and sew eyes onto it lol

[RaasAlHayya]

That would be hilarious!

Especially if some unsuspecting person sees your hair peeping back at him!

--Leslie

[MissHuff]

*MissHuffs hair rat escaped in the confusion and is now living comfortably in a dark corner, out of the way of bobby pin stickings*

:eek: now I'm not gonna shake the image of my hair rat peering at me from a dark corner planning it's attack to free the rest of the hair. lol

[Madalene Laurae]

I am planning on making my first rat tonight and doing a little hair experimentation.

Any tips on making a good rat? I am using fake hair and old stockings. How do you use rats when doing rolls?

[Miss 1940's]

My grandmother made my hair rat....you take an old stocking and fill it with cotton.Its perfect and comfortable.

[MarieAnne]

I've been saving my hair for a few months now and I finally have enough for 2hair rats. I also got a new digital camera for Christmas!;) Here are some pics of what I did.

When I take the hair off my brush, I usually roll it in my palms until it forms a tight ball. Like this,
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii49/myduckyboo/DSC00126.jpg

This made it really hard to get a nice even mass of hair that stuck together so I took a stiff bristled brush and brushed out all my little hair balls.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii49/myduckyboo/DSC00128.jpg
Now what....

I divided the hair, as best I could, into two even sections and lightly rolled it with my palms to get it to stick together and shrink a little.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii49/myduckyboo/DSC00129.jpg

Then I took the hair and stuffed it into the end of a very fine hair net. I held the other end of the hair net between my knees and rolled the hair into it, always keeping a bit of tension. I did my best to shape the hair as it was being rolled. Not too skinny and long and not too round. At the end I just wrapped the elastic part of the hairnet around the rat. I might sew them shut later.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii49/myduckyboo/DSC00130.jpg

The dimensions are roughly 7cm by 3 cm. I can't wait to try them out! I hope the pictures were helpful.

[~*Red*~]

Nice hair rats Marie-Anne!! :)

[desi_de_lu_lu]

I've been saving my hair for a few months now and I finally have enough for 2hair rats. I also got a new digital camera for Christmas!;) Here are some pics of what I did.

When I take the hair off my brush, I usually roll it in my palms until it forms a tight ball. Like this,
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii49/myduckyboo/DSC00126.jpg

This made it really hard to get a nice even mass of hair that stuck together so I took a stiff bristled brush and brushed out all my little hair balls.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii49/myduckyboo/DSC00128.jpg
Now what....

I divided the hair, as best I could, into two even sections and lightly rolled it with my palms to get it to stick together and shrink a little.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii49/myduckyboo/DSC00129.jpg

Then I took the hair and stuffed it into the end of a very fine hair net. I held the other end of the hair net between my knees and rolled the hair into it, always keeping a bit of tension. I did my best to shape the hair as it was being rolled. Not too skinny and long and not too round. At the end I just wrapped the elastic part of the hairnet around the rat. I might sew them shut later.
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii49/myduckyboo/DSC00130.jpg

The dimensions are roughly 7cm by 3 cm. I can't wait to try them out! I hope the pictures were helpful.


The things we do for beauty. Sheesh. lol

I am making my hair rats out of hair nets. Something about using the actual hair itself creeps me out.

I bought about 10 hair nets and rolled a few up in one and sewed it. it is good for holding bobby pins... whereas my real hair rat sort of slid all over.

[Drrrty Blonde]

Hey there ladies,

Well I just discovered this forum literally days ago, and I already know I love it! Of course, I am all fired up and had to head to the beauty supply to look for the foamie-looking rats to give a retro rolled hairstyle a try.....but not a rat could be found (and yes, they all looked at me weird.) I checked my local Walgreens also, but came up zero (tho I stocked up on cold cream and witch hazel after reading the thread.....my skin thanks you all!)

Short of making them myself, which I know how to do but would rather not, can anyone turn me on to a good place to look? I'm in Austin, Texas so any local girls' suggestions are especially welcome! I am open to ordering as well, so post a website if you got em :)

You all are just amazing, thank you for posting such good info! :)

[Miss Neecerie]

you dont want the foam ones...you cant put bobby pins into those..


http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=30355&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=30355



Also, going to combine this with the other Hair Rat thread....

[Miss Neecerie]

posts now combined

[TheDutchess]

When I do victory rolls on my hair i use foam rollers I take the plastic part off and use the foam part as a rat. You cant poke threw them that well but they still do the job. If your on a budget you could always do it the old fashion way and collect hair from like your brush or comb and make a rat. [huh] Or go to the beauty store and buy some cheap hair and make a rat out of that. Ive seen that done as well. Good luck and welcome to the lounge!

[KittyT]

When using foam rats, you have to pull the plastic coating off the end of the bobby pin that you'll be sticking into the rat. Then they work just fine.

[=ritzy=]

My grandmother made my hair rat....you take an old stocking and fill it with cotton.Its perfect and comfortable.
Really??? hmm...i feel tempted to try this one out;)

[dollydaydream]

*yucky* I think I will try the tights method...

[MsChantillyLace]

At some of the beauty supply stores, they have mesh rollers meant to be used as rats. The benefit to this item is that it's quite easy to pin through. However, much like the foam rollers, they don't "smush" down quite so well.

The other option, should you be pressed for time (and it takes a good bit to collect enough of your own hair to make a rat) would be to get nylon netting, like tule, from a fabric or craft store. It's available in a variety of colors and is incredibly inexpensive. I roll it into a tube and stuff it with crunched up pieces, hand stitching the the seam. It blends well with the hair, smushes down, can be bent (perfect for the "behind the head roll") and because you've made it yourself, it can be any density or length you should desire.


Some of the celebrity stylists use synthetic hair pieces that they've ratted in a hair net. I've seen this technique implemented in a number of youtube videos, which are quite helpful in illustrating how to do various up-dos. I have seen videos for everything from Victory Rolls to Amy Weinhouse to Marie Antoinette. There are a few individuals that have made a number of great videos that I've found particularly useful. I'll find the links if anyone is interested-- I'm still new and I'm not sure how welcome posted links are here.

[Miss Caroline]

I am either going to buy some today, or make some....
I'm thinking the stocking and cotton (wool? is it) option is the best one....
i'm excited!

[Sunny]

The other option, should you be pressed for time (and it takes a good bit to collect enough of your own hair to make a rat) would be to get nylon netting, like tule, from a fabric or craft store. It's available in a variety of colors and is incredibly inexpensive. I roll it into a tube and stuff it with crunched up pieces, hand stitching the the seam. It blends well with the hair, smushes down, can be bent (perfect for the "behind the head roll") and because you've made it yourself, it can be any density or length you should desire.
Or another fast and quickie is to get a $5 hank of synthetic hair from Sally's and make rolls from it. You can easily match it to you own hair, closely enough that if the roll shows through it won't be obvious. And of course since it's hair (albeit fake) you won't have issues with being unable to form it or pin through it.

[LelaViavonie]

These are all great idea ladies! I have been using a foam roller as a rat and just dosent sit right sometimes... I shed like there is no tomorrow.. so I think I will make my own rat.

Great ideas!!! :p

[~*Red*~]

You could also wrap a stuffing of your choice in a hair net. They have same color hairnets as well as invisible hair nets. you can find a ton of them at Sally's Beauty Supply, by where the rollers and bobby pins are. I am never without a few of every kind of hair net. No woman should go without! Especially if you are dancing! ;)

[Tatum]

I made one, and have used it once so far.... It was great. The last time I had my hair cut, I had my stylist save everything and I used that for my rat, rolled it up into a hairnet and then stitched it closed. I wanted some smaller ones (I think they might help my issue with being able to do top and side rolls), so I did get the $5 hair from Sally's, but I have yet to try it!

[LelaViavonie]

Made it to Sally's Last night and bought the hair net.. went home and made my first rat. I use so many differnt types of brushes that I hair for days.

I think I will use them tomorrow in my hair :)

[SassyLindaB]

I made my own hair rats a couple of nights ago by using my old hair extensions...I had to keep adjusting them to get the right size and shape to suit but they were so quick and easy to make.

[swinggal]

Here's a tip gals. I have made many hair rats in the past (Ihave about 10) but what I do is use a round flat brush on my hair rather that a conical one. You let the hair fill the and then you peel the oval of hair of fin one piece. It's circular and flat.

It is usually already pretty matted together at this point so all you need to do is rub the hair together between the palms of your hands. This makes a nice, flat pancake shape. I then roll them up into a sausage when I use them in my hair. If you want a smaller rat for side rolls etc take the hair off the brush earlier.

This is the kind of brush I use (mine is a bit wider), but you must be patient and let it fill up and least half way up the bristles before peeling it off.

http://www.cachebeauty.com/images/therapro/isinis_212_brush.jpg

[Lareesie Ladavi]

I never would have thought to stick something in my rolls...nice tip. I've heard of women putting tampons in their hair before...I don't know about that. With my luck the string would hang out and my 13-year-old son would tug on it. LOL!

[SassyLindaB]

I never would have thought to stick something in my rolls...nice tip. I've heard of women putting tampons in their hair before...I don't know about that. With my luck the string would hang out and my 13-year-old son would tug on it. LOL!



lol oh my! the things people do for fashion!

[Lorena B]

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk261/lorena54_album/HPIM2100.jpg





I have actually tried the foam rolls and to be honest, they didnt make it for me, so i ended up making my own rats.

Got myself a hairnet, filled up with hair i have been recollecting from my brushes and that's done!

I have also made another one of a laddered tight, just simple rolled it inside and bingo.

this is the result

www.myspace.com/lorena54

[SassyLindaB]

oooh I wish I could get a fringe...too many cowlicks on my head

[Leila de la May]

Wow, this is such a great idea, as I've always struggled with my victory rolls.
I'll have to brush my hair twice as often just so I can collect some hair quick enough. I can't wait.
Wish me luck. ;)

[Lorena B]

oooh I wish I could get a fringe...too many cowlicks on my head

I actually dont have a fringe anymore, i left it grow and now is jaw length.

[SnackPacKid]

Silly me! I've been wanting to put together a hair rat, and all this time I've been throwing away those wads of hair off my brush!

[ShrinkingViolet]

:offtopic: Wow Lorena B, can I just say that you have the most beautiful Joan Crawford eyes?
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk261/lorena54_album/HPIM2100.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Joan_Crawford_in_Rain_1.jpg

[Lorena B]

Jeez!! Thank you for that cumpliment SV, you just pointed one of my 3 favorite girls!!!:D :D :D :D I can live in peace the rest of my life. Wow. cheers ;)

[ShrinkingViolet]

Well, the pleasure is on my side, I've never seen a real living persons with that kind of huge eyes before so it's cool to see that it's humanly possible (since Joan Crawford obviously wasn't human lol).
Please post your picture in the If you said you looked like one celebrity ... thread! (http://thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?p=659550#post659550)

[Lorena B]

That sounds as such a great fun!!!

I will, thank you again, i have a big grin in my face as i am writing this:D :D :D :D :D

[Adelaide]

I have made three different sizes of hair rats out of my sheeps wool. I have white, brown, and gray to blend and am pleased with the results. I am taking them with me to my hairdressers appointment on Thursday. Ursula is going to be put through her paces, because I have never darkened a hairdressers door before and to do so while asking for pin curls...

At the very least, Victory Rolls.

We'll see.

A. :)

[Miss 1940's]

I actually make my Own Rats!
I have long hair, so my brush is always Full of hair.... I then take an old stocking that has runs....
Tie a knot at one end, then Stuff hair...then tie a knot at the other end.
p.s make sure the stocking is a color that wont been seen though your hair....mine is Dark brown.

[Miss 1940's]

oooh I wish I could get a fringe...too many cowlicks on my head
so look like Joan Crawford.... you could be her twin.

[MarieAnne]

I have made three different sizes of hair rats out of my sheeps wool. I have white, brown, and gray to blend and am pleased with the results. I am taking them with me to my hairdressers appointment on Thursday. Ursula is going to be put through her paces, because I have never darkened a hairdressers door before and to do so while asking for pin curls...

At the very least, Victory Rolls.

We'll see.

A. :)

What a great idea? How did you assemble the rats? I found this article and thought it was terrific.
http://beautyisathingofthepast.blogspot.com/search/label/Rats
I may order some crepe wool, to try it out. Has anyone done this before?

[Inky]

What a great idea? How did you assemble the rats? I found this article and thought it was terrific.
http://beautyisathingofthepast.blogspot.com/search/label/Rats
I may order some crepe wool, to try it out. Has anyone done this before?


when I made my own bright red rat for faux bangs I ratted up colored hair extensions into roughly the cigar shape I wanted, then covered it in a invisible hair net like this type:

http://www.cachebeauty.com/Nets/jac-o-net_regular_lightbrown_elastic.htm

I took a bit of thread and stitched the hairnet into place as needed and also every now and then I spray my rat with some hair spray to keep it smooth. so far i've used it dozens and dozens of time and it's works like a charm.

[Puzzicato]

*BUMP*

I saw an ad for a Vidal Sassoon rat-thing, but I can't remember what it was called. Does anyone know what I am talking about, and can anyone speak to their effectiveness?

[Puzzicato]

... I went back through my browser history! I am talking about Vidal Sassoon Hair Poufs. Rats with a comb attached. Anyone have any experience with them?

[Miss Scarlet]

How strange, I was looking at this thread yesterday before anyone updated it...making my own hair rat now.

Anyway I know someone who bought one of those Vidal things to poof up the back Amy Winehouse style, but she said she needed to put grips in it to help it hold as the comb just kept slipping out. I think we're talking about the same thing.

[Puzzicato]

Do you know where she got it?

I don't usually think of myself as squeamish, but there is something I find disturbing about making my own hair rat. Which is totally bizarre, as it is my hair and I know exactly where it has been!

[Miss Scarlet]

Hehe, I think she bought it online. She's out of the country at the mo so I can't check. I can understand why it could feel yucky, but I'm skint so it's the best I can do, plus waste not want not...I think that can be applied to hair :confused:

[Wire9Vintage]

I've never forgotten David Letterman joking a few years back about hair. He said people love hair, call it the crowning glory, stress over losing their hair, comment on the beauty of women's hair, stroke each other's hair, etc., but then, as soon as a single hair becomes unattached from a head, it becomes the most disgusting thing in the world! How true and how weird!

Did anyone see Manor House? Those big Edwardian hair styles were pumped up with a mixture of human hair and, if I remember correctly, sheep's wool? Now THAT seems an odd thing to carry around under your hair all day!

[MissElainey]

Alas. My middy cut is a little too short on top to adequately cover the foam rat you can buy off amazon.com. :( I read in this thread that someone tried a bunch of hairnets in one to make their own that was smaller, I'll have to try that. They're only about a dollar for 3 at the drugstore. I'd use my own hair, but the thought icks me out a little. Has anyone tried the rolling up a piece of coarse netting from the fabric shop? You'd get a lot of rats out of even only a quarter yard.

[Sunny]

MissElainey, I just have to say that your username is hilarious and awesome! :eusa_clap

[MissElainey]

MissElainey, I just have to say that your username is hilarious and awesome! :eusa_clap

hehehehe, thank you! I don't care if anyone calls me Meg, but I wanted something a wee bit different and funny.lol

[fortworthgal]

I don't usually think of myself as squeamish, but there is something I find disturbing about making my own hair rat. Which is totally bizarre, as it is my hair and I know exactly where it has been!

Same here! For some reason I am extraordinarily creeped out by hair rats. Use of the word "rat" doesn't help things. lol

Shame, because I have extremely thick hair and it sheds like mad. I could probably produce 1 good-sized rat per week just from what ends up in my shower drain and in my brush.

[Miss Scarlet]

My very own hair rat is now finished after about 3 months of collecting hair and works so well! Fortunately I am in no sense squeamish about hair that is not on my head. However hair that has is stuck down a plug hole that you pull out with your fingers definately makes me gag *yucky* .

[fortworthgal]

However hair that has is stuck down a plug hole that you pull out with your fingers definately makes me gag *yucky* .

I'm gagging just reading this! lol

[jillybeanlynn]

I'm attempting to make my first hair rat from my own hair, collecting it in a ziplock bag from my brushes. Surprised I'm not grossed out by it but we'll see if I make it all the way to actually creating the hair rat.

Using fake hair is a good alternative though. It's not too hard to find fake hair that matches your hair color. All you do is cut a good-sized chunk from the long weave, keeping the part that has it all woven together to keep the messy factor down. Have boiling water on hand and a towel for drying. And I do a sequence of teasing the hair, dunking it in boiling water, drying it in the towel, and doing it all again until I have a hair rat in the shape and density I want. Then I wrap it up in a fine hair net and sew it closed. Ta-da! DIY non-gross hair rat!

[buddy5909]

You guys remind me of a George Carlin joke I heard. People love their hair. They wash it and style it but as soon as it falls out they think it's gross. lol

[Goldfish]

Has anyone with dark ash blonde hair found a way to fake rats without their own hair? I have been looking for fake hair but nothing comes even close to my hair color.

[Mugwump]

Wow, never knew this was here - was saving my hair for a rat, but now I have some instruction for making one. Thank you ladies, so much!!

[MarieAnne]

Goldfish - I know you can use crepe wool as hair rats. Just find the right colour.....I believe Ben Nye has some. But so do most costume suppliers.

[MissElainey]

Hmm, crepe wool? do you mean the fake hair used for costume beards and moustaches?

[MarieAnne]

Absolutely! I learned about it here (http://beautyisathingofthepast.blogspot.com/2009/06/no-rsvp.html).

[MissElainey]

That is brilliant. I don't know why I haven't thought of that. I don't care to collect my own hair, and the only foam things I can find are either too dark or too hard to take pins. I'll have to try that, we have several costume shops in town.

[MarieAnne]

Plus, with halloween only a few days away, crepe wool should be easy to come by. In fact, I may wait until monday and get it on special!

[Land-O-LakesGal]

Ok so I was cleaning my hair brush today and put the hair in a baggy that I have been saving hair in to make a rat. My husband spotted it and asked why I was saving hair. I told him it was to make a rat and he told me it was disgusting. Now ladies my husband is a barber. He brings home more hair than everyone in our house shed sometimes. When we were moving in together and I was helping him clean up his bachelor apartment his dust bunnies were more like big huge hairy mammoths, I kid you not, this is a man usually unperturbed by hair. I was a bit shocked at his strong reaction. Turns out he thought I was going to make our cat a toy out of my hair. I still bust a gut just thinking about it.

[Puzzicato]

Oh that is funny!

Hmmm - my cat sheds more than I do, I could have an Urchin-fur rat?

[Goldfish]

Thanks for the crepe wool idea!

Ben Nye has it in ash blonde indeed, might be to light for my own hair though:
http://www.stagesupply.com/media/images/category_lg/24CrepeWool.jpg

I think I will get some white crepe wool and try to dye it.