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eeyore13 Posts: 120

have found that mohair that starts lovely and soft goes dull after stuffing and a lot of handling! even Schulte has done it to me, the same mohair used by someone else hasnt done it to them so it must be me! bear_cry

Help - what can I do to either prevent it or to get the shine back?  bear_sad

BlackmoonBear Sacred Bear Studios
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Posts: 251

never heard of that, but maybe try wearing cotton gloves while you are assembling?

eeyore13 Posts: 120

Am starting to wonder whether it is the fact I always have hot hands even in cold weather!  have some cotton gloves which will try to use.

Francesca KALEideaSCOPE
Rheinfelden
Posts: 1,306
Website

A suggestion. I often do it with my mohair bears as it also helps with the fur direction, giving them a tidier look.
- spray them with a little water (don't get them too wet, only so that the fur is humid)
- brush them with a cat brush (I have one that I use especially for my teddies as I own no cats! bear_original )
-apply some hair styling mousse (if it's good for our hair, why not for our bears' fur? bear_grin )
-brush again then let it dry (if you are in a hurry you can dry it gently with your hair drier)
-when it's perfectly dry, you can do some more gentle brushing.
Good luck! bear_original  bear_original

eeyore13 Posts: 120

Does the mousse help with the softness and shine?

Pijangibears Pijangibears
Denmark
Posts: 870

I have the same problem with synthetec - Schulte fake fur. It is not the same, after I have finished the bear.
So I use cotton gloves, when working with fake fur. I have never had the problem with mohair.

eeyore13 Posts: 120

I take it the gloves work and stop the fur dulling Birgitte?

Pijangibears Pijangibears
Denmark
Posts: 870

Yes, the gloves work, but I hate to use gloves - also when I do garden work.

eeyore13 Posts: 120

Thank you - have a pair but they need a wash since they are my moisturising ones!

Francesca KALEideaSCOPE
Rheinfelden
Posts: 1,306
Website

Yes, the mousse helps both with styling and with the shine.  bear_original

desertmountainbear desertmountainbear
Bloomsburg, PA
Posts: 5,399

I do the same as Francesca, I just use water though.  When I am all done, the bears get a gentle spray and a brush.  If the mohair is unruly or too wavy I use a blow dryer, just like I would my own hair.

BatFinchBears BatFinch Bears
Posts: 47

These are some excellent tips! I shall have to invest in some cotton gloves. I find it very frustrating when my bear ends up looking "well-loved"(aka, scruffy), before it's even fully finished!

I shall definitely test these on my next worse for wear looking bear.

eeyore13 Posts: 120

I have tried the gloves and it works!  You can get away with just one glove on the hand that is holding the item that is stuffed!!!  bear_grin  bear_thumb

Thank you everyone  bear_wub

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