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Back Road BearsThere is probably no way to do this but I've got a honey colored mohair that is just a bit darker than I'd like.
Can I lighten it in anyway? I'm guessing bleach would a)be HORRID for mohair and b) turn it white or blotchy if it did anything.
Is there any solution here???
How about Dylon dye remover....it might at least lighten it a bit...
Household bleach will rot the backing...So will the kind intended for hair eventually...I have literally the 'T'shirt to prove it!! You can just paint it on the ends though, being careful to keep it off the backing..that will work...I'd use 20vol peroxide. Slower but more controlled lightening.
The dye remover may not be called Dylon where you live...maybe 'Rit dye remover' or something...?
Correct me if I'm wrong!!!
Jenny
Back Road BearsJenny, thanks. I had wondered about hair lightner or color...... but recall what happened to MY hair once... not good on already over processed hair as I'm sure you may know. Ahh, those were the days!!! 
Snowy Day BearsDaphne,
I sounds like we bought the same fur. I also have some honey colored fur that is too dark (actually orangey ) for me. I was going to try dyeing it but a friend likes it and wants a bear (for free of course) so this mohair found a home just as it is. I will probably do a tummy insert of ivory to break up the color is little.
Sandi
Posts: 8,574I would be wary of anything that could damage your own hair....it is hair, ergo protein. You could try peroxide, and a tiny area with a q-tip but I don't know....
As for mohair that is too orange...you could try over-dying it, using a bluish brown.....I guess by that I mean a 'COOL' color that has the darker blue/purple undertones as apposed to a warm color.....which will play into the yellowish-ness......
Or you could embrace the yellowishness and play the honey up into a goldish type color.
There ARE always ways around bad colors.
hugs.....
dilu
Posts: 8,574also, since most mohair is woven on to a cotton backing you wouldn't want to use anything that would weaken the cotton fibres....cotton is still organic, meaning it has carbon like mohair, but it is not a protein based fiber.
so what might work fine for lightening our hair (our hair, like mohair being protein based) might weaken the backing of the mohair making it susceptible to fatique and disimboweling of little teddikins.
Yikes!!!
I don't know this as a fact, but I am just trying to remember ancient history organic chemestry, and use some very little 'educated guessing', which is in very short supply here ever since gollies came here to live.
Back Road BearsHee Hee... Maybe I could try lemon juice and setting it in the sun! Did any of you ever do that to your hair? Or am I embarrassing myself?
Gatehouse Gallery
I'll tell you what I've done that seems to work. I don't know what its called in USA but we call it 'Nappysan' powder for soaking diapers. I put the specified amount in a bucket with warm water and soak for a few minutes, or until the right colour.(it seems to take out a bit of orange) I then rinse with some hair conditioner and tumble dry to fluff it up. Having bleached and dyed ALOT of dogs over the years for showing(oops I didn't say that!!) I've found the secret to lessening damage to the hair is in the conditioning and I bath, condition and tumble dry all my intercal mohair, particularly the 370s/c...brings it up a treat.(Thickens, shines and softens). I've attached a pic of 370s/c pale apricot(It isn't pale!!) after doing this and you can see how it brings it up.
Posts: 3,540So what are your favorite dog conditioners? There's lots of lovely smells too...mmmmm....can you imagine a cherry almond rinse? That would be a lovely treat for a mohair bear!! 
Having bleached and dyed ALOT of dogs over the years for showing(oops I didn't say that!!)
LOL!!!!!! :hug:
I've started using Mane n Tail Conditioner and LOVE it! I use a hot water bath from the tap.... get the mohair nice and wet, wring out the water, massage in the conditioner, let sit in the hot water like that for a few minutes then rinse the conditioner away. OH SO SOFT!!
I usually hang mine over the dryer (instead of in) while the dryer is running... or even lie the mohair on top of the dryer.
Delartful BearsDoes the mohair shrink doing it like this Laura ??
Danni
Wild Thyme OriginalsHi guys! I also dry my mohair on top of the dryer while doing the umpteen loads of laundry that my family creates for me! 
Danni.... I find that drying on top of the dryer yields less shrinkage than drying IN the dryer... but, just the process of washing the mohair also shrinks up the backing a bit as well. I've never really taken the time to measure prewashing, then post washing, then post drying in vs. out of the dryer... but I did find that one time I was unable to fit a pattern that I usually do with a fat quarter onto the fabric after I had washed and dried it in a dryer... it was a tight fit to begin with, but there had obviously been a bit more shrinkage that I am accustomed to.
Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals
LuxembearsDaphne.....I have done the lemon juice thing too! 
about 25 years ago How funny! I also wanted to tell you I really like your avatar bear. Really really cute!
Great tips on lightening mohair. I use a hair dryer to dry mohair when I do anything with dyeing, but it does take a while...kind of boring too. I also lay the pieces on my kitchen counter.
I AM SUCH A TYPO QUEEN!
Back Road BearsJudi, Thank you !
Thankfully I ordered enough of this mohair so I have a bit I can 'play' with to see what might work. All of the suggestions are great.... let's see how many I can try.....
