Wood hair toys and wet hair.

[Kris]

I'm starting to be interested in wood hair toys. I need my hair to be wet when I put it up as it won't cooperate dry.

Is there something I can put on my wood toys so I can use them in wet hair?

[aisling]

Oil could help and also keep them shiny. Many of the eBay sellers of wooden hairtoys claim you can use them on wet hair, I'd be careful myself and not use them on sopping wet hair, maybe just damp hair. I just got my first Baerreis fork and the instructions says "don't get it wet for the first month".

[Kris]

I do oil pretty heavily so my hair will lay down properly. Hopefully I can get the fork oiled enough not to do any damage.

Thanks aisling

[icydove]

Hi Kris :) Baerreis puts a finish on their hair toys to make them waterproof, but it takes a month to set. Dymondwood toys are supposed to be waterproof as well. I've always heard oil can help protect the wood from dampness. I think you can wax it as well.

[curlsgirl]

Interesting question. I have a Blondiesturn fork and would hate to ruin it. She has instructions to oil it now and then but says nothing about not getting it damp. I might put extra oil on it for a while anyway. I can't get my fork to do right yet. I think since my hair is so thick and has a few layers at the ends I might have to wait a while longer to use sticks and forks well. Oh well, my mei fei's and Blondiesturns will be waiting in my velvet jewelry box :lafhard:

[dancingbarefoot]

One of my Blondiesturn forks has such a smooth finish that I can't imagine water even getting in. She even asked me to wear it with wet hair to test its waterproof-ness (?), and I had no problems. It's going to depend on the finish, of course, but it's probably safe to try it once and see how it goes.

[Kris]

Thanks all for your answers. I have worn my Quattro fork in wet hair and it didn't seem to have a problem. This one by Monthemonk had the grain raised slightly when I took it out yesterday. Today it's been holding my super oily hair in a bun all day. When I remove it, it is much smoother.

Thanks icydove for the info about the Baerreis forks. I had used it too in wet hair with no ill effects.

Wondering if my new Graydog will be ok in wet hair? Probably so. Can I coat this Monk one with polyurethane do you suppose? Or will oiling it be sufficient?

[CurlyCare]

I'd contact the maker of the hairtoy and ask what he or she recommends to protect the wood from moisture. I believe a furniture wax would be helpful, but not a permanant sealant.

[Carolyn]

I agree, contact the seller and ask about it. Some do say there are OK to wear in wet hair. I've worn Baerreis forks and Blondiesturn forks in damp hair with no problem. I've also had no problem with Mei Fa's with damp hair. I've never worn the same wooden hair toy day after day in sopping wet hair so I don't know how that would work. A little oil on a wood hair toy is a good thing too.

[Juliet's Silk]

Okay but what do you do when your wooden hair toy got wet and well... if it wasn't waterproof?
I have a beautiful wood comb, very smooth and soft but somehow I managed to get it wet in some spots and now it starts to get rough in these places... I know that when I had the same thing going on with my Barreisfork I could mend it with a little oil but somehow that doesn't really work with the comb... (and I always wonder which kind of oil you're supposed to use on the wood anyway?).

[Peggy E.]

<snip>
Wondering if my new Graydog will be ok in wet hair? Probably so. Can I coat this Monk one with polyurethane do you suppose? Or will oiling it be sufficient?


You might contact them and ask their advice. The Monk wood fork with the grain being raised probably should not be used with wet hair.

IF it was me, I would not use polyurethane on your beautiful, natural wood forks! Baerris sent me some wonderful beeswax with which to treat the toys, and I've had no problems with them.

Try a natural wax or oil - every so often, douse it really good, let it sit, then wipe and polish it up. If you take proper care of your wood items they will last you forever and look beautiful doing their job.

I just LOVE wood hair toys! (Couldn't tell, I'll bet?!)

[Serendipity]

I would say if you have any doubts at all, then don't put your wooden hairtoy in wet hair. Water can raise the grain and warp wood permanently. Slightly damp hair is probably okay though. It comes down to what kind of finish or varnish the wood has been treated with. Resin-impregnated ones (like Dymondwood) are very likely waterproof.

[Kris]

Thanks everyone for your input. I oiled it real heavy last night with the oil I use on my hair. And oiled again this morning. I just took it out and checked it and it's not rough so temporarily it's fixed. However I did email Mark (Monkthemonk) and asked him what I should do. The ebay description just said it is cocobolo and curly maple dyed with lemon dye.

As soon as I hear from Mark I will post what he says to finish it with.

[Kris]

Here is what Mark had to say.

Kris
When we make hair toys we polish with wax to get the shine. I have a way to coat it but you would have to send it to me.The coating is a liquid plastic and anything other than that will not do what you want. In the future if you like something that I make I will coat it for 5.00 more before I send it. I am glad you like the fork. Most of all the people that I have delt with dont want the coating but like I said I would be more than happy to do that for you.
Mark/themonk


I think I will just keep oiling it and see what happens. I don't want my fork to look plastic or have the coating peeling off and pulling hair.

[Ama]

As others have said, some are coated. My graydogs are all coated. I personally don't like the coating. It looks nice but I prefer the real wood (it also smells bad). Many of the eBay sellers will tell you in the description if it is water-proof (Resin-impregnated). If my hair is wet, I usually use my Quattro U's, they are metal and work great on wet hair! I wouldn't use my Monk forks on wet hair as I'd be so sad if I ruined one...

[birdiefu]

Okay but what do you do when your wooden hair toy got wet and well... if it wasn't waterproof?
I have a beautiful wood comb, very smooth and soft but somehow I managed to get it wet in some spots and now it starts to get rough in these places... I know that when I had the same thing going on with my Barreisfork I could mend it with a little oil but somehow that doesn't really work with the comb... (and I always wonder which kind of oil you're supposed to use on the wood anyway?).

I had this problem with one of my wood sticks when DS ran off with it and covered it in slobber. Even after oiling, the wood was a little rough, so I buffed it with a 4-way nail buffer after it was thoroughly dry, then re-oiled it again. Good as new.

[blondiesturn]

Good girl! That is exactly what I would recommened for home fixes :)

[Kris]

Thanks so much for chiming in here Blondiesturn. Hubby has emery cloth and it smoothed my fork right up. And of course oil.

When are we going to see you on ebay again? Do you make forks?

[blondiesturn]

Thanks so much for chiming in here Blondiesturn. Hubby has emery cloth and it smoothed my fork right up. And of course oil.

When are we going to see you on ebay again? Do you make forks?
Yes, I still make forks as well as other hairtoys :) Go see my goodies (http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZblondiesturnQQhtZ-1QQfrppZ50QQfsopZ1QQfsooZ1QQrdZ0?)!
I will have a couple more listed in a few hours.

[trollkjerring]

Hi Eve, you know you have my favorite fork in your siggy, don't you? Glad to see you here...
trollkjerring (Sabine)

[Kris]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh Pretty pretty toys. I just wish I could find more buy it now's as I don't snipe and can't sit here waiting for an auction to get heated up to bid at the last minute. or keep up with them. Sigh. I shall get lucky and get a chance to bid someday.

[blondiesturn]

Hi Eve, you know you have my favorite fork in your siggy, don't you? Glad to see you here...
trollkjerring (Sabine)
Hiya trollkjerring! That is a most beautiful hairtoy you now have, I am happy that it is your favorite :)
Dymondwood is great for wet hair as u know.
As for the wooden toys, the very light colored and light weighted woods are the ones that have a tendency to get rough when exposed to moisture. (There are some dark one's too, like Wenge and Black Palm, don't get those wet.)
Finishes have a whole lot to do with how a piece holds up to moisture.
All of my hairtoys are in the bathroom, most are standing in a wall pocket. I have not had any of them swell or get rough from the moisture in there. I also have worn each of them with damp (not wet) hair, no problem.
When I am finished sanding a hairtoy I soak it in a mixture of oils overnight, sometimes they get a second round if they are likely to be a "Problem Child" with damp hair. They then get 2 separate coats of furniture paste wax. (rub, rub, rub)
Finally they are buffed to a brilliant shine. The buffing also brings the natural resins in the wood to the surface and helps seal the grain.
You would think I have a huge collection of self made items, not the case. I probably have 5 items that I made for myself and actually use. Every time I create something that I would like to keep, I end up selling or trading it :)