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How to Use Heat Guns for Secrist Dolls

Secrist dolls are a particular brand of Reborn dolls, realistic vinyl baby dolls often sold in kits and self-customized by hobbyists and doll enthusiasts. Part of this customization involves painting the vinyl to resemble real skin, lips, eyes and eyebrows. Reborn hobbyists use a variety of paint types to do so, including a paint that sets when heat is applied. Since vinyl dolls cannot be baked in an oven like other craft items, the paint is set using a heat gun.

Things You'll Need

Secrist doll
Non-acetone nail polish remover
Cloth
Cotton balls
Heat setting paints
Paintbrushes
Heat gun

Instructions

- 1
  Disassemble your Secrist doll or other Reborn doll. You may need to cut the cable ties holding the head and limbs onto the body if your doll has a cloth body.
- 2
  Clean the existing paint job off the vinyl with a non-acetone nail polish remover. Rub gently with cotton balls until the paint is completely gone, then wipe the vinyl down with a clean cloth.
- 3
  Add the blushing paint color to the Secrist doll, using a heat-set paint like Genesis. Start with the undertones and paint in very thin layers. Make changes as you work, using mineral oil to remove or blend in any sections you do not like.
- 4
  Add the detail colors to your doll around the eyes, eyebrows and mouth. Blend or change the paint with the mineral oil, but be careful not to disturb your earlier blushing.
- 5
  Turn on the heat gun. Hold the gun a little less than 1 foot away from the Secrist doll parts, as it can get very hot. Apply the heat to your painting. Rotate the doll parts as you heat them.
- 6
  Remove the gun once the paint colors have turned matte.
  
  Be careful not to burn yourself or the doll vinyl with the heat gun. The paint colors should be heated not much longer than 30 seconds.

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