How do YOU Rehair?

[starbritesprinkles]

I use a tool and secure the plugs with Fabri-Tac. Started out with a LadyDayDreamer tool. When it broke and she was no longer making them, I made my own from wooden dowels until I found a metal precision hand drill at Sears. I've been using it since.

[Shaiyeh]

I use the tool with no glue (homemade tool, and it pushes the hair a fair bit into the head), and I've never had the hair fall out unless you really pull it out of the head (but customs aren't for play, so I feel it's safe. If I rehaired for play, I would use some sort of glue).

[banditpony]

I used an exacto blade handle with a cut needle. I don't remember what I used for glue..

[SkyCakes]

I use a tool method I used to use just floss and knot all the plugs myself. Though that was very tedious. So I use this method it works better for me. I just use glue to seal all the plugs when I am done.

[KottonKandy]

I use the needle & thread method with knotting the roots. I cannot stand the thought of filling the head with glue and hoping it holds. I do more restoration work than custom though. But like, what if in the future someone else wants to re-re-hair her and they're stuck because of giant wads of adhesive are now coated inside the head? It just sounds horrifying to me. It bothers me to the point where I simply don't buy re-hairs from those that use the glue method.

[glitterball]

Knot, thread + needle method.
Yep, it takes longer but it is super-precise and very secure (in that hair is unlikely to fall out if washed / boiled / styled) and easily undone with minimal damage to the pony should you decide to change the hair in the future!
I use this method for all of my G1 projects.

My tool kit:
Small scissors to cut away old hair.
Hemostats or tweezers to remove old root-balls from inside.
A long doll needle
Guterman extra strong thread (hardly ever breaks)
Nylon hair, pre-sorted into knotted plugs.
No glue!

I'm impressed with the speed of the tool/glue method but personally would save this for G4.

[Shaz]

Knot, needle and thread method here, I have the same reservations about glue as some others have mentioned. I don't really use glue much in my pony restorations - unless it's needed to repair a broken neck plug or similar problem - as I'm a bit paranoid about putting sticky substances on vintage ponies in case it causes future deterioration.
It's a time-consuming process but I love how shiny and new a rehaired pony looks! I've also trained my dad to rehair ponies and he's really quick at it: he's good with fiddly things like that.

[AnnaPommes]

I used to do the needle and floss thing, it ruined my thumbs (as in the joints now tend to lock). So I'm happy with my rehair tool. The glue I use is slightly thicker and usually keeps the hair in place just fine ^_^

This! The needle and floss method was not the best for my hands and i prefer the tool. ^^
But i make a knot and push the knot in, so i do not need to glue in later. is glueing more common? i bet it is indeed faster!

[pandabear_chan]

I use the needle & thread method with knotting the roots. I cannot stand the thought of filling the head with glue and hoping it holds. I do more restoration work than custom though. But like, what if in the future someone else wants to re-re-hair her and they're stuck because of giant wads of adhesive are now coated inside the head? It just sounds horrifying to me. It bothers me to the point where I simply don't buy re-hairs from those that use the glue method.

Good point here about future decisions, but I have to say that the correct glueing method is all that's necessary to achieve perfect results. You need a good glue that has the right consistency and a good tip with which you can dose it just on the roots. Then the correct storage position is important that helps the glue stay in place and not flowing everywhere. When you follow these tips you won't end with tons of glue in the head. Not buying customs/ rehairs for this reason I find a tad too much. Of course everyone can decide by its own.

[Baby Sugarberry]

Add me to the "would not buy a glued custom" crowd.  Most glue isn't stable long term.  It yellows, it dries out, it cracks, shrinks and changes pH.  I greatly prefer using mechanical methods of fastening hair that don't add yet another potential source of chemical damage to an already unstable material like vintage vinyl.   I want my customs to last for many decades, not mere months or years.   

[tailrustedtealeaf]

I plan on rehairing a Twilight Sparkle I got recently so I DID buy the tool just to try it. She's not super rare, not vintage...so it'll be worth a try I suppose.
Anna, your method sounds like a happy medium.
Bonus points for the knot and floss method: I don't have to run around finding suitable glue that I know won't give out on me.  It looks like MandaPanda uses Gorilla Glue on her customs' hair, but I can't find any information on how it ages...

[kingluke]

I basically reroot witht the needle and knot method, It's sturdy and I don't have to deal with glue.

[NightmareRara]

I use a method that doesn't involve a rerooting tool, and using wire and glue I don't have to remove the plug on a G4, which can go very wrong so I try to avoid it.