Strainghten clear tinsel. Is it possible?

[Pierlala]

Hello,

After obtaining a set of 2 beautiful Pony Brides, (Bridal Beauty and Bride Pony). I decided to straighten their tinsel. It wasn't super messy to begin with. So after taking a hair straighter, even on the lowest setting. I tries straightning it and I was soooooo upset. It got all curly and very messy/jumpy. I sold them for a small price on a local website. But I now once again opbtained a Bride. Her tinsel is quite messy but not ruined. I really want to try and straighten it. But don't know how and I am affraid to ruin it again. I never had issues with normal tinsel. It always turns out beautiful. But clear tinsel is a pain.

Does anyone have any tips or pictures?

Thank you!

[Crowning_Glory13]

Sorry no before or after pictures. I have done the conditioner method. I would use a flat item that is ok to get wet. I used a piece from a card board box. I wrapped the box with paper towels. Drenched the head and tail with conditioner. I would lay the hair flat on the cardboard. I really made sure it was almost glues flat to the cardboard. Hence covering the cardboard with paper towel. I would take another piece of card board wrapped in a paper towel and place it on top with force and bind it. I use rubber bands to hold the pieces of cardboard together. Basically making a flat sandwich with cardboard and the ponies hair as the meat. I leave it for a few days or longer depending how bad.

Hope this helps.

[Pierlala]

Oh wow. That sounds complicated! Thanks for the tip. I never heatd of thef method before.

I read a little about boiling the hair? But I am affraid to try it. I think it will givr me the same result as flat ironing it.

Also. With the conditioner method. Do you wash out the conditioner afterwards? If so. Do you use cold or hot water?

[Epona]

When you used the flat iron was it soaked in conditioner? And did you do it in locks of hair or individual tinsel strands?

I`ve had some success boiling it and some success with a handheld steamer.
After I`ve straightened it I put a paper towel on a flat surface, comb/pull the hair straight out from the body coated in conditioner, put a paper towel over it and press a heavy text book/phone book on top of it. And leave it to dry for a week under pressure.

[Elfpony]

Oh wow. That sounds complicated! Thanks for the tip. I never heatd of thef method before.

I read a little about boiling the hair? But I am affraid to try it. I think it will givr me the same result as flat ironing it.

Also. With the conditioner method. Do you wash out the conditioner afterwards? If so. Do you use cold or hot water?

Always rinse the conditioner out, whatever method you're using.

Elf

[LadyMoondancer]

In my experience heat is the enemy when it comes to tinsel.  It makes it curl and frizzle.

[Pierlala]

Ugh...

Well, indeed heat is what messed up my Brides. First the straightner and then I tried boiling it out, but it only got worse. The tail hair even became frizzy. So I will never do that again.

As I read it seems like the conditioner method isthe best. But I assume it must be washed out with cold water then?

[LadyMoondancer]

I think ordinary hot water would be okay.

[FarDreamer]

I wet the hair, put in a lot of conditioner, then run a flat iron set to low over it quickly and haven't had problems.  I definitely wouldn't leave it on the hair very long. 

[Stormness_1]

Clear tinsel does NOT respond well to heat! I always use the cold water and conditioner then either flattening by placing something heavy on top, or popping in curlers. I only ever use heat treatments on coloured tinsel, or hair without tinsel at all.

[StarZetRaven]

I have successfully straightened clear tinsel with heat but ONLY if the hair is REALLY wet (and also with a little conditioner in it). And even that makes me nervous so I've only done it in cases where the hair really needs straightening and I'm ok with detinseling should it go wrong.
Before, with crinkly tinsel and dry hair:
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After, straightening the sopping wet hair it is much smoother:
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[Pierlala]

Oh wow that's a great result! Thanks for sharing the picture.

I have straghtened it before while it was wet with anti-burn protection but that gave horrible results. Because the substance will burn into the hair what makes the hair stiff and really ugly overall.

But yours turned out great. I do think the G3 tinsel is from a softer material then the G1. So it might be that as well.

[Skeen]

I've straightened all types/gens/colors of tinsel with no issues.  The key is to be quick and never leave the heat on it for more than a split second.