For a customizing noob - how would you start?

[Loa]

When I first began collecting 4 million years ago, I tried customising, with needles and SO much frustration!

I would actually love to get back into it - where would you recommend a basic NOOB to start?

[kaoskat]

Well...... First, you should figure out a design. Then once you know what you want to make, we can help you figure out what it takes to get there. A few things to consider when planning are:

What pose/generation to you want to use?

Will you want to do a full body repaint or will you need to find a bait with a decent body in the right color?

Do you want to keep the original hair or rehair or even maybe sculpt hair?

[tikibirds]

REHAIRING TOOL!! SO much easier then the needle/thread method. 
Although not sure where you get them as I got mine via ladydaydreamer back in the day. I would think Ebay or maybe restoredoll.com

[ponygirl74]

REHAIRING TOOL!! SO much easier then the needle/thread method. 
Although not sure where you get them as I got mine via ladydaydreamer back in the day. I would think Ebay or maybe restoredoll.com

DollyHair has a rehair/reroot tool- good idea to buy extra reroot needles .

[ZennaBug]

Definitely the rehair tool, I bought mine from poppers forever ago and it hasn't broken yet.

I like doing FBRs, but I might be in the minority there.  You have to water the paint way down and let it dry between coats to avoid brush strokes and it can take HOURS depending on what color you are going for.

I'd pick a simple design at first, I went a little overboard on my first customs lol.

And also... PICS!

[Saja]

^^ all of the above, plus read all the tutorials in the custom tutorial section, theyre all amazingly helpful!!! have fun and practise!

[Raindrop]

I would say, start simple and experiment with new techniques as you go on!  A lot of people start with simple rehairs, and then experiment with their own symbols.  Painting eyes can be one of the trickiest parts; I practiced a lot on plastic lids before actually painting on a pony.  Sometimes it can help to sketch out what you want to paint lightly in pencil or sketching on tissue paper and transferring it to the pony first before tackling it with a paintbrush.

A FBR might be a bit overwhelming if you're just starting, so you might try just a rehair with new eyes and symbol to start, and when you feel more comfortable with that try FBRs.

[ponygirl74]

Definitely the rehair tool, I bought mine from poppers forever ago and it hasn't broken yet.

I like doing FBRs, but I might be in the minority there.  You have to water the paint way down and let it dry between coats to avoid brush strokes and it can take HOURS depending on what color you are going for.

I'd pick a simple design at first, I went a little overboard on my first customs lol.

And also... PICS!

I've used airbrush paint for my customs - It's already thinned down  but the same goes as stated above for them - let them dry between coats.

[sweetlittlejenny]

I believe with my very first custom I just jumped right in, lol.
I had an idea based on my mother and ran with it.
A FBR with a brush, rehair and sculpting, lol.
But there wasn't any real pressure because she didn't know I was doing it so no one was expecting anything of me.

That's the way to go I think. Just get an idea and run with it. And if it doesn't turn out as intended at least you learned something, hopefully, along the way.
Start with a concept you like though. Don't try to do something you're not into just because it's hard or someone else would like it. I think you'll get better results working on something that will make you happy in the end. It's less daunting and less stressful that way.
Take your time and enjoy the process!

[MANIMAL!]

Start at the very beginning--a very good place to start.
When you learn to read you start with ABC.
When you learn to make a custom you start with do, re, mi.
The first three customs just happen to be, do re me.
Do re mi fa so la ti. . . Wait. . .

[kCherry]

Did you get all that, Loa?

[Strawberry Swirl]

I'd probably start out painting blind bags you don't want. They're the easiest imho.
Then, work your way up! :>

[cleverLC]

I started out with a G4, which is NOT the best for a beginner because their necks are different!  I did a FBR and rehair to make a Pinkie Pie into my OC.

I'd recommend starting with fakies while you get used to your techniques.  They're cheap and easy to find on ebay, plus a lot of them have really cute molds that just need a better paint job or nicer hair!  Plus, you don't feel quite as bad if you accidentally mess up a fakie. >.>