Eyebrows
Eyebrows shape a doll's facial expression. They largely determine whether the face is perceived as "alive". For a TPE head, only one type of eyebrow is available: painted.
How it works
The eyebrows are hand painted by an artist during the head's make-up stage. With quality brands, the painting is done in several layers, imitating individual hairs and their direction of growth, so painted eyebrows look convincing.
The shape and colour of the eyebrows are set by that particular head's make-up template. They can't be changed after production without repainting.
Why only painted
Implanted eyebrows, available for hard and ROS heads on silicone dolls, aren't possible with TPE. The same rule applies as with hair: the denser the material, the better it holds implanted hairs. TPE is too soft and elastic, and hairs implanted in it fall out quickly.
Some manufacturers do still offer implanted eyebrows for TPE heads. We strongly advise against this option. Eyebrows are in the most visible spot on the doll, and unevenly thinned implanted eyebrows look considerably worse than neatly painted ones. And they thin out fast.
Caring for painted eyebrows
- Don't rub the eyebrow area when washing the head. Blot rather than wipe.
- Don't use harsh cleaning products on the doll's face. Only mild soap and cool water.
- When applying talc to the face, don't rub it into the eyebrow area, apply it with light patting motions.
Should you worry about not having a choice
In our view, no. Painted eyebrows are the standard that all TPE heads are designed around, and the make-up templates have been refined by factories over years. The doll in the studio photographs is shown with exactly these painted eyebrows: what you see is what you get.