Hair...how much is a hank?

[Convincing John]

Hi, everyone. I'm working on a puppet that will need hair. I've read a lot of the hair-related threads on here that have helped me out a lot...but I have a question. How much is a "hank" of hair? Here's the hair I've been looking at. Go to this link, http://www.clothdollsupply.com/hair5.html and scroll down to where it says "Synthetic Spirals". It says "picture shows one whole hank". The kind I'd really like to have for my puppet, though, is the "Synthetic Fancy Curls", which is just a scroll or two lower on the website. I'm assuming that this is a "hank" as well.

Okay, now the puppet I'm making has a head diameter of 25 inches...and the hair needs to be all "fluffy and wavy", and shoulder length (for the puppet). I found these pictures of Gloria Estefan that come extremely close to the style hair I need.

http://www.divastation.com/gloria_estefan/estefan_biopix/estefan_b&w.gif

http://www.compuserve.nl/celebrities/data/Gloria Estefan/lg1.jpg

See? Now I'm wondering how much a "hank" is, and if it would be simpler to buy a wig that looks like that...or to buy some "hanks". Anyone know how much a "hank" is?

Convincing John

 

[scarylarrywolf]

Herbert Humphrey hacked a hank of hoary hair; a hank of hoary hair Herbert Humphrey hacked. If Herbert Humphrey hacked a hank of hoary hair, how much hoary hair did Herbert Humphrey hack?

Sorry, that was H-orrible. I should put this on the SS boards.

Unfortunately I don't have a clue as to what a hank is, but at least you have a nice little tongue twister to help you in your quandry!

 

[ravagefrackle]

well it seems to tell you prices on the site, ie price wise, and lenght, a hank of wig hair seem to look like the extensions women can by at wig shops, or store that specialize in afro american beauty supplies, i think it might be easier to just get a wig and trim it to fit your puppet , sort of like what we did on avenue Q

 

[Puppetplanet]

It is my understanding that a hank of hair is a bunch of hair strands usually held together with string or a rubber band. They are LOOSE strands of hair that are used to braid into human hair as extensions. Not sure of the standard amount offered in a hank but I beleive it is weighed in ounces. You would need several hanks to complete one puppet, depending on the length of hair you are gonig for.

If you go this route, I would use weft hair packs which come in a variety of different lengths, colors, and styles. Weft hair pieces are strands which have been sewn to a long thin strip of ribbon or fabric and can be applied to a puppets head much easier. That particular site has a tutorial photo collection of the exact method which most people use to apply this type of hair. Here is the link:

http://www.clothdollsupply.com/curls.html

If you can find a wig in the style that you need, it is still much easier and less time consuming.

Hope this helps,
-Michele

 

[Buck-Beaver]

Yeah, what Ravagefrackle said. I'd buy a wig.