My not-so-budget Jack Sparrow build

OK, so I've got almost everything I need for the new wig, except I probably have to buy a lot more fake dread hair. Problem is, there are some things that are totally throwing me for a loop with this wig. I was really hoping that one of the members here would come through and answer my questions so that I could get it done on time, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. So I guess I'll post my difficulties here and maybe if I'm lucky some of you will be able to help me. I only have about two weeks to finish the thing AND put about 20 button holes in my waistcoat, and finals are the week of the premiere. So I basically only have a week to actually work on it.

1. Are there ANY shots of the wig from the back? I haven't been able to find a single one and thus have no idea how many dreads are back there/how to make the large braid.

2. Related, what all goes into the braid? I seem to remember three dreads from somewhere, but then how much hair is actually in there, lace wrap, etc?

3. How do you make dreads that transition from one color at the top to a lighter color at the bottom?

4. Any tips or products that will stop dreads from unraveling permanently?

5. Has anybody found a lampwork bead, bouquet tassel, or dread cuff that will work? Forget about accuracy, I just need something to put in the wig, even if it's just a place holder.

6. Is the bouguet tassel at the end of the dread coming out of the side ponytail?

7. Related to the back of the wig picture, where do the two skulls, skull coin, and coins with belly dancer ball attach?
 
I've received some great feedback via PM, but I'm still a little lost on dread making. I tried out a clothing steamer as was recommended by Capt Jack Savvy and it had the opposite effect, it actually straightened and smoothed the hair. The dread unraveled as I took it off the hook. This is the biggest problem I'm having with the wig, is there ANY way to make them stop unraveling? There must be, because I've seen a really good shot of the real wig and the dreads aren't made with the kinky hair, they look exactly like mine before they've sat and uncurled for a few days. I literally have to do almost nothing to them, they just uncurl. Is there a glue or other product that will lock them in place? (please note, I'm not skimping on the backcombing, these things are extremely ratty before I twist them)

That's all I need to know to actually have a wearable costume in 2 weeks. If I want it to look right though, I would also really like to know how to make the dread change color from the top to the bottom. There are a lot of dreads in the new wig that do that. I'm basically freaking out right now because I've gone way over my head with this project and it's kicking my a** now. Trying to make my own wig was a mistake, but I'm in the hole now and need to make it work somehow.
 
I always leave some loose hairs at the ending of the dread, take a needle, and sew the hairs in. That way the dread keeps staying in the right shape. But then again, I don't really work with a twisting method...
 
TurboTrey03 said:
what's your method mr. dutchman?
Click to expand...

I just really work the synthetic hair by rubbing it between my fingers and the palms of my hands. After a while, the hair turns from straight (european) into frizz (african). Frizz hair almost works like velcro, it sticks together naturally.
To make sure the dreads keep the stub ends, I do the sewing at the ends.

There is a downside though, it takes a looooooong time to make one.By the time I have the wig exactly as I want it, I'll be At World's End!! :)))
 
Another thing, the long blond dreads in the OST-wig are pretty much straight hair, messed up and dreaded off course, but still.
If you look closely, you can actually see a thread goin' around the dread. So apparently the person who made those had the same problem keeping the dreads in the right thickness.

Hope this helps,
Cheers
 
So you think maybe if I wrap thread around all of the dreads I can get them to hold in place? It would take a little longer, but it would be well worth it if its a permanent solution. I've been informed that the straight hair dreads will have to be re-steamed every other time I wear the wig, and no matter how good they look I think that's a complete and utter waste of time and a pain that's just not worth it. The Jack that walked around Disney very clearly had straight dreads that looked amazing, and I can't see the guy that walks around the park all day over and over again having to have his wig redone every single day. It's not practical, therefore there must be a solution.
 
The thread thing didn't work one bit. The dread just unraveled with a pinched in spiral where the thread was.

I'll reiterate, there is NO WAY the costume designers used dreads that would come apart every other day on set. They would have found a way to hold them together.

EDIT: However, a double helix thread-wrap, while much more visible from a greater distance) is doing the job quite nicely. I think I've found a winner.
 
I was just looking at the blonde dread pic again, and I'm pretty sure that one is actually a regular blonde dread with straight blonde hair double-helixed around it and tufting out at the end. It looks like the spiraling thread is just backup to hold the two different hair types together. At least that's how I'm seeing it. I'll definitely be making that blonde dread in the same way, I think it's pretty cool.
 
OK, here's the right side of the face. The front is on the right and the back is at the left.

DSC02100.jpg


Once all the super glue is dry I'll back-comb them all to the correct length and thickness and then boil them. I've been at this for about 6 hours today and I intend to finish this side of the face by the end of the night. Once they're all dry I'm going to cover them in this stuff I got today called Jamaican Mango and Lime Locking Creme Wax. It's a little greasy, but I tried it on one of my test dreads and while it did still come unraveled, it snapped back to almost its original shape. I'll still probably use thread to hold them all together, but the wax is still great for keeping the loose hairs in check.
 
Get yourself a crochet hook, mate! You can end up with dreads that look like this, and require very little to no maintenance, so no worries about them coming undone.

IMG00579-20110515-1940.jpg
 
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I've seen a video of the crochet hook, but doesn't that just poke stray hairs back inside? How does that do anything to keep the dread twisted?
 
This sounds pretty similar to felting. You start with loose wool fibers, then take a needle with a small hook and you stab the wool with it repeatedly until it all knits together in a firm tight shape. I think it'd definitely solve your unravelling problem.
 
Talk to Angel about it next Saturday - she's the felting expert and can probably give you some good advice.
 
I tried out the crochet hook on one of my dreads and it definitely helped. The hair is way straighter than the stuff in your dread there so it doesn't look like that at all, but it seems to be mostly holding together. If I had more time left I'd put more time into crocheting each dread, but unfortunately I don't. Here's where I'm at right now:

Right side:
DSC02109.jpg


Left side and back braid:
DSC02110.jpg
 
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