Introducing Sofubi Wigs

The Sofubi Wigs are ready for prime time.

But as usual, I won’t be telling you why I think they are the bee’s knees. Instead, I’m going to tell you all the reasons why you may want to sit this one out, or perhaps wait to hear from the horse’s mouth when other customers get their hands on them before deciding.

After all, in this day and age, how can anybody trust what a maker says about their own product? :-)

Sofubi Wigs are made from the same type of soft vinyl material used for Smart Doll bodies.

Unlike traditional fiber wigs, where the final look relies heavily on styling skill, Sofubi Wigs are molded. This gives them a more consistent look and also lets us create stylized hair shapes that resemble the gravity-defying physics of anime and manga. :-)

They’re also much easier to maintain. No brushing, detangling or styling is required, which some folks may appreciate.

Each wig is made from two halves that connect. Folks who saw an earlier video on Instagram may remember that we originally used magnets, but after more testing, we found they weren’t strong enough and occasionally popped out. The production version now uses ribbed pegs instead, which provide a much more secure fit.

The Sofubi Wig comes with both halves connected. Before installation, gently prise the two halves apart using the same method shown in Video 2 below.

Place the back half of the wig around the back of the Smart Doll head, align the ribbed pegs with the holes on the front half, then push the two halves together one side at a time as shown in Video 1. Make sure the pegs are pushed all the way in for a secure fit.

To remove the wig, gently prise the two halves apart as shown in Video 2.

Once installed, give the wig a little wriggle if you feel the fringe is sitting too high or too low.

Unlike our fiber wigs, which have elastic caps that naturally grip the head, Sofubi Wigs are rigid. They may therefore wriggle around slightly while you pose the head (image 1 above). Simply adjust the wig back into your preferred position as shown in image 2 above.

If yours moves around more than you’d like, a small amount of Blu Tack or similar can help, although we haven’t generally found this necessary and have not included any with the wig.

This wig is the first product of its kind that we know of at this size made in sofubi, so there isn’t much precedent to work from. It’s therefore important to set expectations.

Engineering
Engineering was a hair-pulling experience (which is why I don’t have any left).

The wigs were modeled in ZBrush, but getting them to work as Sofubi in the real world was another matter. The flat part of the funnel is the top of the mold, so ideally the hair strands need to face downward for gravity to help the liquid vinyl reach their tips. However, the strands also need to be shaped so the finished part can actually be removed from the mold without creating undercuts that lock it inside.

At the same time, we had to figure out where the flash would form so it could be cleanly cut away while still allowing the front and back halves to fit together.

We ended up creating three pairs of molds, for a total of six molds. Each physical mold taught us something that couldn’t necessarily be predicted in ZBrush, which informed the design of the next one. Something always comes from something. Nothing always comes from nothing. :-)

I initially avoided sharing the funnel design online because it would make the manufacturing technique easier to copy, but I’ve since changed my mind. If other makers can learn from what we’ve done and create more options for consumers, that’s ultimately a good thing.

Sharing it also gives folks a better idea of what goes into producing two relatively small pieces of vinyl. As you can see, each funnel is huge, roughly the size of a Smart Doll bust, but that volume and shape are needed to get the vinyl where it needs to go while still allowing the finished part to be removed from the mold.

Rather than hiding this stuff, I think it’s better that you can see what goes into making one.

Designed for Smart Doll
Sofubi Wigs were designed specifically around Smart Doll heads, including the shape and position of the ears.

You’re welcome to try them on other doll brands and share your findings, but as always, we can’t accept returns from folks who specifically purchased a Smart Doll product hoping that it would fit another brand.

It’s Plastic Hair
If you don’t like molded plastic hair, like the kind found on many figurines, you probably won’t like Sofubi Wigs.

Folks who don’t particularly enjoy maintaining traditional fiber wigs, however, may find this to be a happy middle ground. :-)

Staining and Surface Contact
We haven’t experienced staining with Sofubi Wigs during testing, but we’re still giving them the same high-risk stain rating as all our fiber wigs.

Fiber wigs can leave stains, oils, or indentations after prolonged contact with vinyl. We don’t have years of long-term data for Sofubi Wigs yet, so we’d rather set expectations conservatively.

There Is a Visible gap
The wig is made from two hemispheres, so there will naturally be a visible gap between them.

We’ve sculpted some of the hair to flow around the join to help disguise it, but the gap can still be visible from certain angles and may bother some folks.

Due to the nature of Sofubi production, there can also be slight variations between individual pieces, meaning some wigs may have a slightly more visible gap than others.

Painted Versions Can Scuff
The metallic purple version shown here is painted. Dropping it onto a hard surface, scraping it or scratching it can permanently scuff the paint, so please handle painted versions accordingly.

Should You Get One?
Sofubi Wigs aren’t intended to replace traditional fiber wigs. They’re simply another option.

If you enjoy brushing and styling fiber wigs, you may prefer to stick with them. If you prefer something you can pop on without brushing, detangling or styling, or you like the sculpted anime and manga aesthetic, Sofubi Wigs may be your cuppa tea.

And if you’re still not sure, there is absolutely no need to be an early adopter.

Wait until other Smart Doll owners get theirs, check out their photos and impressions, and then decide whether Sofubi Wigs are for you. :-)