At Doll Art Shop, everything we do comes from a true love of silicone dolls — and a promise to give collectors the very best for their precious babies. Every artist and collector knows just how special these lifelike creations are. They’re not toys; they’re treasures, often years in the making and worthy of gentle, specialist care. That’s exactly why we are developing our very own Doll Art Shop Care Range — a collection of beautifully thought-out products designed to help you keep your silicone baby looking and feeling perfect for years to come.  These will be available in our online store (and at Doll Shows we attend) very soon!

Why Silicone Dolls Need Special Care
Silicone is wonderfully soft and realistic, but it also needs a little extra love. It attracts dust, lint and tiny fibres, and unlike vinyl or resin, it can react with some household cleaners, powders, or even fabrics. Using the wrong products can leave the surface tacky, shiny, or damaged — so after years of testing and teaching, we wanted to take away the guesswork and give collectors products made just for silicone art.
 
Each product in our range has been developed and tested in our own studio, made with collectors in mind and completely silicone-safe.  You can buy them individually or together as our complete Doll Art Shop Care Kit — perfect as a starter set or a thoughtful gift for any collector.
 
Baby Scent
Lightly spray onto clothing only. Do not apply directly to silicone. A soft, long-lasting baby fragrance to enhance cuddle time. Avoid mouth and eyes. Keep away from heat and flames.
Matting Powder
Dust lightly over skin with a soft brush to reduce friction and keep baby velvety soft. Silicone-safe powders only. Never use talc or cornstarch. Avoid eyes and mouth.
Care Liquid (Mouth Care Lubricant)
Apply a tiny amount to dummy/bottle teat before use. Water-based and silicone-safe. Avoid silicone-based lubricants or petroleum products. Wipe away excess with water if needed.
Silicone-Safe Baby Bath & Shampoo
Use warm water only. Smooth on gently with fingertips — no rubbing. Rinse well. Dab or air-dry. Avoid soap in the mouth. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat.
Mohair Care (Everyday Styling Water)
Mist hair lightly with Everyday Styling Water. Style gently with a soft brush or tail comb. Air dry only — no heat tools. Handle carefully around rooted areas.
Mohair Conditioner & Detangler
Spray onto brush, not directly on scalp. Style gently. Use sparingly. Silicone-safe. No heat tools. Avoid alcohol, oils, and silicone-based hair products.
 
Tested by Artists, Loved by Collectors
Each formula and tool has been personally tested by me in the studio, using the same professional-grade silicones and pigments found in the world’s top doll workshops. I wanted collectors to have access to the same level of quality and reliability that artists depend on every day.
These are not generic baby products — they’re made by a silicone artist, for silicone collectors.

Our Promise
At Doll Art Shop, our Care Kit is more than a product — it’s a promise to help you care for your little one with the same love and attention that went into creating them. Whether you’re a first-time collector or a lifelong artist, we hope our new Care Range brings you peace of mind, confidence, and that same joy we feel every time we hold a finished baby in our hands.

AVAILABLE VERY SOON !!!   A fabulous kit for the silicone doll collector, as a gift to yourself or to someone you care about.

Because every silicone baby deserves gentle care — and every collector deserves the very best.​

Some artists like to use a one-part professional silicone such as SAM-32 or Sil-Poxy for doll painting. Unlike traditional two-part platinum systems (like Psycho Paint), Sil-Poxy already contains its catalyst — it cures simply when exposed to air and adheres extremely well to cured silicone surfaces.
Advantages:

• Exceptionally strong adhesion — ideal for touch-ups, repairs, or fine details that need to stay put, or for dolls that will be handled a lot or perhaps in a less careful manner (such as a doll that might be used by a dementia patient or a child).
• No mixing required — quick and easy for small applications.

Drawbacks:

• Once cured, you cannot paint over it with standard platinum paints (such as Psycho Paint), as they won’t bond properly
• May end up more expensive if you paint the whole doll.

If you do choose to use SAM-32 or Sil-Poxy, always apply it sparingly and dilute it well with solvent, plan your layers carefully — it’s a wonderful adhesive and detail tool, and well worth experimenting with.  Although most artists only consider using it for areas of the doll that are problematic, or for fixing, some artists do use this silicone type successfully for painting the whole doll.

When painting silicone and reborn dolls, colour temperature is one of the most important elements in creating realistic skin tones. Artists often talk about warm and cool colours, but what exactly does that mean, and how does it affect the final look of your doll?

Warm Colours
Warm colours include reds, oranges, peaches, pinks, and yellows. These tones tend to advance visually—they make areas appear closer to the eye. On a reborn doll, warm hues are used to add life and vitality to the skin. For example:

• Blushing on the cheeks, elbows, and knees
• Adding warmth around the nose, lips, and fingertips
• Subtle layers of peach or coral washes to mimic blood flow under the skin

Used carefully, warm colours give your doll that “living glow,” making the complexion look healthy and lifelike.

Cool Colours
Cool colours include blues, purples, and certain greens. These tones recede visually—they push areas back and create depth. In doll painting, cool shades are often used to replicate undertones in the skin:

• Blue and lavender washes for veins and thin skin areas (like temples or wrists)
• Cool tones in shadowed areas, such as folds and creases, to create realism
• Gentle use around the eyes for a more translucent, natural look

Cool colours balance out the warmth so the skin doesn’t appear too flushed or flat.

Why the Balance Matters
Human skin is never just one colour—it’s a complex mix of warm and cool tones. By layering both, reborn artists achieve depth, translucency, and realism. Too much warmth can make a doll look sunburnt or artificial, while too much coolness can make the skin appear lifeless or bruised. The art lies in subtle layering and blending, so the finished piece captures the natural variation of living skin.

✨ In short:
​Warm colours bring energy and life, while cool colours add realism and depth. Mastering the balance between the two is what transforms a painted doll into a lifelike work of art.

The reborn and silicone doll community has been heavily targeted by scams, and unfortunately, it’s a growing problem. The fact that scammers steal artists’ photos and undercut real doll makers with too-good-to-be-true offers makes it very hard for buyers to know who to trust. The issue is compounded by counterfeit kits, poor-quality materials, and fraudulent websites with no real accountability.
Here are some ways buyers can protect themselves and spot red flags:

​How to Identify Scams in Reborn & Silicone Dolls

1. Price Too Good to Be True
   • Authentic reborn or silicone dolls are handmade art pieces that often take dozens (sometimes hundreds) of hours to complete. If a “full silicone baby” is being sold for £100–200, it’s a scam. Real ones usually cost thousands.
2. Stolen Photos
   • Scammers lift photos from real artists’ websites and social media. If the same photo appears across many cheap shopping sites (Wish, AliExpress, DHGate, random Facebook ads), it’s almost certainly stolen.
3. Generic / Fake Websites
   • Many fraudulent shops use vague names like “Best Baby Doll Store” or “Reborns Outlet.” They often lack:
     • Artist name and contact details
     • About page or studio information
     • Clear return/refund policies
4. Copied Kits & Dangerous Materials
   • Fake kits may look similar to real ones but are produced with cheap vinyl or silicone, sometimes with toxic fillers. Real reborn kits come from legitimate sculptors and distributors.

Safer Ways to Buy Legitimate Dolls

• Buy Directly From Known Artists
  • Look for artists who sign or certificate their work. Many have Facebook, Instagram, Etsy, or Reborns.com profiles with customer reviews, or their own website in their own name or nursery name.
• Check for Certificates of Authenticity (COA)
  • Real kits and dolls come with COAs from the sculptor. If a seller can’t provide one, it’s likely fake.
• Use Trusted Marketplaces
  • Reborns.com, Dollfan, and artist-run websites are generally safer than mass-market platforms like eBay, Amazon, or Wish.
• Pay Safely
  • Use PayPal “Goods and Services,” not wire transfers, gift cards, or “friends & family” payments. That way you can dispute fraudulent transactions.

Quick Red Flags for Buyers

• Prices way below market (£100-200 for a full silicone baby).
• Websites with stolen or stock photos.
• No artist name, no history, no studio info.
• Sellers refusing to show “real-time” photos or videos of the doll.
• No COA for the sculpt.

Buyer’s Checklist: Avoiding Doll Scams

Safe Buying Steps

1. Check the Price
   • Authentic reborn dolls: usually £300–£1,500+.
   • Full silicone dolls: usually £2,000–£10,000+.
   • Anything offered for £100–£200 is almost certainly a scam.
2. Look for Artist Information
   • Legit artists proudly list their name, studio, and contact info.
   • Be cautious if the site has no "About Me" page or contact details.
3. Ask for Real Photos/Videos
   • Request current photos (with a piece of paper showing today’s date) or short videos.
   • Scammers rely on stolen stock photos—they usually cannot provide this.
4. Check for Certificates of Authenticity (COA)
   • Real kits/dolls come with a COA from the sculptor.
   • If no COA is available, it may be a fake copy.
5. Research the Seller
   • Google their shop name + “scam” or “reviews.”
   • Search images to see if photos appear on multiple scam sites.
6. Use Safe Payment Methods
   • PayPal “Goods & Services” = protection for buyers.
   • Never pay by wire transfer, gift cards, or PayPal “Friends & Family.”

Red Flags of a Scam

• Too-good-to-be-true prices.
• Websites with many baby photos but no artist credit.
• No return/refund policy.
• Stock descriptions (“cute baby doll toy”) instead of art-focused details.
• Refusal to show proof of the actual doll.

Trusted Places to Buy

• Directly from artists (via their websites, Facebook, or Instagram).
• Reborns.com and DollFan (established communities).
• Reputable kit distributors (MacPherson Arts & Crafts, Bountiful Baby, Irresistables, etc.).

​The world of lifelike baby dolls has grown into a fascinating art form, with two main paths for artists: reborning vinyl kits and silicone artistry. While both result in beautiful, realistic creations, the processes, materials, and skills required are very different. Whether you’re curious about starting a new hobby or looking to expand your artistry, understanding these differences will help you choose the path that’s right for you.

1. Materials

• Vinyl Kits
  Reborn dolls are created from pre-made vinyl doll kits. These kits usually include the head, arms, and legs in unpainted vinyl, ready to be transformed. Vinyl is a firm but lightweight material, easy to handle and forgiving for beginners.
• Silicone Dolls
  Silicone artistry uses platinum-cure silicone, a soft and flexible material that feels much more like human skin. Silicone babies can bend, squish, and move naturally, which gives them an ultra-realistic look and feel. However, silicone is more delicate and requires specialist handling.

2. Painting Techniques

• Vinyl Reborning
  Artists use heat-set paints (such as Genesis paints which are now unavailable) or air-dry paints, applying thin layers to build realistic skin tones. Each layer is baked or cured to set the paint permanently. Vinyl holds colour beautifully but can appear more "finished" or less translucent compared to silicone.
• Silicone Painting
  Silicone must be painted with pigments designed specifically to bond with silicone (such as SAM pigments). Artists use very thin washes, sponges, and brushes to create natural translucency. Silicone painting is often considered more challenging because mistakes can’t be removed easily, and the medium behaves differently from paint on vinyl.

3. Rooting Hair

• Vinyl Dolls
  Hair can be micro-rooted strand by strand, glued inside the head, or applied as painted hair. Vinyl heads are hard, so rooting requires patience, but they hold hair securely once sealed.
• Silicone Dolls
  Rooting into silicone is softer but more delicate. The process creates incredibly realistic results, especially with fine mohair or alpaca. Because silicone remains flexible, rooted hair can move and behave very naturally. However, it also requires special care to avoid tearing.

4. Assembly

• Vinyl Reborns
  Once painted and rooted, vinyl parts are weighted and attached to a cloth body with cable ties or stringing. This makes the dolls lightweight and poseable.
• Silicone Babies
  Full-body silicone dolls don’t need cloth bodies — they are poured as one complete piece or in sections that are joined seamlessly. This gives them lifelike weight, movement, and realism. The trade-off is that silicone babies are heavier and more fragile.

5. Care & Durability

• Vinyl
  Vinyl reborns are sturdy and relatively easy to care for. They can be handled gently without worry, making them popular with collectors and beginners.
• Silicone
  Silicone dolls require more delicate care. Their soft surface can pick up lint or damage if not treated properly, and they need to be handled like a real newborn. Collectors love them for their realism, but they are less forgiving for play or frequent handling.

6. Cost & Accessibility

• Vinyl Kits
  Reborning a vinyl kit is more affordable and accessible, making it the best entry point for beginners. Kits, paints, and rooting supplies are widely available, and many tutorials exist to guide new artists.
• Silicone Artistry
  Working with silicone is more expensive, both in terms of materials and the tools required. Because of the complexity and skill involved, silicone babies are considered the pinnacle of realism and command higher prices on the collector’s market.

Final Thoughts
​Both reborning vinyl kits and creating silicone babies are rewarding art forms. Vinyl offers a wonderful introduction to the craft — perfect for learning painting and rooting techniques at a more affordable cost. Silicone artistry, while more advanced and delicate, produces dolls with unmatched realism in look and feel.
For many artists, vinyl reborning is the first step on a journey that eventually leads to silicone. Whichever path you choose, both forms celebrate the beauty of lifelike artistry and the joy of bringing a baby doll to life.