Nothing lasts forever. We’ve all heard it many times before and in the BJD hobby, it’s something every doll owner must come face-to-face with in the hobby: yellowing.
Ball-jointed dolls can be made from a variety of materials. Common materials that have been used to make ball-jointed dolls range from polyurethane resin, bisque or porcelain, vinyl, and ABS plastic. Today, modern BJDs are typically made from polyurethane resin–a type of copolymer that forms when an alcohol reacts with an isocyanate. Science aside, polyurethane resin has many uses. It hardens quickly, has medium viscosity so that it can be shaped easily, and can be mixed with many additives and inhibitors. Unfortunately, this type of resin is well-known for being extremely insensitive to UV light.
Ball-jointed dolls can be yellow for a variety of reasons such as being exposed to the UV rays from the sunlight, humidity, and air pollution. Even a simple indoor lamp or flash from a camera can cause a doll to yellow if left on the doll’s resin for too long. Though yellowing is usually a gradual process, it can be sped up if the doll is poorly maintained. The bad news is nothing will stop your doll from yellowing. Much like human beings, dolls age and change too. Though a doll never truly loses its beauty simply for yellowing, there are ways to slow down the process of yellowing in doll resin:
- Keep your dolls away from direct sunlight or strong UV light sources for long periods of time. If you’re taking outdoor photographs with your dolls, avoid keeping them out for too long. The same goes when taking shots of your BJDs indoors. Even using something like a ring light can cause yellowing over time.
- Store your dolls in a cool, dry place with low humidity. The higher the humidity, the more likely the resin is going to absorb the moisture in the air, which can lead to discoloration and yellowing.
- Do not expose your dolls to chemicals such as household cleaners, perfumes, and other strong chemicals. If you accidentally spray your doll with a chemical not meant for the BJD, wash it with warm soap and water as quickly as you can.
- Clean your dolls regularly with a soft lint-free cloth to remove dust and dirt. You can also use a “magic eraser”, which you can purchase easily from your local grocery or retailer.
- Air pollution such as smoking can stain your walls, so imagine what it does to your dolls.
- Store your dolls in their boxes. Of course, it can seem disheartening to keep your doll in its box given how expensive these dolls can be. Many owners enjoy leaving their dolls out for display, but if you’re particularly paranoid about your doll(s) yellowing, keep them in their boxes (in a cool, dry place).
- Use a UV-cut sealant such as Mr. Super Clear on your doll’s body and face. This creates a coating between your doll’s actual resin and the coat protecting it. Essentially want UV-cut sealant does is leave a protective layer over your doll. If your dolls are already yellowed, you can try soaking it in a hydrogen peroxide and water solution. Simply add one part hydrogen peroxide and five parts water. Leave the doll parts in the solution for several hours and then rinse. If you don’t see results right away, try repeating this process.
Oxi Clean Stain Remover is also another way to de-yellow your dolls. Simply dissolve the powder in water and then pour the solution over the doll’s yellowed parts and leave for several hours. Much like the hydrogen peroxide solution, make sure to wash your doll afterward. If you find that your doll is still extremely yellowed, you could also try dyeing the doll’s resin to a different skin tone altogether. However, this process can be difficult for those new to the BJD hobby and it is recommended to use a tester doll before the doll you plan to dye.
Remember that ultimately prevention is the best way to avoid yellowing in BJD resin, but the process itself is a natural part of a BJDs “life cycle”.
Useful Links:
Deyellowing an old BJD-Lomi’s Playground
BJDs and Yellowing-PinotNoirIceCreamBar
How to remove yellowing from old plastic (retrobright) the BEST method-Odd Experiments