So I ran into this problem while using Acetone to Shrink A Head....

[Plastic Vulcan]

As the title says, I was shrinking a head and it went fine overall except for this one minor thing. The only problem was that the head had brown paint for hair. It came off during the shrinking process. That's fine, I knew that it would and I want to paint the hair another color anyway.

THE PROBLEM IS that the brown paint mixed with the Acetone, creating a type of skin dye on the head, giving the skin a bronze, suntanned look. I can live with it if I have to even if it means the head no longer matches the new body any more but I was wondering if anyone knew a method to restore the head to the original paler tone? Would applying benzoyl peroxide or bleach restore it to the original coloring? Is there something else?

[CrimsonGhost]

I once tried shrinking a zombie Mego head and had reused acetone that I had shrunk something red in and the acetone had a watered down kool-aid look to it. I didn't care since I intended to mold and cast the zombie Mego head, but I was surprised to find that the residual red dye had stained the vinyl and cured the zombie problem. The head is now a nice flesh color and has yet to fade and I did this over 10 years ago.

Sorry, I don't have any suggestions, just another cautionary tale.

[EMCE Hammer]

You could try redipping it in a clean jar of fresh acetone in the hopes that the color from the paint leaches back out, but I'm not optimistic

[sprytel]

You could try redipping it in a clean jar of fresh acetone in the hopes that the color from the paint leaches back out, but I'm not optimistic

This was my thought too.

[Plastic Vulcan]

I've already tried dipping it in fresh acetone. It didn't seem to have any effect on it. Thank you anyways guys.

[rche]

I would be interested to know if a peroxide cream treatment would help out. It might do something to draw the dye out if the color is just in the top layer of the material.

[Plastic Vulcan]

rche, I was thinking the same thing. I think I'll buy some Benzoyl Peroxide and give it a shot. Do you think bleach would damage the vinyl?

[rche]

I would stick with the peroxide. I have used that on many stains with great results and no damage.

[Plastic Vulcan]

It worked. Thank you.

[rche]

awesome! Did you happen to take any before - after pics?