Fursuit Head Care

 

Owning a fursuit is both an amazing and taxing experience. Fursuit upkeep is a very important part of owning a suit of any kind. Brushing and Fursuit spray only can do so much for keeping your suit just like new. Together we will go over the ins and outs of owning and cleaning a Crystal Spirit Studios made suit. 

The Basics

Fursuits are often made with materials consisting of Resin, Foam, and expanding Flex foam. All of these can yellow over time due to UV light or simply age. The furs used for suits are synthetic based faux fur. These materials are all very sensitive to heat. Fur can be damaged beyond repair, becoming crinkled, crunchy, and even burnt. Foam can burn and warp over time, and when exposed to smoke from cigarettes and vape pens it can absorb those chemicals and become very unhealthy for the wearer. Resin can melt, burn, warp as well as shatter if dropped or hit with a hard object. Be aware of what your suit is made out of so you can maintain it properly. 

 

Brushing 

It is important to brush your suit. Some suits will use long faux furs, minky fabric, or fleece. When brushing your suit, it is important to brush in the direction of how the fur lays. Brushing against the direction of the fur can give it a scruffy look. 

You should use wire brushes for longer furs and soft bristle brushes for minky furs. Fleece should never be brushed, as brushing fleece can cause the texture of the fabric to change and can cause fuzz to form over time. Brushing your suit during drying can prevent kinks and bends in the fur and prevent your suit from looking scruffy and undesirable. 

 

Foam care

Foam in a suit is very forgiving! It can be squished and dropped with little to no damage, however it should not be pulled on. Foam is durable but it can tear and rip. 

 

Washing

When deep washing a foam head, it can normally be fully submerged in cold water. Fursuit soaps can be used directly onto the fur. Airbrushed and painted parts should be avoided when using water, fursuit shampoos, and detergents, because the paint can be damaged or fading can occur. For this reason, they should not be machine washed but hand washed instead, with careful measures taken to avoid the airbrushing and/or paint. Taking paper towels and covering the eyes is a common way of protecting the paint in and around the eye. 

 

When using cleaning products, it is very important to wash out all of the cleaning product of your choice. Simply continue rinsing until the water runs clear. 

 

It is extremely important to wash your suit on a warm day, or have your suit dry in a warm dry environment when washing a foam head. You can set up a fan underneath the head so it can dry faster or have multiple fans running so the head can dry fast. If left wet for too long, foam heads can grow mildew, bacteria, and mold. Do not leave your head in a humid environment while drying or the possibility of molding will increase.

 

DO NOT EVER PLACE YOUR SUIT INTO A DRYER OR USE A HAIR DRYER ON YOUR SUIT! This will permanently damage the fur on the suit. 

 

An easy way around mildew and molding is to not fully submerge the foam head in water but instead spot clean.

By taking a water spray bottle, you can wet areas that get dirty the fastest, such as the noise, mouth, or ears. After it is wet, a light washing can be done on a single area and a light rinse can follow. 

This way only a part of the head needs drying instead of the whole head and the water doesn’t fully penetrate the foam base. 

 

The spot cleaning method is good for short outings and wears, however it is suggested that you deep clean your suit after more then 2 back to back wears

You should traditionally wash once to twice a year. 

 

Washing the inside lining of a suit is very important for your own health and overall longevity of the suit. Lining fabrics used in CSS are normally cotton based with some nylon fibers. Even if your suit has a lining on the inside, it is still important to wear a balaclava so that your sweat doesn’t penetrate the inner foam of the head. 

 

The inside lining of a suit can be deep cleaned, just like the face of the suit. 

Some spot cleaning can be used in places such as in the muzzle or where the face rests inside the suit. A fursuit cleaning spray is highly suggested to disinfect the inside of the head.

Damage

Wear and tear of a suit is very common. It is important to know how to sew when owning a suit of any kind. A leather needle alongside a strong thread is suggested for repairs. Another important tool for repairs is a low temp hot glue gun. The glue gun can be used to reattach eyes, noses and teeth, along with any other harder object on the suit. However, if the damage can be sewn, please do not use hot glue to fix it. Overusing hot glue can do more damage to the fur and make your suit overall less desirable if you desire to resell it. 

 

Other materials 

In some suits special materials may be used, such as small resin materials, magnets, or wire. Resin can be used as jewels, horns, or teeth on a foam suit and it is important to make sure those parts do not get torn off or scratched. Magnets can be used for removable props, eyelids, and tongues on a suit. Wire is normally used for parts that can be readjusted, such as ears, whiskers, fins, tongues, and other appendages. Be careful with these parts when cleaning and caring for your suit. It is highly recommended that you do not pull, tug, or carry your suit by these parts. 

 

If you have any questions about the care of your fursuit please contact Peggy L. at Onlyscreamingwolf@gmail.com!

*Refurbishment done by another maker or yourself may go against TOS and can affect your request for refurbishment or repairs at CSS. 

 

Reselling of a suit can be done but the new owner must be informed that they can have the suit refurbished by the original maker for an increased cost then stated in the certificate*

 

Written by Peggy Limon, owner of Crystal Spirit Studios, May, 2019