Hi, you don't have to answer this as it may be triggering. I have a horrible horrible coping stim of pulling my hair and it's terribly destructive and I need to find something to replace it. I've been thinking of getting dolls and such and just carrying there heads and pulling the hair but that's creepy. Is there anything I could use to simulate the pulling of hair? Thank you for reading.
Anon, it’s fine. Not a problem at all.
(By the way: no stim is horrible. We might need to replace some stims for healthier ones, which is a good thing to do if we can, but even less-healthy coping stims aren’t horrible. It’s just a stim. You absolutely do not need to feel bad about having a less-healthy coping stim. We all have them.)
As a doll collector, I see absolutely nothing wrong with yanking a head off a doll and pulling its hair. As a doll collector, I have absolutely done worse to my own dolls - everything from removing their hair to replace it to removing their heads to put a nice head on a more articulated body. I’m Sid from Toy Story! Admittedly, I’m used to having doll heads floating around on my desk (or doll heads covered in glue in the process of wig-making) so this doesn’t rate on the creepy scale for me. In fact, it seems quite a practical approach to me as the doll hair, while not identical, is a good substitute for our own.
You can even get a near never-ending supply of cheap Barbies from local op and second-hand shops, usually for only a few dollars a bag. Wash them with shampoo and conditioner like you would your own hair, and then either stick the doll head-first into a cup of boiling water or wrap the shoulders, neck and head of the doll in a wheat heat bag. Give the doll’s plastic time to heat (a minute for the hot water, a few for the heat bag) and then grab the doll’s head in a towel and pull it off the neck knob.
Seriously, I am all for unconventional stim toys, especially in the world of replacement stims.
But, if that really bothers you (and keeping in mind there’s spaces where it isn’t safe to pull out a doll head) there’s stim toys that have hair-like strands for pulling.
First: Koosh Balls and Bandy Balls (or similar knock offs). They’re balls made from strands of fine latex or rubber. The bigger ones (like this large knock-off) are almost large enough for combing fingers through, and there’s plenty of strands to grab hold of and pull. There’s also so many fronds it should keep you going for quite a while if you pull hard enough to break them off.
The brand-name version is on Amazon for $6.46 USD; a Toysmith knock-off version is available for $6.36 USD with a cheaper listing under the seller options. Fidget Club has the Ogosoft Stress Ball for $2.99 USD and the thicker-stranded Bandy Ball for $3.99 USD. Also worth checking out your local toystore, as that’s where I’ve found mine.
(Note that they do have a chemically-rubbery smell, especially the knock-offs.)
Second: Tangle Hairy. The strands aren’t long enough to comb through, but there’s plenty to pull, and being a Tangle, it looks more like a fidget or office toy than a child’s toy.
$6.99 USD from Fidget Club; $6.95 USD from Fat Brain Toys. Aussies can find these in Toyworld stores, $10-$15 AUD depending on the store.
(The Tangle Hairy is the only puffer-type toy I own without a chemical odour.)
Third: Spaghetti Ball. Similar to a Koosh, but with much thicker strands. The Koosh is more hair-like; the Spaghetti ball is more like … thick spaghetti.
Available atNational Autism Resources at $5.59 USD and Fidget Club for $4.99 USD for the standard and $6.99 USD for the mondo.
Fourth: Puffer Creatures or Puffer Balls. These are a soft rubbery plastic ball, worm or creature with plastic fronds attached, long enough for pulling.
Available in many, many dollar shops and just about everywhere online. Fidget Club has them available in a puffer bracelet called a Squigglet for $4.99 USD, which might be ideal if you want something easily portable and right at your hands.
The puffer creatures do tend to have a chemical odour. Also note that all of these things stretch, and in that sense doesn’t much mimic hair. They are absolutely designed for pulling, though!
I hope there’s something there that helps you, anon. But please know that I think the doll head is a damn good idea and not the slightest bit strange or creepy. I’ve rehaired dolls and My Little Ponies with embroidery floss (back when I didn’t have chronic hand pain, alas) and it feels wonderful for pulling and stroking. Wonderful. As someone who collects dolls, I have absolutely no problem with your pulling one apart for you to stim with. None.
Please comment away with any further suggestions!
- Mod K.A.
@bluestreaksand-freckles says,
Maybe anon could paint the plastic part of the doll head in a solid color so that it looks less like a doll head.
Good thought! If you’re a little crafty, you could also sew a drawstring bag and tie it over the head so only the hair sticks out, too!