Here's my recap of my segment on how to hand punch hair.

Supplies:
Needle (s) - Quilting needles work great.
Handle for your tool - a bit of a pen can work, polymer clay, anything you can stick the needle into and is comfortable really.
Wire cutters or something else that can cut metal
Something to secure the needle into the handle with. Hot glue, tape, etc.
Safety goggles or some other eye protection
Some sort of hair - Synthetic hair for  hair weaving is great.

Making the tool:
Get a needle.

Cut the eye open using your wire cutters. Make sure to wear eye protection.

Place the needle in the handle and secure it.

Cut your hair to about twice the length you want.

Double the hair over and place it within the eye of the needle.

Push the eye of the needle into what you're punching the hair into with the hair going with it.

Pull the needle out, leaving the hair behind.



Tips:
If you're doing a head of hair, start at the front.
Use a smaller needle for details, especially at the front.
Use larger clumps of hair for covering larger areas where detail won't matter as much.

Do you glue the inside of the head of latex or foam to hold the hair permanent

Billy D.

I don't, but you can if you want to do the extra step. It stays pretty well unless you intentionally are trying to pull it out.

Great tutorial VW, I instantly got it when you started to work on the needle. But I do have one question, wouldn't it be better to start form the back and work your way to the front for a more natural look with less hastle in the creative process?

Well, you could do from the back if you want. Probably depends on the hair style too. Starting from the front is just the method I learned.

VW thanks so much for you time and showing us the hair punching method it will become a very useful video for many future puppet makers.....also thanks for doing a follow up here.  Looking forward to more down the line.

Daryl H

Very interesting, and I'm sure it will come in handy one day. I could only stay a few minutes last night before I had to get ready for work.
Nina

would this method work with a foam latex puppet?

Yes this method works on Foam Latex Puppets.

anyone know of a video tutorial for this?