Making tail hair into a ball

I think i want to start fitting some calves with a tail ball. Someome should make a youtube video showing me how to do this. Or if you  got the time please try to explain it to me.

comb it all out long and straight...  and form with glue into a ball...  duh :

seriously though, I have heard of people who's aim to get that super large ball-- using a ballon to mold the ball, and once hard.. popping the ballon and removing the peices.  this allows you to virtually have a hollow tail switch ball- and use that hair to build the actually outside of the ball it'self. 

Its pretty easy, just watch someone do it couple times and then go practice... its a mess to break down, especially if you paint it...  once the hocus pocus hits it, all it takes is one good switch of the tail and splatter drops are everywhere... hint, hint, hold the tail while you break it down... G-Luck

OLD WORLD SHORTIE said:

I think i want to start fitting some calves with a tail ball. Someome should make a youtube video showing me how to do this. Or if you  got the time please try to explain it to me.

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I have seen several different types of balls in the tail. The ones I like the most are the teardrop shape on breeding females. I have seen steers with little less volume in their tails. I personally start in the middle and tease it up. Work your way out. Continue to tease an til you get plenty of volume. Then get some tail adhesive and spray and shape. On females I like a little fuller than market animals. That's just my preference. The ladies in the 80's were real good at teasing with hair spray. The girls in my high school in about 1986 had some big big hair.


ps- make sure the tail is clean. As part of the daily hair care we condition the tail with mane and tail to soften the hair. On few of the calves we have had lots of tail hair we use Olive Oil Pudding/conditioner to soften the hair.

The key is to pull the top hairs up and use a hairclip to hold them out of the way. Mold the rest of the hair into that teardrop shape with a fair bit of glue. You need to be hands on with it. Don't be afraid to get sticky. Get it looking like you want it. After it's set, take the top hairs out of the clip and arrange them around the ball so it looks smooth and attractive. Spray a little glue on it and smooth the top hairs onto the ball so it stays.

I guess it is time for an old timer to get into the discussion.

1ST... Comb out the tail.

2nd... Go to the center of the bone take two strands of hair and twist them.

3rd... Have someone hold the tail while pulling the 2 strands up making a J in the tail. Wrap strands around the tail opposite directions then tie square knots in strands front and back. Glue generously.

4th... Start ratting from ends of hair from top to bottom. The tighter the smaller the ball.

5th...Apply glue a little at a time and shape. Keep gluing while shaping.

6th...When disired shape appears GLUE THE SNOT OUT OF IT and let dry.  ;D

I was hoping that fad would not come back!

Maybe I'm older and just lazy, but I prefer the combed look(clip the long ends so it appears shorter)

I always bob them a little first. Nothing worse than attempting to do the tail when it drags the ground. The cleaner the better, too. A good amount of tension on the strand you are teasing helps out. Makes it more smooth, IMO. If you are washing it out, go easy on the glue. If someone else has to tear it down, go to town on the glue (thumbsup)