Heads & Tails Care Sheet

Recommended Products:

- A Nylon or Boar Bristle Brush: This is the perfect soft brush for short shaved areas like the face. It gently grooms the fibers without damaging the fur or backing.

-Metal Grooming Comb - this is great for longer fur areas as it can reach all the way to the fur backing and can help ease matting before it happens

- Slicker Brush - the typical pet brush. this can help detangle and is great for a quick brush on the go. I do NOT recommend this type of brush on the shaved parts of a face.

- Folex - This cleaning spray is easy to find at many stores like home depot and walmart. Its a go-to for tough stains while being gentle on fur.

- Bissel Green Machine - this small carpet cleaner is great for deep cleaning suits and goes on sale often. I always recommend having one as it's safe to use on any part of your suit with your favorite scented gentle carpet cleaner or in-fandom fursuit shampoo.

Basic Tips:

-          Never leave your suit in a hot car or building. This can remelt the glue, warp the eyes, or damage the fur.

-           Keep a fursuit spray, either home made or bought, with you for on the go care.
*A home made fursuit spray is a 60/40 mix rubbing alcohol/water. A few drops of fragrance or essential oils is optional*

-          Make sure suit parts are fully dry before storing them.

-          Please always ask your maker if you’re unsure about anything.

What to Wear

What you were under your suit will help keep it in great shape for years to come.

For full suits or suits with arm or leg sleeves, it is recommended to always wear a moisture wicking material under your suit to help keep you cool and help keep moisture off your suit.
I recommend "Slip In Dive Skins" out of Costal California. They make spandex full body dive suits that are perfect to wear under your fursuit. 
If a full body skin isnt your style, any spandex or lycra long seeve/pants combo from "Under Armor" or a similar brand will do the trick.

Wearing these under your suit also provides a layer of protection against the scratchy backing of some furs.

Gloves are optional but some folks find them useful. A pair of spandex gloves can help wick sweat off your hands and also makes it easier to get your handpaws on and off during wear.

A balaclava (all new suits come with one of these!) not only keeps hair out of your face, but it also provides a comfortable barrier between your skin and the inside of the fursuit head. While my heads are fully lined, an extra layer of protection doesnt hurt.

Washing Instructions:

You can easily wash your head in a bathtub, sink, or wash it with a carpet cleaner machine like the Bissel Green Machine.
You can use folex, any laundry soap, carpet shampoo, or fursuit shampoo from your favorite creator.
Once clean, set your head to dry in front of a fan.

-          You can clean all of your fursuit parts (feet, tail, hands, bodysuit, etc) in a tub, sink, or with a Bissel like you did with your head.
Fursuit parts ARE machine washable. 
It's best to use a front loading machine or a top loader with the agitator removed.
Place small parts in a pillow case and turn your bodysuit inside out. Remove any padding that isnt sewn in and wash it separately.
Use a gentle cycle with cool/cold water and your regular bleach free laundry soap. An extra spin cycle can help free more water from your parts as well.

Once everything has been washed, it's time to dry!
Lay your clean parts out to dry. Laying them flat helps.
Be sure to check and flip them often to evenly dry.
If you have a fan, set them in front of it to speed up the process.
Its recommended to grab yourself a wetsuit drying fan for your bodysuit. Underwater Kinetics makes one thats popular with furries and is available on amazon. 

HEADS ARE MACHINE WASHABLE AT YOUR OWN RISK

Your fursuit head can be washed in the washing machine.
This is done AT YOUR OWN RISK and any damage that may come from washing this way is not the responsibility of Heads & Tails Studios.

When using a machine, use only a front loader OR a top loader WITHOUT the agitator.
Your head should be put in a pillow case.

Settings should be cool/cold water, a gentle or delicate cycle, and with a low spin. 
Your favorite laundry soap (bleach free) can be used without issue.

Suits with PAINTED eyes should NOT be put in the washing machine.
Suits with LARGE EARS or ANTLERS should NOT be put in the washing machine.

If you're unsure, please reach out and ask!

MACHINE DRY AT YOUR OWN RISK

**If you have a dryer that has an AIR ONLY setting (not low heat, a specifically air only) you can toss you suit parts in the dryer with your favorite dryer sheets. This will take several cycles. If you choose to use your dryer, and you are not sure if the settings include an air only, test it on a sock. If the sock comes out of the dryer even slightly warm, do not use your dryer for your suit. If you choose to risk it, and your suit is damaged by the dryer, we will NOT honor your warranty.

Remember to ask questions if you aren't sure about something!