2023/01/16
A Briefing on Doll Material Types - TPE, Silicone, Fabric, and PVC
Originally, I planned to include this stub within every doll section but it got very detailed, so I decided to give it its own entry.
TPE
Doll pictured is by Aotume
The most common material that love dolls are made of. The feeling is closest to real skin when powdered properly.
Pros
- Soft and velvety skin when powdered.
- Far more affordable than silicone.
- Recommended for sex due to handling stretching better than silicone.
- It can retain your body temperature on the side that you are cuddling.
- Heads typically have oral capabilities unless they are too small, as is the case with mini dolls.
- If damage occurs, it can be repaired by yourself with basic tools with satisfactory results.
Cons
- Requires more maintenance than silicone, such as entire body oiling every few months and frequent powdering to avoid dust and dirt.
- Cumbersome to clean as they retain dirt more on the skin if not powdered.
- Prone to staining with dark clothes.
- Is prone to damage and scratches. Can be fragile. Handle with care.
- The mold the doll is made of can't have as much detail as silicone, most notably with heads. Detail with TPE is achieved through make-up.
- Can be heavy
Silicone
Doll pictured is by Irokebijin
This material is becoming more popular and can have a more luxurious look than TPE. They can be very beautiful. It comes with a price tag, however.
Pros
- Can be soft but with a firmer feel than TPE.
- Recommended for realism and detail, as the molds are capable of imprinting carved detail unlike TPE.
- Far less maintenance than TPE. Does not require oiling or powdering, although light powdering is recommended.
- Easier to clean, as the dirt can be wiped easier.
- A little more durable than TPE.
- Not as prone to staining with dark clothes. Although both types of material can stain.
Cons
- Far more expensive than TPE. The luxurious feel and look isn't just cosmetic.
- May need to check with the manufacturer or vendor if the doll is recommended for sex if it's not explicitly stated. Silicone is harder and less flexible than TPE, so you can tear the doll and certain manufacturers actually do not recommend sex with some of their silicone dolls. The dolls are still sold as more of collector pieces and for photography. As I mentioned in the Getting Started post, these dolls have different purposes.
- The very detailed heads tend to be very hard and do not offer oral capabilities. Some manufacturers do offer soft silicone heads, though.
- It is still fragile even if more durable and needs to be handled with care. If damaged, it typically cannot be repaired with basic tools unless you are a doll wizard. You may need to buy a new doll.
- They have a "shiny" look to them. You can lower the shine with some powdering.
- Can be heavy.
Fabric
An underrated material type in the West. They are can be very cute and wholesome. This will be my go to alternative when I eventually become old enough to not be able to move my current doll around, as fabric dolls are lightweight. Fabric dolls can use TPE and silicone heads, as well.
To be honest, I am still learning about them mostly from following Japanese fabric owners on Twitter. I will update with any new information that I find as time goes on.
Pros
- One of the most lightweight materials. Some small dolls are only around 20lbs or less. Very good alternative if you struggle with movement or are sick.
- The face can be customized extensively due to fabric. If you can navigate the Japanese language and overseas markets, I see a lot of homemade mouths and eyes available for the dolls there.
- Typically way more affordable than the other two materials. If a fabric doll seems expensive, it's still always significantly less expensive than a doll with similar proportions made out of the other two materials.
- Since they look cute and unrealistic, nobody will suspect it's a love doll. I see some fabric doll owners in Japan take their dolls outside in public.
- Still offers sex capabilities via removable orifices. You insert a flesh light into the doll.
- As far as I know, the skin is removable and can be washed in a gentle cycle with laundry or hand cleaned. Since the flesh light is also removable, you can just wash it in the sink normally. This makes the fabric dolls the easiest to clean.
Cons
- I wouldn't call this a true negative because it depends on the perspective of the person. But there is no realism due to the cloth look and feel. And once again, depending on the person, may be an issue if they want a doll for sex.
- The body is usually more plain compared to the other materials.
- Not as popular in the West but the vendor My Robot Doll carries the most amounts of fabric dolls I have seen thus far.
PVC
Doll pictured is by Guava Doll
PVC is the usual material that ball jointed dolls (BJD) are made of. These types of dolls are usually very small with a hefty price tag and certainly a luxury and there weren't many "life size" BJDs in the past. In recent years, some Korean companies have been offering limited 1:1 BJDs and recently, companies like Parabox JP and Guava Doll have come into the 1:1 BJD market, making them not more available without the limited edition price tag, too.
Since these are the only two manufacturers that I personally know of making their products easy to buy, this section will focus on them. Guava Doll offers 1:1 anime heads in PVC and also a 1:1 traditional BJD head but an M16 connection, which makes it compatible with TPE, silicone, and fabric bodies mentioned earlier. Parabox only offers traditional BJD bodies and heads, meaning there is no M16 connection and are not compatible with other lifesize bodies on this blog.
This material is also extremely lightweight, with Parabox's 110cm dolls being only 8kg (8lbs). Parabox's 1:1 BJD Information Page
I will add more about the material as I learn about it. Most of the information I know is from Parabox's doll care page for 1:1 BJDs.
For male BJDs: As of the amendment to this material post on April 2023, Parabox is offering their 80cm Otohime body that is unisex with a flat chest. Guava Doll has stated that a male BJD is in the works! Their female BJD body will also offer a flat chest option.
Pros
• One of the most lightweight materials. Some small dolls are only around 8lbs or less. Very good alternative if you struggle with movement or are sick.
• Easy to pose and able to do lifelike poses due to the ball joints.
• They can stand on their own without feet bolts, although a stand is recommend for long periods of standing.
• More affordable than TPE and Silicone. Parabox's painted 110cm dolls are around 67,000 yen. Their Otohime painted dolls are 38,000 yen. Guava Doll has not released their full BJD body as of now but they offer a hybrid PVC and fabric body right now for 367 USD. Flat chest is available on it but it looks like you have to inquire about it.
• Guava Doll offers full customization for their PVC options. Parabox appears to be a little more limiting with their painted options but has unlimited DiY potential if you are handy and get their unpainted body instead.
• No powdering or oiling needed for PVC.
Cons
• PVC is highly prone to staining from dark clothes and the staining is extremely hard to remove or sometimes permanent. To avoid staining, a pantyhose is recommended to put on the body if wearing dark clothes for photos and you should flat out not leave dark clothes on your doll.
• This material is very reactive to temperature. It will harden in the winter and soften in the summer. It can lead to deformation of legs, etc. and you will need to apply heat with a hair dryer to get them back to normal.
• As of right now, available PVC bodies do not come with built in sex functionality except for Guava Doll's hybrid body mentioned earlier.
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