- your pile of hairplugs
- a pair of needle-nose pliers
- a sturdy tapestry needle with a large eye
- a sturdy curved mattress needle with a large eye
- a metal needle-threader (see photo for recommended type)
- hemostats (optional)

i generally start with the 'forelock' of the pony and root towards the base of the neck, filling both columns of holes as i go (needles like to snag in the already-rooted plugs, so you don't want to have to do the second column with the first column in the way). begin by using the needle-threader to thread one plug into the straight needle. i recommend this type of threader, because the ones that are all wire at the top tend to break before i'm halfway through the head. unfortunately, this type of threader is getting harder to find.

with your needle threader, use the needle-nose pliers to grip the needle firmly just above the eye (gripping on the eye can snap it), and slowly guide the tip of the needle through the inside of the head and out the first plug hole. if you can't get a grip on the needle to pull it through the plug, use the hemostats (so the pliers don't damage the tip).

i know people whose methods include threading from the outside in, which is faster, but does not leave a nice neat row of knots inside the head. i don't use the outside-in method, so i won't be making a tutorial for it.

use the straight needle to thread the plugs until the angle of the holes forces you to begin using the curved needle. this one's a little harder to maneuver inside, but by then you're almost halfway done and so excited that nothing can stop you! ^_^

when you finish rooting, it may be a good idea for you to put a bead of super glue along the knots on the inside to keep them in place. this is optional. i haven't received any reports of my plugs ever coming loose.

now you're ready for the tail and it's all downhill from here!

the tail is a simple matter of folding another group of hair in half and securing the middle, either by wrapping it tightly with stainless wire, or reusing a non-rusted clip from an original hasbro tail. the funny thing about tail rust is that it always starts with the washer, and in my experience the clip doesn't rust on its own, but can rust if contact with rust is made. odd, huh. anyway, with your tail secure, you can either use a bobby pin around the middle of the tail length to thread it from the inside, or push it in from the outside and wiggle it to get it in place.

now you can use a curling/straightening iron on the hair to get out any kinks from original crimping or needle-folding, and then trim to the desired style.

replacement hair usually needs some encouragement to style if it's classic length (otherwise what you've made is nothing other than a big ol' mohawk). i curl the hair with the iron (be careful! hot irons can remove your body paint if you let them touch!) and then wrap it around the neck and hold it in place for a couple days with celophane. usually by then, it's accepted its destined style and won't give you too much trouble.

boil-setting works with ragdolly hair, but my attempts at boil-setting have met with pretty sad results, so i don't use it anymore.

next step - accessorize, girlfriend!