Topics:
1. About PixelWhip fiberheads
2. FiberHead Maintenance
3. About PixelWhip fibers
4. Basic fiber care
3. Fiber maintenance
5. Modifying your FiberHead
6. Replacing your FiberHead
7. What to wear
About PixelWhip FiberHeads
- The FiberHead can be easily screwed-on/unscrewed for separate storage, or to install a replacement FiberHead.
- You can also buy extra FiberHeads and cut them to different lengths! See our current FiberHead options:
- Fibers can hurt when whipped around at high speed.
- Maintain a safe distance around you when using in the presence of others.
- There is a risk of eye injury - wear proper eye protection
FiberHead Maintenance
- If radial bearing stops turning smoothly, apply a tiny amount of WD40 directly into the bearing’s inner race.
- IMPORTANT: Take care not to get WD40 on fibers. Unscrew the FiberHead so you can apply WD40 from the back side. To work WD40 in, turn the bearing by holding the fibers and twisting back and forth.
About PixelWhip Fibers
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PixelWhip fibers are made from a thermoplastic material which means they become soft if heated and harder as they cool.
If you leave your FiberHead in a hot room (or hot car) the fibers will retain whatever shape they were curled in as they cool, which may not be the shape you want! You’ll also notice that fibers will become brittle and shatter more easily in the cold. -
Fibers will Break!
Basic Fiber Care
- Store your whip in a safe place when not in use.
- Keep your whip away from too much heat, like a car in the sun.
- Keep your whip out of the cold - fibers become brittle.
- Keep fibers out of the dirt.
- Avoid contact with rough surfaces.
- Avoid stepping on fibers.
- Detangle your fibers often, or you can braid them to keep them together.
- Keep your fibers clean.
- Avoid materials that stick to fibers: pet & human hair, feathers, fluff, string, fabrics that shed, etc. Clean these materials out of your fibers because they cause more tangling and fiber snapping. Cleaning the floor before a dance session can help as well.
Microscopic view of hair caught in fibers, resulting
in fiber breakage, tangling, and clumping
in fiber breakage, tangling, and clumping
Fiber Maintenance
- Detangle your fibers often.
- Starting from the very end of the whip, separate the fibers with your fingers. Slowly work your way up to the FiberHead, untangling the fibers as you go
- Clean your fibers.
- For a quick clean, use personal silicone-based lubricant (*NOT* water-based). Put a dime-sized squirt onto a microfiber cloth and wipe down the fibers.
- For a deep clean, use dish soap to gently clean the fibers. After rinsing the fibers thoroughly, reapply silicone-based lubricant.
An example of a safe silicone-based lubricant
for cleaning and wiping down your fibers.
Modifying Your FiberHead
- Reshaping Fibers
- If your fibers become warped, you can heat the fibers to reshape them.
- After detaching the fiber head from the base unit, boil a pot of water, take it off the heat, then put the fibers in it for a while. Keep the fiber head metal base parts out of the water. Soaking the fibers is fine.
- After the hot soak, you can hang them to straighten the fibers out a bit, or coil them in their bag to increase the curl in the fibers.
- Straightening Fibers
- Want a sleek, cleaner look to your whip? Try straightening your FiberHead!
- Check out our blog post for more detailed instructions.
- Curling Fibers
- Want a fuller look for your whip? Try DIY FiberHead curling.
- Cutting Fibers
- You can also trim the fibers to whatever length you want to match your flow!
Replacing Your FiberHead
- Fibers are like hair - they will break over time!
- If you flow with fiber grip (holding the PixelWhip by the fibers), count the long fibers that you’re grabbing onto to keep track of what’s left. Also track how quickly fibers are snapping - if your fibers start breaking more, make sure that there are enough left so you can still safely swing the handle.
- The length of your whip will change over time as the longest fibers break - for a longer whip, purchase a new FiberHead.
New PixelWhip FiberHead-80 above an older FiberHead-80.
The old FiberHead is thinner, shorter, and less bright.
The old FiberHead is thinner, shorter, and less bright.
What to Wear
- Clothing that allows fibers to glide easily
- Avoid accessories and fabrics that might snag whip fibers
- Avoid sequins, buckles, exposed zippers
- Watch out for pet & human hair, feathers, fluff, string, fabrics - they will tangle your whip and cause fiber breakage