Minfigure head fading / Restoration?

[ChrisXY]

Some of my standard heads are fading...anyone knows best tool/pencil to fix it? 

Edited June 30, 2025 by ChrisXY

[JohnTPT17]

With heads that common? Just buy new ones. They're currently 26 cents on Pick a Brick, and they're probably even cheaper on Bricklink.

[ChrisXY]

Avg Bricklink is 60 cent...and I have like 50 heads like this :( Didn´t want to spend too much money at common things

[SpacePolice89]

You could do this or instead use the heads with the damaged prints for minifigs that are not very visible. I have many similar heads and use them for pedestrians in the background in my Lego city that I'm building. I also have a scene where there are many minifigs watching a boat race, only the ones in the front row have face prints in good condition and the rest in the background have faded faces. The same goes for minifigs inside buildings.

[MAB]

Have you ever heard of a permanent marker pen? 

[SpacePolice89]

I think it is nearly impossible to draw or paint the heads by hand and achieve a good result. Maybe making some sort of stamp or printing device is the best option to restore the heads.

Edited July 1, 2025 by SpacePolice89

[Mylenium]

An ultra fine acrylic marker (Posca, Edding) would probably work just fine. The rest just depends on your technique. I've been drawing stuff since my childhood and wouldn't fret, but of course it will take some practice to get those fine lines without just adding a smeary blob of color.

Mylenium

[dr_spock]

I left my faded smiley heads faded and bought new ones. 

A fine point sharpie, a head mounting jig, and some gcode on a CNC machine or 3d printer could get consistent results.