Every NueShiny Cellulose Acetate Accessory Undergoes Multiple Precision Production Stages
Some highly intricate processes still require full handcrafting. Now, let’s unveil how our hyper-realistic ocean-inspired hair clips come to life!
Each hair clip begins with customers’ love for the ocean and our designer’s obsession. Whether it’s a sea turtle glimpsed during a dive or the bioluminescent rings of a blue-ringed octopus from documentaries, these creatures’ essence is first hand-sketched in notebooks. Designers then refine biological details, with their natural aquatic postures **precisely simulated through 3D modeling** until the digital prototype mirrors reality. Technical files are sent to manufacturers, and prototypes often require **3-4 rounds of adjustments**—like refining the layered texture of a sea turtle’s carapace—before final approval for production.
Inside Our Cellulose Acetate Workshop in Yiwu, China
We partnered with this specialized factory for two key strengths: mastery of **sophisticated color and luster treatment techniques** (e.g., translucent gradients mimicking octopus tentacles) and an expansive material library featuring **12-layer gradient craftsmanship** from coral orange to abyssal blue, enabling our most creative marine designs. **Next stop: Let’s dive into how these hair clips are crafted!
Step 1 - Making the cellulose acetate plate
The first step is to manufacture the cellulose acetate sheet. During this stage, it takes on its shape and consistency, as well as its chosen color. It's here that we can imagine a variety of colors with original reflections. Once formed, the plate is polished to make it smooth for further fabrication.
Step 2 - Cutting
The next step is to cut the cellulose acetate sheet into the shape of the future accessories. The cutting is first prepared on computer by an operator to optimize the layout so that each sheet contains as many shapes as possible, thus limiting offcuts. This is a crucial stage, since the thickness of the blade must also be taken into account, and the cutting lines may need to be adjusted. The machine then follows the instructions in the file to laser-cut the cellulose acetate sheets and give shape to the future products. All the scraps are recycled into black acetate.
Step 3 - Gluing the different parts
The majority of our cellulose acetate accessories are made of several colors coming from different plates. For example, our crab hair claw is made up of a main main orange part and the flesh body. Some of our hair claws like the green turtleone also have clear claws that come from a different cellulose acetate plate. Therefore these different parts have to be glued together at this step.
This tricky step is completely hand-made. It requires a lot of time and attention. If it’s not done properly, the product might break during the following production stages or when it is worn.
Depending on the products, this stage can be more or less complex and time-consuming because of the number of parts that have to be glued together. If you take the example of the Watermelon hair claw, you have to assemble three different parts: the main red one, the light green arc and the dark green arc.
After gluing the different parts together, it is necessary to clean the accessories with a special treatment to get rid of the excess glue and avoid spots on the cellulose acetate.
Step 4 - Shaping the accessories
The accessory is starting to get its final look. It has all the right colors but it is still flat. For hair claws, we have to give them a curved shape so it can be handled properly once the spring is added. The piece is put in a hot mold and pressed by a machine for a few seconds to get the desired shape. Depending on the models, the molds are different and must adjust to the shape of each accessory. The gluing step (step 3) had to be done properly, to avoid any breaking at this complicated stage. For hair claws with built-in claws, like the crab accessory, this stage will also give their final form to the claws.
Step 5 - Polishing
Now the shaping is made (cut, glued and molded), the piece goes through its last step before being assembled and becoming a hair claw, a hair clip, an earring or a mirror. Here, we polish the edges of the products so they are smooth and pretty.
Step 6 - Adding the claws
For hair claws that don’t have built-in claws (like the Dolphin-Wave hair claw), we now have to glue them. Just like the gluing stage, this step is completely hand-made and requires a lot of precision.
Step 7 - Assembling the accessories
Finally, we assemble the accessories. For hair claws, we glue the little part dedicated to the metallic spring and then add the spring. For hair clips, we glue the clip. Mirrors and earrings are also assembled at this stage.
Step 8 - Adding the logo and the ink details
NueShiny is all about details!
At this stage, the golden, silver or black ink details are added by hand with a syringe in the grooves made during the laser-cut (step 2). It requires being very meticulous and skilled to follow the line without making a mess.
The ink gives birth to our NueShiny logo (inside the creations) and to any other details wanted to highlight.
Then, we have to wait for a day for the color to dry, before cleaning the excess ink with a tissue.
Step 9 - Coating
The accessories are almost done. After the last touches, the cellulose acetate piece is cleaned again to make sure there is no dust or dirt left after the many stages. Finally, we apply a protective coating. It gives the products their shiny and glossy looks.
Step 10 - Quality check and packaging
The last production stage is the quality check of each product and the packaging before shipping.
The accessories are then sent to our logistics partners and offered on our website, NueShiny, where you can place orders from all over the world. Finally, they will arrive safely in your hair :)