Voodoo dolls are used to represent a specific individual or to obtain a personal desire for yourself or for someone else.

If a voodoo doll is used to represent an individual, personal items and a name tag are attached and the individual should then be informed of the impending ritual.

If a doll is being used to obtain a personal desire, then the color of the doll is very important. The colors used in voodoo symbology are red for love, green for money, blue for luck, yellow for power, and black for hate.

Voodoo dolls are usually made from rope, straw, cloth, feathers or wax. These common materials are used because most voodoo rituals end with the destruction of the doll, usually by fire.

The use of voodoo dolls has declined considerably due to changes in the voodoo rituals and the negative way in which hollywood depicts the voodoo religion. Instead of making a doll, a voodoo practitioner is more likely to use a photograph to symbolize an individual.