Is there a way to restrict layering within a gameobject?

I have two prefab characters that are using a paperdoll method of placing equipment on the sprites. I'm using a sorting layer to ensure that the equipment gets drawn in the correct order. The problem is that when I have two prefabs and one overlaps the other, the second's equipment is drawn over top of the first's face.

Is there a way to use the layer ordering specifically for a gameobject, and then somehow combine it so that they can all be on a single layer after processing?

Screenshot that illustrates the problem: