To remove the hair from your doll, you must be an adult. If you’re a child, it’s best to let a trusted adult do it. You can also apply the same techniques to similar toys, such as My Little Pony tails. You may have an heirloom doll that has a high sentimental value, and you don’t want to damage it. Regardless of whether the doll is a present for a child or a family heirloom, there are many steps you need to take to maintain a doll’s beauty.
Untangle or smooth doll’s hair
Doll hair can be difficult to manage, but with a few tricks, you can untangle or smooth it. To start, soak the doll’s hair in fabric softener. Then, use a comb to untangle it. After combing, rinse and dry. Apply a small amount of conditioner to smooth the hair. Repeat the process as necessary. Dolls with thicker hair may need to be brushed more often.
For long hair, work out tangles with your fingers before brushing. Doll hair is delicate and won’t respond well to a hair dryer. If you can, use a comb with a fine toothed comb to work out any smaller tangles. Finally, brush the doll’s hair a final time to assist in drying. This will keep the doll’s hair smooth and smelling fresh.
Apply “rollers” to doll’s hair
Before curling your doll’s hair, you should spritz the hair with water. Then, apply rollers to the hair in a horizontal direction. Leave the curlers in until the hair is dry. Curl the hair as many times as you want for a permanent curl. Younger children may need assistance with the curlers. Make sure to keep the doll’s hair in the curlers for a few minutes while it dries.
If your doll’s hair has a lot of knots, you should comb it out one section at a time. Ensure to hold the hair at the base of the head so as to avoid pinching the doll’s hair. Do not use rubber bands, which can get stuck in the hair. Real hair ties are fabric coated and slide easily through the doll’s hair. Make sure to use doll-safe hair accessories, like brush and hair sprays.
Avoid brushes and combs with plastic bristles
You can clean your doll’s hair using a human conditioner. It contains lubricants to loosen tangles. Apply the conditioner only to damp hair and rinse well. To prevent the conditioner from building up in the doll’s hair, rinse it thoroughly before storing it. You should also avoid conditioner if you plan to store the doll for a long time.
Natural or synthetic hair can be brushed using a wig brush, which is made of wire bristles set in a rubber base. You can purchase wig brushes in doll stores or large drugstores. You can also use metal pet combs to comb synthetic hair. However, you should avoid using combs with plastic or rubber bristles because they transfer personal hair oils to the doll.
When brushing a doll’s hair, be sure to use a damp cloth. It’s best to use a spray bottle to avoid contaminating the doll’s hair with natural oils. If you have a hot curling iron, don’t brush or comb it afterward. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the doll’s hair.
Avoid over-styling doll’s hair
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when styling your doll’s hair is using too much heat. Not only does this result in tangles and damage, but it will also dry out the doll’s hair. In addition to this, don’t use blow dryers, curling irons, or straightening irons on your doll. These methods are also extremely dangerous for your doll, so make sure that you use the right tools for the job.
Doll hair fibers are different from human hair, so the amount of heat and time that you apply is different. Different fibers require varying amounts of heat, so be very careful not to over-process the doll’s hair by heating it to boiling water or a high temperature. Likewise, if you do heat on a doll’s hair without understanding what you are doing, it can ruin the doll’s hair.