What toys can you wash your hair with?
Barbie doll is not afraid of water. It is made of plastic, and the hair is sewn to the head. Her hair is synthetic material.
Wooden or porcelain dolls will have to be careful when cleaning their hair. You should not completely immerse your head in water.
Before washing your natural hair and mohair hair, make sure it is sewn. Often this type is attached with glue, like a regular wig.
Woolen toys cannot be washed.
Wash the yarn doll's curls by hand and dry thoroughly in a ventilated area.
How to distinguish from natural ones?
Artificial hair can be distinguished by a number of characteristics.
- Natural hair has a natural shine, while its artificial counterparts also have it, but it is too glossy, as if they are covered with some kind of film.
- Natural strands are soft and silky to the touch, while artificial strands are hard and elastic.
- Natural hair can easily withstand the effects of a curling iron, hair dryer or straightener, but not all synthetic hair, only those labeled “heat resistant”. However, you can be sure of this only after the purchase.
- Synthetic hair is much thinner than natural hair.
- High-quality natural curls are practically tangle-free, while artificial ones can become tangled after careless combing or getting wet.
- When exposed to the sun (not in direct rays), natural hair remains “cool”. Artificial ones quickly heat up and cool down depending on the room temperature.
- Synthetic strands are lighter than natural ones.
- Low quality products (artificial strands) sometimes have a specific smell of melted plastic or dyes, while natural hair has almost no smell.
- Artificial strands are distinguished by a slight creak when they come into contact with each other, which natural hairs do not have.
Preparatory activities
At the first stage, you need to comb and untangle the curls with your fingers as much as possible. The following recommendations will help in this matter:
- First, start with those knots that can be untangled by hand, and only then use a comb.
- Comb your hair starting from the ends, gradually moving higher.
- A wide-tooth plastic comb is a great tool for untangling knots. But if you need to “reanimate” a Barbie doll’s hair, it is better to give preference to a fine-tooth comb.
- For curly dolls, you need to comb each curl separately.
- It is better to proceed to particularly heavy nodes after treatment with one of the products described below.
We work with Monster High
Before you start straightening your doll's hair, you need to comb it thoroughly. This can be done with both dry and wet hair. There is no need to wait specifically for it to dry completely. You need to comb your hair in thin strands, starting from the ends. You should act very carefully so as not to pull out too many hairs. This way you can comb the most tangled hair.
Many people are interested in how to straighten the hair of Monster High dolls. Here, for example, is one of the useful video tips on this topic:
As you can see, it's quite simple. To do this, you only need an iron and a cloth. You can safely get to work.
So, let's comb our hair. A small doll comb is usually sold along with the doll itself.
With its help you can cope with this task quite easily.
Then you need to select a strand and wrap it with a cloth.
To avoid overheating your hair, do not heat the curling iron too much. We take a strand wrapped in a napkin and run a slightly heated iron over it. After this procedure, the hair will gradually straighten. Such manipulations must be done to the very end, with each strand separately. It will look impressive if you straighten only the top of the strands, while the ends remain wavy.
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If you can’t wet the doll itself
If the doll itself cannot be wet, you can treat only its hairstyle.
Using a spray bottle, a softening solution (water and conditioner in a 1:1 ratio) is applied to the hair, and the hair is combed. Then you need to rinse under running water, so as not to wet the hair roots and the toy itself. Comb wet strands. Let it dry so that the hair does not touch the toy.
That's all the tricks of the “rescue operation” to restore the hair of your favorite doll.
Unravel the strands using starch
If you need to comb slightly tangled strands, you can use the simplest remedy, corn starch:
- If possible, comb the doll's strands, avoiding only the most tangled areas;
- Stir a teaspoon of potato starch in a small volume of warm water;
- The toy’s head is lowered into the solution, trying to ensure that it completely covers the hairstyle;
- Wet curls are combed with a sparse comb. The procedure will have to be repeated several times to achieve the effect;
- Without washing off the starch, the doll is dried in the fresh air.
These tips can be used if you need to comb your doll's synthetic hair.
How to tidy up dolls' hair
And that’s why it’s especially disappointing that after just a couple of months, the doll’s hair may lose its attractive appearance. They get tangled, and combing the doll’s hair is not so easy, because the hairs pulled out with a comb will not grow back and from frequent combing the doll runs the risk of remaining “bald.” How quickly a doll's hair will require care depends on many factors - the quality of the doll, the age of the child, and the intensity of the games.
But don’t be upset, because the doll’s hair can be tidied up. They will be no worse than the day you bought them, but you will have to tinker a little. The most trouble-free and effective method is leveling with an iron. This method is only suitable for high-quality hair; many cheap dolls will not tolerate it. To groom your doll using an iron, you will need a comfortable place to work (a small fashion doll can take up to half an hour, so make yourself comfortable), an iron, water, scrubbers or hair clips, a clean, discarded toothbrush, and a regular pet slicker.
You can borrow a slicker from a domestic cat or purchase it at a pet supply store. Please note that you need the simplest, cheapest slicker - an ordinary wooden tablet with sharp thin teeth. It's better if they don't have plastic balls on the ends. This type of powder brush is ideal for caring for a doll’s hair.
Now separate a small strand, pin up the remaining hair and carefully comb the strand with a powder brush so that all the hairs are separated from each other. Do not tear out your hair under any circumstances!
Now you need to wet your hair and run an iron over it, slowly and as if pulling the doll’s hair out from under the iron. Set the iron aside and comb the warm strands with a toothbrush. Repeat the procedure several times if the hair is too uneven.
Wait for the strand to cool, pin it and separate a new strand. Do the same manipulations with all the strands on the doll's head. As a result, the doll's hair will become even and smooth.
Before starting work on restoring the doll’s hair, it would be a good idea to wash her hair with shampoo and apply fabric conditioner to it for 10-15 minutes. Then you need to wash it off, pat your hair dry with a towel and then start straightening.
If you need to curl your doll's hair, don't try to do it with a curling iron. There is a high risk of burning your hair and ruining your curling iron. It's better to use another method. The doll's hair needs to be twisted into curlers or plastic tubes and pinned with wooden clothespins, given the desired shape and secured. It is better to cover the doll's face with polyethylene. Then boil water, pour it into a cup or deep plate and carefully lower the doll’s head so that the hair is in the water. Leave the doll for 7-10 minutes in hot water. Hairpins can be removed only after the doll's hair has completely cooled.
Even though the hair straightening procedure may seem long and complicated, the results are worth it. If the doll had straight hair before, it will look like new, and if the hair was curled, then after straightening you can give the doll any hairstyle you want.
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Hair washing
First, wash the toy's hair. Artificial hair gets dirty quickly, even if you handle it very carefully.
For washing, you can use shampoo, liquid soap, any dishwashing detergent, or washing powder. So, we need:
- lukewarm water. Hot water causes doll curls to curl;
- shampoo. You can use the one you use yourself. Or you can take the cheapest product;
- air conditioner. Any will do, but it’s better for these purposes to be indelible. It will saturate the hair and make it smooth;
- comb;
- towel.
Before you start, you need to wrap the doll tightly with something and cover its face with cling film. This must be done to prevent water from pouring inside the toy. Of course, if a little water gets inside, it’s not a big deal. It can be easily removed, especially since now almost all dolls are disassembled.
Add a little shampoo to the water and you can wash your hair. Some people wash their doll’s hair twice, but this is not at all necessary. After completing the procedure, wrap the toy in a terry towel. Under no circumstances should you apply force to your hair, as it can easily break off and become even more tangled. Finally, apply conditioner to the doll's hair for 10-15 minutes.
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Then it is washed off and the hair is blotted with a towel. Only now can the straightening process itself begin.
TOP 3 methods and all general rules
A doll's hair can become dirty or tangled not only from play, but also during storage. For most dolls, the methods for tidying up the hair, which we will look at in this article, work: boiling water, fabric softener or baby shampoo. They are safe. Most doll hair, whether on plastic or fabric dolls, responds well to these methods.
The first step is to find out what is wrong with the doll. Some just need brushing, while others need washing. Sometimes, if you buy used dolls from auctions, the doll's hair may be trimmed to hide split ends or tangled ends.
By the way, washing is required not only for dolls, but also for other toys with hair, for example, pony figurines with manes and tails.
Start by cleaning your doll's hair: go through the entire head, comb it, and try to untangle as much as you can with your fingers. Do not comb straight from the roots down, as this can lead to deformation and damage to the fibers; start from the ends and gradually work your way up (as you would with your own hair). Plastic will create static charges, a wooden or metal comb is better
.
Oils cause the doll's hair to become very fragile over time. It's good for us, but not for them.
If the doll has curly hair, then comb each curl separately.
Do not use your own brush because it collects a lot of natural oils from the hair; these oils can damage the doll's hair.
If the doll's hair is mostly fine but the ends are tangled and frizzy, the ends can be trimmed with sharp scissors. However, keep in mind that this change will be permanent. The doll's hair does not grow back.
DIY hairstyles for dolls
Straighten hair at home without ironing
Now that you know how to do doll hair, you can create different hairstyles for these toys. If your doll has straight hair, but you want it to be curly, then do this.
Take a balloon stick and cut it into pieces to make curlers like this. Now take a rubber ball and cut it crosswise to make rubber bands. Wash the brush after using PVA glue in a glass of water, use this solution to wet the doll's hair. Then you will wind each strand on the prepared curlers.
Let your hair dry completely. You can use a hairdryer for this
After this, carefully remove the curlers, you will get wonderful curls
If you wish, do your hair in braids. To do this, comb the doll's hair and divide it into three parts. Now secure each one with an elastic band. Take the first part, divide it into three and weave a braid from each.
Then, from the remaining two parts, also create three braids. Then intertwine these three large pieces and secure them at the bottom with an elastic band. You will get such a chic fluffy hairstyle.
Here's how to make hairstyles for dolls, so that the braid is also the basis.
Separate the bottom strand of the doll's hair and begin to weave braids from this strand.
Wrap it around your head and on the other side, take another strand of hair at the bottom, continue to braid, but it will be small on this side.
Cover it with your main hair. This is what happens.
Before you do your doll's hair, you can dye her hair not just one color, but several. In this case, hair dye of different colors can be applied to different strands.
See how else you can weave a braid for Barbie or for dolls with long hair.
Take the left strand and bring the second one over it. Now take the third strand and place it perpendicular to the middle one.
Take the next strand, intertwine it with the main ones and then take the strand from below. In this way weave a spikelet. Then braid a three-strand braid, twist it into a bun and secure it here with a hairpin or elastic band.
Here's how to style your doll's hair. If you want to know more about this, then watch the video.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_qccgTLwpU8
And the second video will remind you how to do hair on a doll.
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What can a doll's hair be made of? Which ones can be washed and which ones can’t?
Before you decide to wash your doll's hair, you will have to determine what it is made of.
Dolls made from synthetic materials such as plastic and vinyl can safely come into contact with water (as can their hair). Most modern dolls bought at a toy store are made from synthetic materials; you can wash and clean them without worry.
Dolls made of wood or porcelain need special care when cleaning their hair. Moisture that touches the head may cause rot or mold, destroying the doll.
Made from real hair and mohair, doll hair can be washed, but with caution: most dolls with this hair type have wigs glued to their heads (rather than sewn in).
A wool doll's hair cannot be washed.
Yarn - Can be washed with care: most of these dolls are made of fabric and can rot or mold if they get wet. Wash yarn with fabric softener or hand wash detergent.
General rules for caring for doll hair
The doll may have plastic crepes, bows, bandanas, hairpins or other accessories in its head; we remove all this before starting work.
If you want to prevent tangles or hair damage, groom your doll's hair regularly. After your child plays with the doll, comb the hair before putting it away. And periodically wash with baby shampoo.
Avoid excessive styling; it’s better to simply braids and ponytails, then the doll’s hair will remain smooth and soft for much longer.
Some types of dolls come with special hair care instructions. For example, American Girl dolls have hair types that you should not wash yourself.
If the doll has mechanical parts, be careful: if water gets into them, it can ruin the mechanism. In this case, the doll’s body can be wrapped in plastic film.
Hot water
The plastic that dolls' hair is made from is a low-temperature plastic, so it is actually pliable in boiling water.
. Dolls' hair gets jagged over time (like our split ends), so by soaking in boiling water and combing, we actually restore the strand.
Hot water helps detangle doll hair. Some materials can withstand boiling water, and some can only withstand hot water, but not boiling water. Try with hot water (usually you need something hotter than what comes out of the tap).
Without shampoo and soap, you can restore tangled, but not dirty, doll hair. This is the easiest way
.
You know how a doll's hair gradually becomes a "loofah": at first everything is smooth and shiny, and after a few years the poor toy looks as if it fit into an electrical socket. And no amount of cleaning solves the problem. It just makes overly tangled curls less tangled. Boiling water comes to the rescue.
First remove all knots. Then boil water, pour it into a shallow bowl, dip the doll’s hair and comb it, and so on many times in a row. It's amazing how well this works.
Once your hair is smooth, towel dry it, comb it so it lays the way you want it, and then dry it.
But this will not fix heavily soaked ends. You will have to cut the doll's hair a little.
Baby shampoo and conditioner, which are discussed below, slightly enhance the effect of boiling water, and at the same time wash away the dirt. They can be used in colder water, although boiling water is most effective.
What comb should you use?
If your curls are prone to frequent tangling, then you need to choose the right comb. Therefore there should be several of them. It is best to use combs made from natural materials. They are not able to accumulate electrostatics, thereby not fluffing up the curls.
It is believed that the following types of combs are most effective in combating tangled hair:
- with thinned teeth is excellent for detangling wet hair - tangles;
- with thick teeth will help cope with small nodules;
- a comb with a thin handle is needed to remove small strands and single hairs from tangles;
- a massage brush is very useful when performing regular combing or massage;
- Round brushes are used to create the required volume of hair and curls.
Fabric softener (conditioner)
Soak hair in fabric softener (rinse aid). Choose a branded, high-quality mouthwash. Pour into a bowl or cup. How much you need depends on the amount of hair on the doll. You need to completely soak the doll's hair. To avoid wasting excess rinse aid, start by adding a small amount and gradually add more.
Place the doll's hair in a bowl and use your fingers to massage the product into the scalp, detangling the entire length of the hair. Continue until hair is completely covered with product.
Set the doll aside. Leave the softener on your hair for at least an hour. If the doll's hair is in terrible condition, you can even leave it overnight. If they have time to dry overnight, wet them again in the morning, let the doll lie down to drain off excess moisture, and then work on.
Next, comb directly with the softener in the hair, it should act as a conditioning agent, smoothing the doll's hair along its entire length. For larger dolls, if you don't have a wig brush (which works best), any wide-toothed brush will do. Comb slowly to avoid pulling hair. For a smaller doll like Barbie, a comb may work better than a brush. Metal combs for pets work well.
Next, rinse your hair under cool tap water in the sink, rinse the product out of your hair completely because if left on, it can damage your hair in the long run. Periodically wring out your hair until completely clean water flows from it.
Dry with a clean towel or simply let dry without wiping.
Never blow dry your doll's hair:
They are thin and delicate and react poorly to such a procedure.
When your hair is dry, comb again with a fine-toothed comb to straighten your hair and remove any tangles if any remain.
Baby shampoo
You don't need to use shampoo too often as this can damage your hair. Hair conditioners contain oils that can eventually damage your doll's hair, so it's best to choose shampoo instead.
Fill a bowl or cup with cool water. Choose a bowl that is large enough to hold all of your doll's hair. The water temperature should be cooler if your doll has curly hair. Hot or warm water can cause hair to lose curl.
Add half a teaspoon of baby shampoo. Mix shampoo with water until completely dissolved.
Do not replace baby shampoo with regular shampoo!
Shampoo for babies is definitely safe for dolls, but the same cannot be said about regular shampoo. A shampoo for sensitive skin or weak colored hair may be suitable, but the best product is one that is suitable for bathing babies from birth.
Soak your hair and rub the product in with your fingers. Continue massaging the doll's hair until foam appears.
In addition to baby shampoo, you can dilute dish soap in water.
Leave for 10 minutes. This will help remove tangles and make your hair soft and shiny.
Rinse thoroughly, several times, until the water is clear.
Dry your hair a little. You shouldn't comb your hair when it's wet, but if it's a little damp, you should. To dry, you can hang the doll upside down and let it drain a little, or dry it with a towel.
When the hair is dry but still damp, we begin the combing process, as in the previous method.
If the doll really has. rat hair?
Comb from bottom to top using a little laundry conditioner, rinse, repeat.
If the hair is very old and damaged, it may be beyond repair.
If your doll's hair is in terrible shape, you have nothing to lose. Even if everything is not as effective, it will still be better than it was!