A doll is an indispensable toy for any girl. Mom should understand that children's toys need to be washed, as many germs collect on them. But not everyone knows whether dolls’ hair can be washed. In fact, this is not only possible, but also necessary. After all, during the game, the doll’s hair begins to get tangled and dirty. Even if the toys are on the shelf, they can also use cleaning using water procedures. How to straighten a doll's hair after washing? Even the most hopeless hair can be saved. You should not cut the doll's hair: it will lose its appearance. But there are many ways to help correct the situation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Useful tips for a doll hairdresser
Before you think about how to straighten your doll's hair, try to evaluate the quality of the fiber from which it is made. Thermal treatment will most likely be ineffective for the cheapest doll strands. Be careful, as some types of fibers can form dangerous compounds when heated that can cause allergic reactions.
If your strands are too tangled, hold them over a pan of boiling water before combing. Such “steamed” hair should be easy to comb with a regular comb. Another interesting folk recipe for saving toys is to pour boiling water over your hair and leave to dry. After such a simple procedure, your hair will look styled. Should you tell your child how to straighten a doll's hair? Many mothers prefer to carry out all restoration procedures in person, so that no one is distracted. And this is a big mistake. A girl of 5-6 years old can wash and comb her pet, but it makes sense to entrust a schoolgirl with the entire procedure of restoring her hairstyle.
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.
Straightening curls with boiling water
Another way to straighten Monster High curls is boiled water. Be extremely careful not to get burned by the steam.
The doll should be placed on the edge of the sink, upside down. After the water in the kettle boils, gently pour over the strands.
It is important that the toy must be of good quality, since the hair of cheap analogues can be completely deteriorated from such a procedure. If you are not sure about the “origin” of the doll, it is better to use the first method.
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.
- Also in Myshop
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.
How to wash them
Many people are interested in the question of how to straighten the hair of a Barbie doll. This process will end well only if you wash her hair before starting it. You need to wash it in cool water, adding a little shampoo. Some people wash their hair twice, but this is not necessary. After washing is finished, the doll should be wrapped in a terry towel. Do not rub your hair as some of it may break off. Moreover, this may cause them to become even more confused. After this, conditioner should be applied to the doll's hair.
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.
How to tidy up a doll?
To put the doll in order, you need to have the following:
- Plain water. It should be slightly warm. If it is too hot, the doll's hair may curl.
- Shampoo. You can use the one you wash your hair with. The cheapest detergent will help to cope with the situation.
- Air conditioner. It’s better to take one that doesn’t have to be washed off. It will be absorbed into the toy's hair and make it soft and silky.
- Comb.
- Towel.
It is not recommended to use the same comb you are using. Due to the particles that are on it, the doll's hair will become dirty very quickly.
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.
How to comb a doll's hair if it is tightly tangled
Usually the problem of tangled strands on a doll is easily solved. Parents throw away the useless toy and buy their daughter a brand new Barbie with shiny, well-groomed curls.
But what to do if we are talking about a truly beloved doll, for example, a memorable gift?
In this case, it’s worth spending a little personal time to get your pet in order.
The easiest way to carry out the procedure is to use washing powder or baby soap:
- First you need to undress the beauty and remove the hairpins from her hair;
- After this, you should try to carefully comb the curls that remain loose. If possible, it is advisable to comb tangled strands, trying to separate them into thin parts;
- Dissolve a little washing powder or baby soap in a glass of warm water, which will allow you to wash your curls without harming them;
- First, the toys are simply washed. Then, using a comb, fabric softener or a concentrated soap solution is distributed along the entire length of the strands and thus tangled areas are combed out. Having completed the procedure, the hair is washed again with warm water;
- All that remains is to remove the water from the body of the toy. It should be dried by placing it away from heating appliances, as heat accelerates the decomposition of plastics and plastics;
- After half an hour, you can try combing your hair with a comb with strong and sparse teeth. After this, the doll with wet hair is left to dry for another half hour;
- The finally dried curls are combed again and the beauty is dressed up. To protect your curls from further tangling, you can apply a little gel to them.
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 comb the natural hair of an expensive doll
Tangled natural strands can be combed using a device such as a flat iron.
The following tools will be required:
- iron;
- water;
- clamps;
- slicker for combing animals;
- new toothbrush.
The slicker should be the cheapest - a simple wooden tablet, equipped with fairly sharp and thin teeth.
Before the procedure, the doll's hair is washed with washing powder and fabric conditioner is applied to it. After about a quarter of an hour, the product is washed off and the curls are dried by blotting with a cloth.
The iron is heated to a temperature of 90-110°C. A lower temperature regime will be ineffective, a higher temperature can damage the hairstyle. It is better to perform a preliminary test on a small strand.
One of the curls is separated from the total mass of hair and carefully but carefully combed with a slicker brush. It is important to be patient and not pull out hair. The remaining strands are secured with clamps.
The combed curl is moistened with water and ironed. There is no need to rush; you need to slowly pull the strand out from under the sole of the iron.
The warm lock is combed again. This time - with a toothbrush. If after the procedure the hair remains disheveled and uneven, you will have to repeat it several times until the curl becomes smooth.
Other strands are processed in the same sequence.
The work is quite painstaking and requires a certain perseverance. But as a result, the doll will have a magnificent hairstyle. You can use a ceramic-coated curling iron instead of a straightening iron.
To properly comb your toy, first wash its hair. It is not recommended to use shampoos and conditioners intended for humans for this purpose. The problem is that even the dolls' natural curls are inanimate. Detergents that are created for living hair can lead to negative consequences and completely ruin your favorite doll’s hairstyle.
A lot has changed since Barbie was in fashion. Modern girls prefer cute werewolves and vampires to long-legged blondes. Most likely, the secret of their popularity lies in the fact that each doll is special: individual appearance, hair color, outfit. And despite the fact that the favorite has changed, the main problem remains - and this is the doll’s hair!
Yes, girls love to experiment not only with their hair. Curl, braid, comb... And how can I return straight shiny strands to the doll? Let's learn how to straighten the hair of a Monster High doll.
To get your hair in perfect order, wash it well first.
