Advice on doll hair please...

[vew-tori]

I'm really not sure. I have heard that the downey dunk leaves a film on the hair. I've done it and been happy but not blown away. I've heard others say they use a wig shampoo and conditioner. I do know that the smell of Downy now reminds me of dolls [img]biggrin.gif[/img] . Good luck with whatever you decide.

[kitschywoman]

I know some people think that steaming doll hair would damage it, would fabric softener cause harm in anyway (or if I'm not careful)?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've heard that, as well, but I still do it. [img]redface.gif[/img] No damage as of yet. I've also heard that using fabric softener can cause damage, but I still do that, too. I've decided that they're my dolls, and I'm going to handle them as I see fit. So I'm still merrily steaming away. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

[robin0850]

I've Downied, steamed, and even curling-ironed (low heat), and I see no damage yet. And I really LOVE my dolls! I'd rather "doctor" them at home than send them away to the hospital.
I soak the hair in full-strength Downy for an hour, and then rinse really thoroughly with just barely lukewarm water; let the hair air-dry, gently brushing it out with an AG brush while still damp.
It should still curl under on the ends after it dries--if it doesn't, just dampen the ends and use curlers to recurl it; after it's dried it will stay curled under. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Good luck with your dollies' hair! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[Skittl1321]

Do the dolls with "naturally curly" hair retain their curls after it gets wet? Or should this only be done to straight hair dolls?

(Not steaming, or downy, but soaking with water)

I tried to work on Felicity's hair, but I noticed one of the threads that sews the hair down is broken and it kind of spooked me. The hair is attached to the wig through the wig also, right? Not just sewn on with that one exposed thread? Or should I not brush her hair anymore, for fear of loosing that entire row?

[etoileangevin]

Hi, I have some questions regarding doll hair, maybe someone here could help. My Samantha's hair is a little dry. Not bad at all, still curly, brushable, and soft, just a little dry over all.

I've read here that Downey fabric softener could help. But I'm out of that, would others, like Gain fabric softener work? Also, how much water should I add? Thank you so much for any advices!

P.s. That wouldn't hurt her hair at all, would it? I know some people think that steaming doll hair would damage it, would fabric softener cause harm in anyway (or if I'm not careful)? Thanks!

Katherine

[greenehorn]

Do the dolls with "naturally curly" hair retain their curls after it gets wet? Or should this only be done to straight hair dolls?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I was wondering about this myself. Can someone tell us the answer?

[Kaileyfan1]

I've done it on My 1991 Molly and I've seen some difference, but I know that you have to be careful not to get it in the dolls eyes because then her eyes will get rusty.

[MollyGirl]

Samantha's hair when washed combed out wet and air dried will still have curl. (I have a picture of this in my Makeover Album.)

I just downyed, washed, straightened, curled Samantha and Kirsten's hair and took lots of pictures. I have done this to other dolls and each time it comes out great. But this is the first time I really documented it. Please look at my album Samantha and Kirsten's Makeover. Both dolls were bought on eBay. They arrived needing major baths for their arms, legs, face and hair. (I use a very good brand of face soap on their vinyl parts.) I was lucky their bodies were in great shape. Kirsten had the dreg locks thing going on. Both dolls hair was very dry. I add a shine produce to help with this. When I get done the hair feels like real hair. Just make sure you don't get water in the dolls eyes.

[MollyGirl]

My very special Molly (in the thumbnail) came to me in very sad shape.

I bought a white Molly on eBay. The seller made a mistake and mailed me the wrong doll. She mailed my Molly to another buyer (I got her Kirsten.) This other buyer that got my Molly, when asked to mail back to seller, switched dolls. (Don?t you just love people without any consonance?) The Molly I bought on eBay was nude so you could tell she had no stains on her white body, her hair was in good condition and she had very long flat neck strings. The Molly I finally got had many problems. One her hair was a mess. Just trying to brush it would break the hair. (This was my first PM doll.) She has stains on her body that will not wash out. (I tried.) She also had round neck strings that had been trimmed a bit.

I contacted the seller but she said she had not switched the dolls and took herself out of it. I guess I could of returned Molly to her but at this point I really was getting attached to the doll. So instead I sent the Molly doll stealer a rather stern letter. Just to let her know that the seller and I knew that she had done. Some people are so unethical that they would steal a doll. Oh well.

Well I now had this kind of sad nude Molly. But I did notice that her face was different then the other Molly I now had. (By now I had gotten another PM Molly on eBay.) I just fell in love with this sweet Molly. I talked to an eBay seller that fixes up dolls and resells them on eBay. She was so very nice and gave me directions on how she takes care of them. So my first project was Molly. I had her sit in downy for at least two days. I did everything I had done to Samantha and Kirsten, plus I took her head off and tried to get the stains out of her body. Well the stains would not come out but with a few days of air drying both body and hair were dry. I added shine produce (lots of it.) The hair was so dry that it just soaked it up.

Molly?s hair is very thin in back. But it looks so pretty hanging down. It is a soft color brown and now it is also very soft and easy to brush. [img]graemlins/star.gif[/img] So, what started out as a sad story has a very happy ending. [img]graemlins/star.gif[/img] Even thought I have another white Molly that is perfect. My first Molly will always be very special to me. Hence I get to share her with all of you each time I post.
[img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]

[etoileangevin]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I really want to fix her hair but I'm scared that I would make it worse. Guess I will give it a try, since it needs just a little bit of help, maybe I could manage it.

What is the shine product you've used?

Does it have to be Downey? Or could any decent fabric softener do? I have Gain on hand and don't have time to shop until this weekend.

Katherine