After my success with restoring Felicity's nearly fried hair with conditioner and a curling iron, I had to try in on someone else. I repeated the process on both Josefina and my AGT Hannah Rose. I can't get enough! Although niether had terribly awful frizzies to begin with, both of them now have smooth silky hair that I can't stop running my hands through. [img]smile.gif[/img] I can't wait until I go visit my family this summer so I can do it to Mom's Kirsten and my sister's Molly!
I also gave Hannah Rose a baking powder wipe-down and used some theatre make up ever so lightly to give her face a little color. She's very pale. I tried that on Felicity too. It looks great, but it comes off if you wipe it. Oh well.
Good to hear you got your dolls' hair in such good condition! I'd be scared to use any heat at all on my Kirsten...
Someone here (I forgot who, sorry) put real make-up (I think lipstick, and maybe blush?) on her dolls to improve their coloration, and said that after a couple weeks, it becomes permanent. So if you like what you have, try to keep it on and yours might set in too!
I love curling irons too! [img]wink.gif[/img] Never tried it on a doll.....my mom forbid me of ever thinking about it! LOL! Knowing me her hair would melt.... [img]tongue.gif[/img] It's too bad I can't do it on dolls...I have a 5 in 1 curler/crimper/straightener thingy! There are 2 types of curls and waves also.
I just used my new ceramic hair straightener ($14 at Walmart) on my niece's two non-AG 18" dolls--great and good results respectively (one was REALLY fried!)--and the straightener is SOOOO much easier to use!! Love it, and can't wait to use it on a couple of my ebay AG girls who need some work!!
If you're nervous about the heat, start with the lowest setting on a small hidden lock of hair to begin with--if it doesn't work, gradually increase the heat. It will straighten the hair BEFORE it's hot enough to melt it.
A more experienced fixer-upperer said she had NEVER melted an AG wig, though she had melted a couple of cheaper dolls' wigs.
Wait, I'm lost. Are we using the ceramic straightener/curling iron INSTEAD of the steamer?
Someone write directions out for me, please, as I might try this
Nope, the ceramic straightener (or curling iron) is used AFTER the Downy dunk and brushing-out while still damp, and steaming-- oh, here it is in order:
1. Downy dunk--soak hair in full-strength Downy for an hour minimum up to 2 days
2. Rinse well with cool to lukewarm water
3. Let drip-dry until still-damp
4. CAREFULLY brush out a little at a time, starting at the ends
5. Steam all hair with non-metal steamer, protecting eyes
6. Use ceramic hair-straightener or curling iron (on lowest heat to start)
7. (Optional) Use curling iron to curl under the ends, or set hair in rollers and use steamer to steam-in curls, if desired. Regular sponge-rollers work nicely, I'm told.
Hope this helps, and good luck with your dollies! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]
I don't have a steamer. I just soaked their hair in shampoo/conditioner and ran a curling iron through each lock of wet hair.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It's an option of choosing one over the other. I prefer the steamer. Others prefer a curling iron. But if you're going to use a curling iron, be sure the hair is damp. Dry heat on doll hair is not a good thing. [img]eek.gif[/img]Wait, I'm lost. Are we using the ceramic straightener/curling iron INSTEAD of the steamer?
Actually, I use both--I've been given to understand that steaming adds moisture (always a good thing), and the curling iron/straightener has been much more effective for me on those fuzzy-wuzzy ends.
If the hair isn't still damp from the steaming, I mist a bit before straightening; and if the ends still seem a bit dry, I rub in just a drop or so of a leave-in shine product before I straighten.
(According to Molly-Girl, any shine product will do--I use Redken "Glass" which was kind of expensive, but will last me about 10 years--there are cheaper brands for those who are more cost-conscious and less ga-ga over investing in doll maintenance) [img]smile.gif[/img]
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