Buzz
Your doll's hair looks flawless when it's first removed from the box, but after several brushing and styling sessions, it starts to look dirty and tangled. If you want to restore its original beauty, one of the easiest methods is washing your doll's hair with boiling water. While it might seem a bit intimidating if you've never tried it before, we've got answers to the most frequently asked questions about this method, which will help you clean and style your doll's hair.
Steps
Which Types of Doll Hair Can Be Washed with Boiling Water?
The boiling water method works best for Saran and Kanekalon hair. Most doll hair is made of synthetic materials, with Saran, Kanekalon, and some types of nylon being the most common fibers used. Barbie dolls and other Mattel dolls typically feature Saran or Kanekalon hair.
- This method might not work well for dolls with nylon hair, but it usually doesn't damage the hair and can make it easier to style and comb.
- American Girl dolls, with their acrylic hair, are not suitable for boiling water washing. The hair may melt under high temperatures.
How can I tell what material my doll's hair is made of?
Feel the doll's hair to guess its material. Kanekalon hair is less shiny than Saran hair. It's soft and smooth, fairly prone to breakage, and will burn if you use a flat iron on dry hair. Saran hair feels sticky, flexible, and is often very shiny. If you apply a flat iron to Saran hair, it will immediately melt. Unlike Kanekalon or Saran hair, nylon hair is tough and doesn't easily break. It's usually glossy and colorfast.
- If you're unsure about the material of the doll's hair by touch, you can visit the manufacturer's website for confirmation. However, be aware that large manufacturers like Mattel use multiple types of hair for different dolls, or even different factories producing the same doll.
- Vintage dolls and porcelain dolls may have hair made of wool, animal fur, or human hair.
- Doll collector groups might also have relevant information, but be cautious about trusting a collector's evaluation, even if they're well-known. They might be wrong, or their experience might not apply to all types of dolls, even if they’re the same type produced in the same year.
What tools do I need to wash a doll's hair with boiling water?
Typically, you'll just need a fine-tooth comb, a pot, and a heat source to boil water. Set up a space on your kitchen counter or in the sink to have plenty of room to work, especially if you plan to clean the hair of multiple dolls. Lay a bath towel on the counter to have space for combing the doll's hair and drying it after washing.
- Prepare another small comb and a metal brush for styling the doll's hair after washing. Do not use a comb you've already brushed your hair with – the oils from your hair could damage the doll's hair.
How should I boil the water?
You can boil water either on the stove or in the microwave. There are various methods to boil water, and it doesn't matter which one you choose. Pick whatever is most convenient for you! Ensure the pot or bowl is large enough to fit all the dolls you want to wash.
- If you’re washing one doll multiple times or several dolls at once, change the water and reheat it as needed to maintain clean doll hair.
How long should I leave the doll's hair in boiling water?
Leave the doll's hair in the boiling water for several seconds to a few minutes, depending on the type of hair. If your doll has Kanekalon hair, don't just submerge it in the hot water and leave it there. Gently dip the hair in, lift it out a few times, then let it sit in the water for a few seconds before removing it again. For dolls with Saran hair, you can soak it for a few minutes to fully saturate the hair strands with water.
- Place the doll against the side of the bowl so that the hair is submerged if you plan to soak it for a few minutes without holding the doll. Avoid submerging the entire head as water might seep inside.
- If the doll's hair is heat-resistant, you may need to soak it for several minutes for the boiling water to take full effect. This is okay as you don’t need to worry about the hair melting.
What can I do to wash the doll's hair most effectively with boiling water?
Brush the doll's hair while it's still wet using a fine-tooth comb. Remove the doll's hair from the water and place it on a bath towel. Then, comb the hair from the roots to the tips, paying extra attention to the tangles near the scalp, which are usually the most knotted.
- Don't forget to flip the doll's hair and comb the underside too.
- When combing the doll's hair, try to find the natural part and separate it accordingly. This will make styling easier.
- After washing with boiling water, dip the doll's hair in warm water with a few drops of fabric softener. Comb the hair in this softener solution to make it softer and more manageable.
Can I blow-dry my doll's hair after washing it?
Yes, but only if you alternate between the cool and warm air settings. When blow-drying a doll's hair, you need to be cautious not to overheat it, as this could cause the hair to melt or become damaged. Continue to blow-dry and comb the hair simultaneously to ensure the air is evenly distributed throughout the strands.
- Combing the hair also helps remove curls. If you want to preserve the doll’s curls, use a wide-tooth comb to avoid stretching out the curls.
Can I wash nylon hair with boiling water?
Yes, but simply using boiling water might not always be effective. There are different types of nylon used for doll hair, some of which respond better to boiling water than others. Still, it's worth a try. Generally, the doll's hair will be easier to comb afterward, though boiling water won't make the nylon hair as shiny as it would for Kanekalon or Saran hair.
- Nylon hair is typically used for dolls like Bratz, Disney Store, Moxie Girlz, and dolls from companies such as Play Along, Galoob, and Hasbro.
How many dolls can I wash with boiling water at once?
Start by washing one doll at a time until you get the hang of it. Focusing on just one doll allows you to pay closer attention to its hair while washing. Once you're comfortable, you can manage 2-3 dolls at once, unless they have a lot of hair or the hair is in poor condition.
- This depends on the size of the bowl or pot you're using to boil the water. If you use a larger bowl with more water, there will be more room to submerge several dolls' hair – but be cautious! Don't put too many dolls' hair in at once, as some may soak for too long while others might cool off when you rotate between them.
Can you fix a doll's frizzy hair with boiling water?
Yes, you just need to dip the hair in water and gently comb it out. Boil the water on the stove until it just reaches a boil, then remove it immediately from the heat. Dip the doll's hair into the water and use a comb to untangle the knots, straightening the hair in the process.
- Keep combing until all (or at least most) of the frizz is smoothed out. It's normal for a few strands of hair to fall out in the water.
- If boiling water doesn't solve the frizz at the ends, trim the tips with hair scissors.
Can I use boiling water to curl my doll's hair?
Yes, you can use hair curlers meant for humans to curl your doll's hair. You can buy curling rods online or at beauty supply stores – they are affordable and perfect for curling doll hair. To curl the doll's hair using boiling water, simply wrap the hair around the curler in the desired curl shape, then dip it into boiling water for about 20 seconds. Leave the curlers in until the hair is dry, then remove them to release the curls.
- If you're not happy with the curls, you can wash the doll's hair with boiling water again and brush it straight, then try again. Since no other products are involved, you can do this multiple times without damaging the hair.
- Different types of hair require different processing times, and some types hold curls better than others. Saran hair needs more time to process and doesn’t hold curls as well. Kanekalon and nylon hair curl faster and maintain curls longer.
- If you don't want to buy curling rods, you can use any cylindrical object, such as a straw, although it might be a bit trickier to wrap the hair around.
Warning
- Avoid using heat on the hair of an American Girl doll. Acrylic hair is more prone to damage and may melt.
