Pull the bag right up to her hairline. For extra protection, close your doll’s eyes before you cover her. If you don’t have any plastic bags handy, be very careful not to get any water on your doll’s face or body.
Make sure the water isn’t too hot or too cold. It should be about room temperature, or a little bit warm. Run the water in a steady, gentle stream. Don’t turn it up too high because it might splash onto your doll.
You can use special synthetic wig shampoo, baby shampoo, or a mild regular shampoo. Stop shampooing about 1 inch (2. 5 cm) from her scalp so you don’t get her head wet. If your doll has anything stuck in her hair, like glue or gum, work those strands with your fingers until you can feel it loosening. It’s ok if it doesn’t all come out now—you’ll be brushing it out later.
If your doll has curly hair, the conditioner might make the curls a little less tight. Conditioning your doll’s hair is optional, but it can help to make your doll’s hair less frizzy. You can use any kind of conditioner you want. You can try to use the brand that goes with the shampoo you used, or just go with a regular hydrating conditioner.
If you want to restyle your doll’s hair, to make it wavy or curly, for example, now is a great time to do it! You can create waves with 1 or 2 braids, or make curls by twirling her hair around your fingers. You want to brush her hair while it’s still damp because brushing it when it’s already dry can make it frizz.
If you don’t have a good hold on your doll, you might accidentally yank too hard and loosen her head.
If you’re styling your doll’s hair after washing it, you don’t need to spray it again as long as it’s still damp. If her hair starts feeling dry while you’re brushing or styling, give it a few more spritzes. Try not to spray near her face, or too much over her scalp. It’s just a light spritz, though, so don’t worry if you get a little on her skin—just wipe it off with a paper towel.
If your doll’s hair is straight or wavy, use a wire brush. A wire brush is just a regular brush with bristles made of wire instead of plastic, which can snag in your doll’s hair. If your doll’s hair is curly or textured, use a pick instead of a brush, which will make her hair frizzy. [10] X Research source Don’t use a brush or pick that you’ve used on your own hair.
If you can, hold her neck and the roots of her hair while you brush so you don’t yank her head. It’s ok if you see some strands come out while you brush. This is normal, especially if this is the first time you’ve brushed your doll’s hair. Take your time while you detangle! If you’re patient and carefully work through each tangle, your doll’s hair will be smooth and shiny by the time you’re done.
For even tighter curls, wind the strand of hair around a pen or unsharpened pencil. Hold the hair around the pencil for a couple of seconds, then slowly slide the brush out. If you can see the natural direction of the curl, twirl it around your fingers in the same way. If not, curl it however you think looks best! Make sure your doll’s hair is wet when you curl it. You can spritz it with the spray bottle again if you need to.
The longer you leave the braids in, the longer the waves will last. You can do regular braids or French braids in your doll’s hair. Braid close to her scalp to create the most waves.
Spritz the tangles with water and comb them out gently with your wire brush or pick.
American Girl doesn’t recommend you wash your doll’s hair regularly. Your regular doll hair care routine should be a simple misting and brushing.
Try not to bring her near other sticky products as well, like glue or paint.
Try not to use much product in general, beyond the very occasional shampoo wash.
American Girl Store is located in major cities all over the U. S. , as well as in Canada and the United Arab Emirates. Search for “American girl store locations” online to find the closest store to you.
