Make Your Doll’s Hair Look as Good as New!
Good looking hair styles,pussycat dolls hair styles,barbie hair style
games
It is not only children who love to collect dolls, but adults too! This
must indicate that there is a little bit of the “child” in each one of us!
Some dolls are handed down from generation to generation. While the rest
of the doll is easy to maintain and care for, it is the hair which might
require extra attention. This is because various types of materials are
used to form the hair for the head—yarn, Karakul (short curly, black fur
that comes from lambs), wool, human hair, mohair from Angora goats, modern
synthetic hair, and painted or embossed pattern.
Each type of “hair” has to be handled differently in order to keep it
clean or conduct some repairs.
(1) Yarn is directly attached to the head of the doll with the aid of
glue or a needle and thread. This hair is not meant for brushing; so leave
it alone. If you need to clean it, use a gentle detergent to wash the
hair.
(2) Karakul is also stuck to the head of the doll with glue; no wig base
(cloth or mesh into which the hair is sewn) is used. Wool hair is attached
in a similar pattern. If you do not want to see a bald pate on your doll,
handle his/her head with extreme caution! No liquids to be used in the
name of cleanliness, please! Take some corn starch or talcum powder, and
sprinkle it into the hair. When that is done, use a clean toothbrush to
get rid of the powder. Gentle combing will ensure that the dirt comes
away too.
(3) (a) Unlike wool, yarn and karakul, human hair is not attached directly
to the doll’s head. A wig base is always used. Hence, the first step is
to work the wig away from the head. This requires time and patience for
your only tool is your fingers; place the fingers under the wig and do
the needful. You might come across areas where the hair refuses to loosen—give
them sprays of cool water. This is to be avoided in the case your doll
is made of painted wood; the paint may come off.
(b) Check the wig base for tangles. In case the hair is being separated
from the wig mat, use a soft bristle brush to smoothen it. Otherwise,
an ice pick or a rat-tailed comb or a hair pin will do.
(c) Next, the wig is to be dumped into a combination of cold water and
Woolite. Should you notice any glue patches on the mesh, remove them with
the aid of your fingernails or tweezers. Now, rinse the wig base.
(d) It is not over yet; your doll’s wig needs a second bath. This time,
a few drops of vinegar is to be added to the mixture; this will make the
hair lustrous. Do keep your hands under the wig all the time to ensure
that its shape is retained. And never use a scrubbing motion on the wig
base.
(e) Done? Get your wet wig onto a towel—spread it into a circle. A second
towel can be used to squeeze out as much water as possible; be gentle.
(f) Finally, place the cleaned wig base on a clean towel. Transfer the
towel to a warm place so that it can dry comfortably.
(4) Mohair hair is cleaned in much the same way as human hair, since it
uses a wig base too. Shrinking or stretching can occur while cleaning.
Remove some stitches if there has been shrinkage. Tucks can be placed
in the case of stretching. Whatever you do, do not cut into the hair.
Neither Mohair nor human hair comes cheap; you will not find it easy to
replace damaged hair.
(5) (a) Synthetic hair is a sign of modernity, maybe from the 1950s onwards.
Some manufacturers prefer to use a wig base, while others like to root
the hair into the head directly. In this case, the “rooted” hair is glued
from the inside of the head.
(b) The wig base is to be detached gently from your doll’s head and dampened
in cool water. Also, use a spray (even a fabric softener will do) specially
meant for this type of hair; do not go in for shampoos as they cause over-fluffing.
The spray is to be spread manually. Now, rinse the wig.
(c) The hair is now bound to be tangled—untangle it. Utilize a hair conditioner.
A pet’s hair brush (with its metal tines) works better on your doll than
something that is used for human hair. The comb that you use for your
own hair will cause your doll’s head to look oily and grimy.
(d) The final touch is “styling the hair”. No curling irons, please—the
heat will destroy the hair! Simple brushing or re-establishing is more
than sufficient.
Always ensure that no liquid enters your doll’s eyes; they will get mildewed.
