Do you have a doll with synthetic hair that you’re not sure how to wash? If so, you’re in luck! In this blog post, we’ll share some tips on how to wash synthetic doll hair. Whether your doll has curly hair or straight hair, these tips will help you get it clean and keep it looking its best. So let’s get started!
If you or your children have dolls with synthetic hair, it’s likely that, over time, the hair will begin to look and feel dirty and dingy.
Since almost all of this hair is synthetic, you might think that there is nothing you can do to make the hair look better.
Fortunately, there are ways that you can fix this issue, and once you learn how to wash synthetic doll hair, you can do this for every doll in your collection.
Read on as we cover tips on how to wash synthetic doll hair.
How to Wash Synthetic Doll Hair
We have two main techniques that you can use to wash a doll’s hair, and both of these methods are easy to follow and can be done in a jiffy. All you need is a little patience and, of course, a few tricks up your sleeve.
Method #1: Using a Fabric Softener
The first method that you might consider when it comes to washing a doll’s synthetic hair is to use a fabric softener. The main thing you have to remember is that you must use a high-quality brand in order to get the best results.
Cheaper brands of fabric softener are often watered down, and they just won’t work as well as high-quality ones for this type of task. You also need a bowl or cup and the doll you need to wash.
Step 1: Prepare the Mixture
Pour a small amount of fabric softener in a bowl or cup. The amount depends on the length of the doll’s hair, but it’s best to start with a small amount and add more if needed, as you don’t want to waste your good fabric softener.
Step 2: Give the Doll a Hair Spa
With the fabric softener in the bowl, place the doll hair down into the fabric softener and use your fingers to work it into the hair. You should add more fabric softener until the hair is completely soaked through.
Once the doll’s hair is saturated, set it aside for at least an hour. If the doll’s hair is in really rough shape, you can leave the doll soaking overnight.
Step 3: Comb Out the Hair
Once the doll’s hair has soaked in the fabric softener for the right amount of time, the next thing to do is to comb the hair. Do not rinse it just yet. Instead, comb it with the fabric softener still in the hair.
The fabric softener acts as a hair conditioner, and it helps to remove the tangles. If you have access to a wig brush, this is the best option, but if you don’t, any wide-toothed comb or brush will work.
Work slowly as you want to avoid breaking the hair. If there are large tangles, you might want to work them out with your fingers before taking the comb through.
Step 4: Rinse the Hair
Once the hair is brushed, you can rinse out the fabric softener. You don’t need anything fancy here; you just rinse it out with tap water right in the sink.
You would want to make sure that all of the fabric softener is removed, so keep rinsing until it’s all rinsed away.
When it’s gone, use a clean towel to pat the hair dry, or you can let it air dry. Do not use a hair dryer on your doll, though. The heat can literally melt the hair.
Step 5: One Final Brush
Finally, once the hair is almost dry or completely dry, brush or comb the hair again to make sure that all of the tangles are out.
Method #2: Use Baby Shampoo
Another method you can do is to use baby shampoo. To start, you want to get a bowl of cool water, not warm nor hot, and some baby shampoo. Make sure the bowl is large enough to get the doll’s head and hair into it, as well as at least one of your hands.
Step 1: Prepare the Water
For this, you only need a small amount of baby shampoo—about a quarter of a teaspoon per cup of water. Mix the shampoo into the water until it is totally dissolved.
You want to make sure this is baby shampoo and not shampoo for adults. That’s because adult shampoo could be too rough for doll hair.
Step 2: Wash the Hair
When the shampoo is dissolved, place the doll into the bowl, and work the water into the hair until it lathers up.
Allow the doll to soak in the bowl for about 10 minutes. This gives the shampoo enough time to work its magic and remove any tangles that might be present in the doll’s hair.
Step 3: Rinse the Hair
Once it has soaked in the shampoo-filled water, you can rinse the hair with clean water. You must make sure to get all of the shampoo out during the rinsing process. The easiest way to do this is to place the doll’s head right under the tap.
Step 4: Dry the Hair
Once the shampoo is rinsed, you should dry the hair before attempting to brush it. You can simply allow it to air dry, or you can use a towel. Again, do not use a hair dryer.
Step 5: Brush
Once the hair is dry, you can brush the hair with a comb or brush to make sure all of the tangles are totally removed.
Also, be sure to check out How to Detangle Doll Hair Without Fabric Softener for more tips and tricks.
Conclusion
And, that’s it! Those two methods are the easiest and most effective techniques on how to wash synthetic doll hair. Now, you can get to work and make your precious dolls look they’re very best.
Have an older doll with cloudy eyes? Be sure to also visit How to Fix Doll Eyes: Practical Tips That Work in 2021.