So you just got your first doll! Or maybe you’ve had one for a short while and you just can’t quite get that wig looking the way you want it. Many of us have lived our lives with short hair of our own and have never learned to care for long hair and that’s ok!
You want to have a small selection of tools to take care of your doll’s hair:
- A detangling brush
- A small comb for bangs and styling
- Some sort of conditioner
Realistically most kinds of brushes will work just fine, but detangling brushes get the job done a little better in my experience.
A conditioner lubricates the hair to make detangling and brushing easier. It also prevents static electricity making the hair go all crazy. There are wig conditioner products available but many find success on their own by making a mix of water and fabric softener and putting it in a spray bottle. This also makes your doll’s wig smell great!
Now that we’ve got our tools, let’s tame a wig!
First, powder your doll’s forehead, cheeks(the ones on her head!), neck, shoulders, and anywhere her hair might touch. This will prevent the hair from sticking to her and make it easier to style later.
I usually begin with the wig in my hand, not on the doll. It’s easier to detangle with the wig off the doll.
I give it a few hits conditioner then begin from THE BOTTOM, only about the width of the brush itself. Do not force the brush through, but rather gently tease the tangles out. Hold the brush loosely and if the wig catches the brush, once again, do not force it. I will hold the brush loose enough that if it catches, it will often pull the brush out of my hand which is better than the brush ripping a bunch of hair out!
Once you have the first section of brushing down, slowly work your way up the wig, brushing a little more of the wig each time along with everything else you already brushed. Here is a crude illustration of what I mean.
Use the wig tightening straps. People heads are bigger than doll heads so you will nearly always need to use the tightening straps. Two loops in is usually good but it will vary from doll to doll.
To put the wig on, I flip up the front to make sure the bangs don’t get caught under the wig, then slide the wig on from the back and allow the front to flip back down.
This will mess up the wig a little but since we’ve already detangled, fixing it will be no problem! For the finishing touches, brush the hair out again and use a spritz or two of conditioner as needed. Use your comb to style the bands and ta-da! Your girl’s wig is looking great!
Any advice for newbies is welcome and appreciated! What conditioner do you use? If you make your own, what’s your formula? Is there a specific brush you’re a fan of?
