How to Care for Curly American Girl Doll Hair

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: April 8, 2021

Some American Girl Dolls have beautiful, curly hair. It is fun to play with and style, but sometimes the doll’s hair can get messy and frizzy. If your doll’s hair has become tangled or the curls aren’t looking their best, you can use a bit of water, a pick, and some patience to make your doll’s hair lovely and smooth once again.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Detangling Your Doll’s Curly Hair

1
Purchase a hair pick and a spray bottle. To take the best care of your doll’s curly hair, buy a hair pick such as the American Girl Sparkly Hair Pick. Then, get a small spray bottle to fill with water.^{[1]
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- Don’t use a brush on your doll’s curly hair, since it can make the hair frizzy.
- If you don’t use the American Girl Sparkly Hair Pick, be sure that your pick’s teeth are spaced out. Don’t use a pick that has the teeth tight together, since that can make it harder to remove tangles.
2
Fill the spray bottle with water. Clean water is all you need, so fill up your spray bottle at the sink. You will use it to dampen the doll’s hair before you detangle it.^{[2]
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3
Cover your doll’s face. Before you fix your doll’s hair, tie a bandana, washcloth, or handkerchief around her eyes. This will keep them dry and safe from damage. You can also ask a friend to hold a hand over the doll’s face while you spray her hair with water.
4
Place your doll between your legs. To avoid damaging your doll’s head or hair, you want to hold her steady. You can hold her between your legs or have a friend or parent hold her tightly.^{[3]
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5
Grab the end of one small section of hair. It is easiest if you start with a section closest to the doll’s face. Separate the strand from the rest of her hair with your fingers, and then grab the strand about 2 inches (5.1 cm) above the bottom of the hair.
6
Spray the strand of hair with water. Use your spray bottle to spritz the strand of hair. Spray it 3-4 times, until the hair is damp but not soaked. Be sure not to spray water directly into the doll’s face or eyes. Water can cause her eyeballs to rust!^{[4]
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7
Comb out any tangles. Using your pick, gently comb out any tangles from the strand of hair. Start near the bottom, combing down toward the bottom of the hair. Then, once the bottom section of the strand is tangle-free, begin combing sections further up the strand near the doll’s head. Be careful not to pull too hard, or you could loosen the doll’s head.^{[5]
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- If possible, have someone hold the neck of the doll to stabilize it.
8
Repeat this process with all strands of hair. Once you have finished detangling one strand of hair, grab the next section. Beginning at the bottom of the strand, use your pick to remove any tangles. Do this with all sections of the hair until you have completed the doll’s whole head.
9
Let your doll’s hair air-dry. Once you’re done, simply let your doll sit and relax while her hair dries. Be sure not to use a hairdryer, since they can damage or melt your doll’s hair! Once her hair is dry, you are free to style it or go back to playing with her as usual.

Image titled Care for Curly American Girl Doll Hair Step 9

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Perfecting Your Doll’s Curls

1
Grab the curl closest to your doll’s face. Your doll’s curls should be separated into individual strands, so you can grab each curl individually. If the curls aren’t clearly separated, grab a small section of hair near the doll’s face. ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) to 1 inch (2.5 cm) of hair is perfect.
2
Spritz the hair with a spray bottle. Spray enough water so that the strand is wet, but not dripping. If your doll’s eyes aren’t covered, make sure that you don’t spray water into her eyes.^{[6]
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3
Wrap the hair around your finger, a pencil, or a paintbrush. First, look at the direction that the curl is going. Then, wrap the curl around your finger, a pencil, or a paintbrush in the same direction that the curl is already going. Hold it for 5-10 seconds, and then slide the object gently out of the curl.^{[7]
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- Pencils and paintbrushes work best for dolls with very curly hair. For hair that is slightly curly, your finger will work just fine.
4
Repeat these steps for each section of hair. Move around the doll’s head, grabbing one curl at a time. For each curl, repeat the steps above. Once you have reached the other side of your doll’s head, her curls should be smooth and beautiful!

Community Q&A

Question

This worked so well, but after I brushed my American Girl doll's hair, I saw so many hairs in the brush. Is that ok?

Community Answer

As long as there aren't bald spots on your doll's head, this should be okay. Next time you brush her hair, just be sure to go very slowly and gently to avoid pulling out more hair. Try starting at the bottom of each strand of hair, detangling that section, and then moving up the strand.
Question

Can you use a pencil to curl the doll's hair too? Can you use curlers?

Community Answer

You can use a pencil, your finger, or a paintbrush to curl your doll's hair. Avoid using curlers, especially if they are heated! Heat can damage your doll's hair. Using the pencil, paintbrush, or finger will definitely be the safest way to curl her hair, and it works!
Question

What if you do not have a spray bottle?

Community Answer

If you don't have a spray bottle, put a bit of water on your hand and then run it over the strand of your doll's hair. Make sure not to soak the doll's hair or put it under the faucet. Just pour a bit of water into your palm, spread it on the doll's hair, and then follow the steps in the article for detangling and fixing her curls.

Warnings

Never get your doll’s eyes or body soaked.

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Be careful not to pull too hard on the doll’s head or hair.

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If you put your doll’s hair in a braid for a long time, the curls may not go back to their original state.

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Don’t use hair products such as gels, mousses, or sprays on your doll’s hair. They can damage it over time.^{[8]
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Never apply heat to your doll’s hair with a blow dryer, hot rollers, or a hair straightener.^{[9]
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