Today I'm going to go over how to boil wash you dolls hair. I will be using pictures and description to add on to this method for your benefit. The process is pretty simple and straight forward, but it was a nice one to learn. Especially when you open up your doll and you realize the hair is more flat, ratty, fuzzy, or greasy than you were hoping for. For this project I decided to use my Gooliope Jellington Monster High Doll. She is a beautiful doll and when I opened her she only had one prominent curl in her bang when everything else seem sort of formed together into a knotty fuzz. (picture 1 to the right) Her hair was cute despite that for sure and I almost was scared to try this process because I didn't want to make it worse, but I am truly glad I did. |
The first thing you want to do is strip your doll down so there is no accessories or clothing that will become damaged during the process. You want to lay down a towel, have an empty bowl ready for letting her hair rest late, and have a comb or MH brush at the ready, preferably a fine comb, and a spare hand towel. If you are cleaning the dolls hair you will also want to have conditioner. Your work station will look something like the left picture minus the jacket and sleepy cat. |
Then you want to first take your monster high brush and starting at the ENDS of the hair not at the scalp, you want to slowly and gently brush out all the knots in your dolls hair. if you start at the top of the head it could make the knots worse and potentially pull the hair out of your dolls hair. While running the brush through these knots you want to hold the hair above where you are brushing to prevent pulling of the hair. If you decide not to be gentle don't worry your doll won't go bald instantly or anything, but I find that the more hair the better. After the ends are brushed out slowly start brushing higher on the head. Once her head is smooth from the MH brush use a comb to repeat this process for maximum knot release and smoothness, be especially thorough on parts of hair with hairspray because you want to break up those parts as well and carefully as possible.(pictures 3 and 4) |
Your next step will be to fill up a stove pot with water, I recommend filling it pretty high and then put it on High until reaches a boiling point. Once you think your water is ready turn of the stove and move the pot of boiling water to a heating pad on top of your towel in your work station. Feel free for it too cool down a bit if you feel it's too hot.
This part scared me at first because this was my first doll doing this process with, I was worried her head would melt or her face paint would come off if I so much as got it wet, but once I took the plunge I realized it was going to be okay, I got her head and face all wet and nothing happened. If you want to move the boiling water to another bowl that's okay too. I used the pot because it was deep and I could maneuver my dolls hair around in the water easily by exposing less of her body to the hot water.
You want to very slowly lower the dolls hair into the pot swirling your doll a bit so the hair moves around in the pot, once your doll's hair is completely in the pot count to 10 seconds, quickly if you're feeling nervous and lift out. While holding your doll over the pot, take your comb to the hair and brush through it to remove anymore knots or tangles. If you're a bit anal like me you'll do this quite a few times and thoroughly. Next you want to repeat dunking her hair back into the pot for 10 seconds, comb again and set her hair into the empty bowl you have prepared. If her hair is quite a bit soaked use the spare towel you have to dab at her hair lightly.
At this point if you are wanted condition the dolls hair you would apply it now. I do not recommend conditioning your dolls hair if the reason you're washing it is due to grease in her hair. It will only make it worse. (As it was, Gooliiope's hair was not greasy so I decided to see if my cheap strawberry conditioner. I'm sure there is specific conditioner you can use for your doll, but honestly this conditioner worked like magic and now she looks and smells great.) So you want to use just enough conditioner to completely cover your dolls hair and scalp area and let it sit for a good 5 minutes in the bowl you have her head sitting in.
5 minutes later, your water should still be warm enough, you will once again slowly dip her hair into the water swirling her around a bit letting the conditioner wash out, after about 10 or more seconds lift her and comb/brush, and repeat. If the water is cool enough comb her hair a bit under the water to really get the conditioner washed out. If it is not, take your doll to a sink and run warm water over head as you wash out the rest of her hair by any means you deem appropriate. ( use your hairs/towel/brush/comb ) But just make sure you wash ALL of the conditioner out, after it is all out of her hair take the spare towel and squeeze and dab at her hair until it soaks up the bulk of the water.
This part scared me at first because this was my first doll doing this process with, I was worried her head would melt or her face paint would come off if I so much as got it wet, but once I took the plunge I realized it was going to be okay, I got her head and face all wet and nothing happened. If you want to move the boiling water to another bowl that's okay too. I used the pot because it was deep and I could maneuver my dolls hair around in the water easily by exposing less of her body to the hot water.
You want to very slowly lower the dolls hair into the pot swirling your doll a bit so the hair moves around in the pot, once your doll's hair is completely in the pot count to 10 seconds, quickly if you're feeling nervous and lift out. While holding your doll over the pot, take your comb to the hair and brush through it to remove anymore knots or tangles. If you're a bit anal like me you'll do this quite a few times and thoroughly. Next you want to repeat dunking her hair back into the pot for 10 seconds, comb again and set her hair into the empty bowl you have prepared. If her hair is quite a bit soaked use the spare towel you have to dab at her hair lightly.
At this point if you are wanted condition the dolls hair you would apply it now. I do not recommend conditioning your dolls hair if the reason you're washing it is due to grease in her hair. It will only make it worse. (As it was, Gooliiope's hair was not greasy so I decided to see if my cheap strawberry conditioner. I'm sure there is specific conditioner you can use for your doll, but honestly this conditioner worked like magic and now she looks and smells great.) So you want to use just enough conditioner to completely cover your dolls hair and scalp area and let it sit for a good 5 minutes in the bowl you have her head sitting in.
5 minutes later, your water should still be warm enough, you will once again slowly dip her hair into the water swirling her around a bit letting the conditioner wash out, after about 10 or more seconds lift her and comb/brush, and repeat. If the water is cool enough comb her hair a bit under the water to really get the conditioner washed out. If it is not, take your doll to a sink and run warm water over head as you wash out the rest of her hair by any means you deem appropriate. ( use your hairs/towel/brush/comb ) But just make sure you wash ALL of the conditioner out, after it is all out of her hair take the spare towel and squeeze and dab at her hair until it soaks up the bulk of the water.
You have now completed the boil washing process, now you have to let her hair dry properly. First you want to put your doll on her stand, take your brush or comb and brush her hair into the style you want her to have. For instance you can move the hair line to achieve a different bang if you wish or if you plan to curl or style your dolls hair next with specific pieces you can place them to the side so they don't dry in with the down parts. ect. |
You will see "bald spots" This is COMPLETELY NORMAL. When the hair is entirely dry you won't see these spots anymore. You want to let your doll's hair air dry. Below I have made a slide show of the drying process. For the best results you want to comb/brush your dolls hair ever 30 minutes to an hour. Every time I stopped to comb I took a picture of the drying picture. I hope you've learned from this tutorial and that it helps you somehow.
The video below by DisneyBoy21 is a really great video tutorial of what I just did, my process is a little more specific but both ways are great, and he even has videos on curling and styling your dolls hair! They are really excellent videos and I hope his videos will also help you on your quest to great doll hair!