Barbie: Hair Care

The first part of a Barbie to show wear and tear is usually its hair. Knowing how to care for her hair will preserve her appearance. If the Barbie is used for play, her hair can be cleaned at home, but if the doll has value as a collectible, the hair repair should be done by a professional doll restorer.

A Barbie doll’s hair can be safely and effectively cleaned with regular shampoo. In fact, she can be undressed and bathed in the tub. Barbie can help ease bath-time struggles for a child, since a child can have fun giving her doll a bath while in the tub together.

After washing, a little detangler can be used on Barbie’s hair to make it easier to comb. To avoid creating new tangles, gently blot the hair dry. Finally, use the brush that comes with pink box Barbies to comb her hair, starting at the ends and gradually working up to the roots. Barbie’s hair will then be fresh and ready for styling.

Children can style Barbie’s hair much as they would their own. Coated elastics, to save the hair from tearing, are recommended when creating ponytails or braids. These often come with pink box Barbies. Many of Barbie’s outfits include hats, bandanas or headbands for more hair-play.

Some die-hard Barbie fans like to color and perm their doll’s hair. This is definitely not child’s play, as it involves the tools of a professional hairstylist, including chemicals, sharp scissors and curling irons. Those wanting to customize their Barbie’s appearance may want to experiment with this kind of extensive restyling, but must be prepared for mistakes such as broken, discolored or frizzled hair.

It may be possible to undo some of this kind of damage by soaking the doll’s hair in boiling water. For badly tangled hair, fabric softener can be used to smooth the strands, making it easier to comb out.