Tangled hair and frizz are common challenges for American Girl doll owners — but don’t worry! With the right techniques and tools, you can restore your doll’s hair to its smooth, shiny, and stylish best in just minutes. Whether your doll has curly, straight, or wavy locks, these quick fixes will have her looking salon-fresh without any damage.
Read on to learn how to fix American Girl doll hair like a pro — no experience needed!
What You’ll Need
Before getting started, gather these essentials:
- Spray bottle with clean water
- Wire wig brush or metal-bristle doll hairbrush
- Hair pick (for curly hair)
- Soft elastics or doll-sized clips
- Towel
- Optional: misting bottle with a doll-safe conditioner or detangler
You’ll find many of these tools — plus adorable styling accessories — in our doll accessories collection, specially curated for high-quality care and play.
Step 1: Lightly Mist the Hair
Dry brushing can make doll hair frizzier and cause breakage. Start by misting the hair lightly with water. Avoid soaking it — a damp mist helps loosen tangles without damaging the fibers.
Pro Tip: Only use water or products specifically labeled as safe for doll hair. Avoid human hair sprays, gels, or conditioners.
Step 2: Detangle Gently from the Bottom Up
Hold a section of the hair near the scalp and begin brushing from the ends, working your way up. This reduces tension on the wig cap and helps prevent pulling out strands.
If your doll has curly or textured hair, skip the brush and gently finger-comb or use a wide-tooth pick to preserve the curl pattern.
Step 3: Style with Care
Once detangled, you can style the hair however you like — braids, buns, ponytails, or loose waves. Use soft hair ties that won’t snag or pull. Avoid tight hairstyles that can stress the wig cap or cause breakage.
Try a half-up style or a side braid for a quick refresh that looks polished in minutes!
Step 4: Fix Frizz and Flyaways
To manage frizz or static, use a barely damp cloth to smooth down flyaways. You can also wrap the hair in a silk or satin scarf for a few minutes to help tame frizz naturally.
If the hair is extremely dry or damaged, apply a doll-safe conditioning mist and leave it to air dry completely before brushing again.
Step 5: Prevent Future Tangles
Keep your doll’s hair looking great longer by loosely braiding it or tying it back when she’s not in use. Store her upright or lying flat with hair smoothed down.
Need accessories to help with storage and styling? Discover our full range of hair care tools, storage sets, and styling accessories designed to make doll care easy and fun.
Final Thoughts
Fixing American Girl doll hair doesn’t have to take hours. With just a little time and the right approach, you can bring back shine, softness, and style — all in just a few minutes.
So go ahead — brush, braid, and beautify like a pro! And for everything you need to care for your doll from head to toe, explore our growing selection of doll accessories to enhance the fun.