How to Take Care of an Old Barbie Doll's Hair

Co-authored by Jian Yang

Last Updated: November 15, 2025 Approved

A Barbie doll's hair is usually smooth and silky when you buy it. But after playing with it for a few months, the hair starts to get tangled and messy.

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If the doll is really dirty soak it for approximately ten minutes.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Jian Yang
Barbie Doll Collector and Toy Photographer

Expert Interview} If it has just a little dirt, soaking it for just four minutes is enough.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview} The main purpose of soaking its hair in water is to let the dirt wash off.^{[3]
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Research source}
You can use the same shampoo which you use on your hair or buy a separate little packet for the doll.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Jasmin Todd
Master Hair Stylist

Expert Interview}

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With the shampoo still in the doll's hair, comb it from top to bottom, like how you would comb your hair.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Jasmin Todd
Master Hair Stylist

Expert Interview} For this step, do not use your comb, or any comb which your family uses. Use a separate comb because the comb will get really messy.^{[6]
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Research source}
Keep rubbing the head as if you're giving it a head massage.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview}
If you are leaving it free, using the conditioner like clay, mould the hair in a free-hair style. If you are putting it in a ponytail mould it in a ponytail hair style.
Add some more shampoo and rinse it out again.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Jasmin Todd
Master Hair Stylist

Expert Interview}
Your doll is all clean!

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Tips

If you're doll's body is dirty, put some baby soap all over the torso,hands, and legs and massage. Then, rinse it off.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Jian Yang
Barbie Doll Collector and Toy Photographer

Expert Interview}

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A baking soda paste works wonders on the body or limbs to remove stains. Just put it on the stain and rub it in, let in sit for 30-60 seconds, rinse off, and repeat.

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Vintage Barbie dolls are very different from new ones, mainly their hair texture and quality. You should treat the hair differently than you would a new Barbie Doll.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If the hair has a greasy or sticky substance in it, use a small amount of dish washing soap to remove the grease. have bad and greasy hair on the doll, put some dish washing soap on it.
If your Barbie's hair is very tangled, add some baking soda and vinegar to warm (not hot) water, and apply it to her hair. This makes it easier to comb through.
If your doll's makeup is all scratched up, you can remove it with nail polish remover and repaint it. Try very thin-tipped paint markers to get fine lines.
Blow dry your Barbie's hair on the coldest setting. If there is too much heat, her hair could melt.

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Warnings

Do not hold the hair dryer too close to the doll's hair. The hair might burn or melt.

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Do not use a flat iron or a curler on heat on doll's hair. The hair might burn or melt.

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