Answers to Your Doll Care Questions

1. How should I clean my American Girl doll?: American Girl dolls are meant to be played with. That means every once in a while, your doll's skin will probably need a bit of a clean up. Check out our helpful hints for skin care in the Hair & Skin Care section to have her looking fresh and clean in no time. You can also consult our experts at
800-845-0005
or dolldoctor@americangirl.com for tips.
2. Someone drew all over my doll. What should I do?: If you've tried our basic skin care tips and the stains haven't budged, it may be time to call in the experts. We recommend you call one of our doll doctors at
800-845-0005
or e-mail them at dolldoctor@americangirl.com. For ink stains, they can walk you through a removal process you can do at home that might work. If not, they can advise you on the proper procedure for admitting your doll to our Doll Hospital where she'll receive expert care.
3. Can I wash my doll's hair? If so, how do I wash it?: We don't recommend regular washing of your doll's hair since it can make it frizzy and damaged. However, sometimes spills happen and her hair needs to be cleaned. If that's the case, we can help. Call one of our doll doctors at
800-845-0005
or e-mail them at dolldoctor@americangirl.com and they can walk you through the steps to make sure your doll's hair comes out looking its best.
4. What's the best way to brush my doll's hair?: We're glad you asked. Your doll's hair needs special care to keep it looking its best. You'll want to start with the right tools because the techniques are different depending on if your doll has straight, curly, or textured hair. You can find detailed tips on brushing, misting, and styling all types of American Girl doll hair in our Hair & Skin Care section.
5. Can I remove the wave from my doll's braided hair?: If you have a doll like Molly® or Kaya®, who has had braids for a long time, her hair will likely have waves in it when you take the braids out—just like your hair would. To lessen the wave, lightly mist her hair with water and gently brush it with a wire Doll Hairbrush from the bottom up. Although it may take a little time, the wave will gradually lessen. If you have other questions about how to care for your doll's hair or want to learn some new styles, visit the Hair & Skin Care section, call our experts at
800-845-0005
, or e-mail them at dolldoctor@americangirl.com.
6. How can I make my doll's curls look like new again?: Try this technique to freshen your doll's curls. Separate a small section of hair and brush it smooth. Lightly mist the hair with water. Fold a curling paper, book-style, around the damp section, and slide it down to cover the ends of the hair. Place a doll-sized roller in the hair and turn it vertically. Starting at the bottom, wind the paper and the hair around the roller until it's full. Close the clasp to hold the roller in place. Repeat with as many rollers as you'd like. Fewer rollers with more hair on them will give you bigger, looser curls. Let the hair dry completely and then remove the rollers and style the hair with your fingers. Be patient, it could take overnight or even a couple of days for the hair to dry completely.
7. Can I replace my doll's wig with a new one?: Regrettably, our Doll Hospital staff is unable to replace wigs. To remove the wig would be very difficult and could result in damaging your doll's head. If there's a problem with your doll's hair and you would like to change it, her entire head must be replaced. We're happy to do that at our Doll Hospital. Download the admittance form and find out more about her stay in our Doll Hospital section. If you have any other questions about your doll's wig, call
800-845-0005
or e-mail our experts at dolldoctor@americangirl.com.
8. One of my doll's eyes won't open anymore. Should I admit her to the Doll Hospital?: Before admitting her, please call us for a consultation at
800-845-0005
or e-mail us at dolldoctor@americangirl.com. We'll ask you to describe what you believe caused the problem and provide any other details regarding your doll's eye. Our doll doctors can assess the situation and give you the best advice on whether she can be fixed at home or needs to be admitted to the Doll Hospital for expert care.
9. The neck cord on my doll is cut. What should we do?: On American Girl dolls, the neck cord is used to secure the head to the doll's body. It's designed to remain outside of the body instead of being tucked in—or oops, cut off—so that we can easily replace your doll's head if necessary or make other repairs. It's possible that your doll will remain functional without the exposed cord, but we'd love to assess her condition. For a consultation with one of our doll doctors, call
800-845-0005
or e-mail them at dolldoctor@americangirl.com.
10. My doll's leg is loose and wobbly. Can I fix it at home or do I need to send her to the Doll Hospital?: We're sorry her joint is loose. Before admitting her to our Doll Hospital, please call
800-845-0005
or e-mail dolldoctor@americangirl.com and describe the problem so we can offer our best advice regarding your particular concern. If she needs to be admitted, we'll talk you through the proper procedures or you can download the admittance form and find out more about her stay in our Doll Hospital section.
11. Our dog chewed my doll's arm and ruined it. What should I do now?: Sometimes major owies happen to American Girl dolls. Whether the dog used her as a chew toy or a little brother decided she needed a haircut, we can help. For a consultation with one of our doll doctors, call
800-845-0005
or e-mail them at dolldoctor@americangirl.com. They can tell you more about the services available at our Doll Hospital, such as replacing limbs and even giving your doll a new head. You also can download the admittance form and find out more about her stay in our Doll Hospital section.