Straightening Saran hair?

[AquaMight]

Hi!

I recently got a hold of a Jenny doll that had really gelled ringlets. While cute I was planning on straightening her hair as she will be a custom. The problem is I'm a complete hair newbie D: I rarely handle my doll's hair unless it's finger styling.
I looked up a few methods and I decided to try the boil method. I did everything as instructed but once her hair dried and was brushed it automatically went back into her ringlet style I did it a second time with no better results.

Does anyone know of a good method to straighten saran hair out of ringlets? Keep in mind I'm a complete hair-styling newbie. I've never even owned a straightener and I'm afraid those will burn doll hair.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[SetsunaKou]

The boil method is the way to go but the water needs to be hot enough (just below actual boil) and you have to brush straight the hair while it's wet. Keep pouring the hot water over the hair as you brush it flat/straight.

You'll probably need to do it at least 3 times----that's usually how many 'perms' it takes for a style to set in.

[WhiteDove01s]

While you can melt some doll hair with it, I have a straightener and have used it (and used to use a crimping iron back when I had one) on doll hair without ending up with a melty mess. A good strategy is to work with the doll's hair wet, and work quickly. I do it all the time when I want rid of problematic curls, though I do advise practicing on a bit of practice hair to get the hang of it first.

[AquaMight]

The boil method is the way to go but the water needs to be hot enough (just below actual boil) and you have to brush straight the hair while it's wet. Keep pouring the hot water over the hair as you brush it flat/straight.

You'll probably need to do it at least 3 times----that's usually how many 'perms' it takes for a style to set in.

Thanks Setsuna! I didn't brush the hair right after pouring the water. I'm gonna try that! Hopefully it works, I'll update with results.

While you can melt some doll hair with it, I have a straightener and have used it (and used to use a crimping iron back when I had one) on doll hair without ending up with a melty mess. A good strategy is to work with the doll's hair wet, and work quickly. I do it all the time when I want rid of problematic curls, though I do advise practicing on a bit of practice hair to get the hang of it first.

I know some people use straighteners and get beautiful results but it's too daunting to me D: I'm scared I'll end up burning some hair especially as I've never used a straightener before!

[WhiteDove01s]

I know some people use straighteners and get beautiful results but it's too daunting to me D: I'm scared I'll end up burning some hair especially as I've never used a straightener before!

That's ok. And it's probably true that boil perm might be the best way to go. I've never done that one myself and it scares me a bit! But someday I might to work my way up to it... Tho it might be hampered by the lack of running water in the kitchen... Not sure I can get a fresh reroot to lie down with my usual methods, tho, so it's looming over my head.

I only really know how to use the straightener because it's pretty much the same thing as a crimping iron. Someone in the family bought one of those for me in the late 80's or early 90's because of there being a fad about crimpy perms, and, instead of using it on my own hair, I used it on dolls. This was before I had ANY idea I could damage their hair with it, tho I did have the sense to know that their hair was plastic and would probably melt if I held it in there the whole 15 seconds the crimping iron suggested. I also knew enough from regular ironing to guess to wet the hair to prevent scorching. So, really, I was lucky. As this old Skipper proves: Decades later, she still has soft, undamaged hair that bears the kinks from the crimping iron:

[AquaMight]

I know some people use straighteners and get beautiful results but it's too daunting to me D: I'm scared I'll end up burning some hair especially as I've never used a straightener before!

That's ok. And it's probably true that boil perm might be the best way to go. I've never done that one myself and it scares me a bit! But someday I might to work my way up to it... Tho it might be hampered by the lack of running water in the kitchen... Not sure I can get a fresh reroot to lie down with my usual methods, tho, so it's looming over my head.

I only really know how to use the straightener because it's pretty much the same thing as a crimping iron. Someone in the family bought one of those for me in the late 80's or early 90's because of there being a fad about crimpy perms, and, instead of using it on my own hair, I used it on dolls. This was before I had ANY idea I could damage their hair with it, tho I did have the sense to know that their hair was plastic and would probably melt if I held it in there the whole 15 seconds the crimping iron suggested. I also knew enough from regular ironing to guess to wet the hair to prevent scorching. So, really, I was lucky. As this old Skipper proves: Decades later, she still has soft, undamaged hair that bears the kinks from the crimping iron:

Wow, what gorgeous results!

[WhiteDove01s]

Wow, what gorgeous results!

Thanks!
Here's a front view of her next to the Mary-Kate-Or-Ashley I got in a secondhand box at the end of the year.

She did turn out well, especially given that at the time I really had no clue what I was doing. XD

[AquaMight]

Yay! The boiling + brushing method worked perfectly! Thank you Setsuna! <3