Home Perms for Dawn Dolls

My first try at Dawn home perms (with the help of my friend Jennifer) was interesting...and uncontrolled. But here's the process and my first results.

• Baby shampoo or dishwashing detergent
• Drinking straws, cut into small pieces
• Bobby pins or corsage pins
• Paper towels
• Boiling water

1. Wash and comb the doll's hair.
   I use baby shampoo for the shampoo, and a very fine hair comb (some suggest a cat flea comb) to get it smooth.

2. Roll the hair:
   
   
   1. Section her hair for rolling.
      
      
   2. Using a small piece of paper towel as an "end paper" to wrap her hair ends, roll each section up with a piece of drinking straw.
      
      
   3. Anchor the straw/roller in place with a bobby pin or with a corasage pin
      If you use a straight pin, be sure you are only putting it into her scalp, not her face!
      
   
   
   Glori and Longlocks await their perm solution.

3. Boil water.

4. Submerge the doll's head in the boiling water.
   How long you do this depends on who's advice you want to take. I've heard no more than 15 seconds, then I've heard one minute. I think experimentation will show what works best for you.
   
   
   "Is the water too hot, honey?"
   Some people follow the boiling water with a quick plunge into icy water.
   
   
5. Remove the doll and let her hair air dry.
   Your best bet is to let the hair dry for several days. (Oh, the anticipation!) You can partially unroll it to check the curl, and roll it back up only halfway if you want to smooth the top of her hair.

6. Unroll and style the hair.
   
   Glori and Longlocks, freshly out of rollers.

7. Set the hairstyle using regular hairspray (without alcohol) or wig spray.