Posted on

All the Things I Use for Restoring Barbie Dolls

When it comes to restoring Barbie dolls, there are several essential tools that I rely on. This blog post will delve into the various items that I use to bring my Barbie dolls back to their former glory. From cleaning to repairing, these tools are essential for maintaining and preserving these treasured collectibles.

Cleaning Barbie with Rubbing Alcohol and Q-Tips

One of the essential tools for cleaning Barbie dolls is rubbing alcohol and q-tips. Rubbing alcohol is a powerful disinfectant that helps remove dirt, grime, and other impurities from the delicate surface of the dolls. Using q-tips, I can gently and carefully wipe away any accumulated dust or dirt without disturbing the doll’s delicate features.

Things you should know :Cleaning Barbie Clothes with Boost

When it comes to cleaning Barbie clothes, I rely on a product called Boost. This specially formulated detergent is designed to gently clean delicate fabrics and help remove stains. By using Boost, I can restore the vibrant colors and pristine condition of Barbie’s outfits, ensuring that they look their best.

toothbrush rotated
Toothbrush for Barbie hair

Things like Remove Zit, Poliboy or dental tabs for Vintage Barbie with Green Ears

Another challenge that can arise when restoring Barbie dolls is the removal of green ears. Vintage Barbie dolls with green ears often suffered from this problem, but luckily, there is a simple solution. You have different options when you treat green ears. You can use Remove Zit when you get it in your country. There’s also a liquid with the name Poliboy for cleaning silver available in Europe. Danchlorix is another secret weapon I heard of but never used it until now. It’s a liquid used for cleaning toilets. Recently I head of a new solution called Bar Keepers Friend Power Cream available via amazon but I have neither used Danchlorix nor Power Cream.

Dental tabs are highly effective at removing yellow, and they work just as well on Barbie’s skin as they do on our own. Simply apply the dental tabs over night or over two nights, let the head rest in the solution as long as the yellow is gone, and then gently let the head dry on a towel.

Please be careful when using CLR, a cleaner wide spread in the USA. When used like Poliboy it can destroy the head in the long term. I don’t know about the content but a chemist who worked in the doll production industry wrote about the problem in his book that I can recommend to all of you.

Bobby pins and end paper rotated
Bobby pins and end paper

An electric kettle is useful for different things

From taking Barbie head, legs and arms to hair style an electric kettle is versatile for Barbie restoration. For removing heads, arms or legs or restoring hair and curls it’s a super versatile thing to have.

Super handy and not forgotten – Things like a toothbrush and bobby pins

We also should mention here that a toothbrush is always useful when you are working with Barbie. Especially when your dolls are older than 40 years they can become fragile and it’s a good idea to use a toothbrush to bring their hair in shape again. Bobby pins are another secret weapon when you have to deal with Vintage Barbie dolls ( 1959 – 1966) to get the curls back in they may have lost over the years.

Fixing Push Buttons with Needle and Thread

Fixing push buttons on Barbie dolls is a breeze with needle and thread. Many vintage Barbies had these tiny buttons that could easily come loose, but with a bit of patience and a steady hand, you can easily sew them back on. Start by carefully removing the button from the doll’s clothing, making sure not to pull too hard and damage the fabric. Next, use matching thread and a sewing needle to sew the button back on, being careful not to catch any stray threads on the doll’s body. With a little patience and attention to detail, you can restore the functionality and beauty of these beloved buttons.

Vinyl dolls preservation book rotated
The definitive book on the care and preservation of Vinyl dolls and action figures

Conclusion

In conclusion, restoring Barbie dolls requires a carefully selected set of tools. Using rubbing alcohol and q-tips, Boost for clothing cleaning, dental tabs for zits, and needle and thread for repairing push buttons, you can bring your Barbie dolls back to their former glory. Remember to handle these collectibles with care and cherish them for years to come. If you want to read more about Barbie cleaning I wrote an article two years ago https://barbie.final-memory.org/how-to-clean-a-vintage-barbie-body/ and if you want to read more about Barbie cleaning you can read more here https://hobbylark.com/collecting/How-to-Restore-and-Clean-Barbie-Dolls

Posted on

Exploring the Hidden Treasures: More Congost Barbie Dolls

Introduction: More Congost Barbie

In the world of Barbie dolls, collectors are always on the lookout for rare and unique finds. Today, we delve deeper into the captivating realm of Congost Barbie dolls, showcasing a few gems that you may not have seen before. These hidden treasures from Spain, produced by Congost under license due to Mattel’s limited production capacity, offer a fascinating glimpse into the world of Spanish Barbie dolls. Join us as we embark on a journey to discover these exquisite dolls and learn more about their captivating history. There are more Congost Barbie dolls than you might imagine.

1. Unveiling the Spanish Beauties:

In our previous blog post, we introduced you to some of the remarkable Congost Barbie dolls. However, our collection extends beyond that, with even more dolls waiting to be explored. These dolls have a distinct charm that sets them apart from the rest but they tend to loose their hair or have vanishing Make up. That’s at least a sign that you have a Congost Barbie in front of you.

blonde great shapes barbie in red black dress from oscar de la rent, unsual blue eyes for a spanish doll, hair is longer than from the regular great shape barbie but this one is the spanish version from congost
Spanish Aerobica Barbie
Spanish Aerobica Barbie from Congost, produced under license in the early 1980s when mattel had not enough capacity to produce all dolls themselves
Exploring the Hidden Treasures: More Congost Barbie Dolls 9
Hard to find aerobica barbie with blonde hair and blue-greenish eyes and a platinum blonde mane
Exploring the Hidden Treasures: More Congost Barbie Dolls 10

2. The Story Behind Congost Barbie Dolls:

Congost, a Spanish company, began producing Barbie dolls under license from Mattel when the demand for these iconic dolls grew after the death of Franco beyond Mattel’s production capacity. This collaboration allowed Congost to create unique Barbie dolls that catered to the Spanish market, highlighting their cultural diversity and aesthetic preferences. Although a huge part of the population in Spain is black haired or brunette, Barbie dolls were almost always available as blonde version. Link to the first article about Congost Barbie https://barbie.final-memory.org/the-enigmatic-spanish-barbie-dolls-from-congost-unraveling-the-untold-story/(opens in a new tab)

3. Identifying the Hidden Treasures:

As we present these additional Congost Barbie dolls, we invite you to join us in identifying and appreciating their distinctive features. Through your help and expertise, we can shed more light on these dolls, further enriching our understanding and appreciation for Spanish Barbie dolls. At first I thought I had almost all Barbie dolls from Congost until I found more Congost Barbie dolls on a certain platform. By the way here’s one more of them https://barbielistholland.wordpress.com/2014/10/18/1959-2014-fityfive-years-big-changes-of-the-barbie-doll-part-i/1978-congost-superstar-barbie-casino-doll-nrfb-mib-spain/

4. A Glimpse into Spanish Barbie Fashion:

One of the most captivating aspects of Congost Barbie dolls is their fashion. Reflecting the vibrant Spanish culture, these dolls don exquisite ensembles that showcase the country’s rich heritage. We see here a lot of variation from the normal Barbie dolls made for the US- and European market which were unknown to almost all of us but the ones being in Spain in that time for vacation. From Alta Coutura dresses to traditional regional costumes, each outfit tells a unique story and adds to the allure of these dolls.

Spanish springtime barbie or at least I bought her as springtime magic, I don't know if this is true or not. Her arm position is very different from my European Springtime Magic Barbie
One of my more Congost Barbie dolls, a Springtime Barbie
Unusual amount of eyelashes for a Barbie doll for the early 80s, 4 above and 4 below the eyelid, I'm not really sure if this is a Springtime Magic Barbie from Spain but I bought her as one
from Spain? I found her at least this year.

5. Collecting more Congost Barbie Dolls:

For avid Barbie collectors, uncovering these hidden treasures can be a thrilling experience. Whether you are a seasoned collector or a novice enthusiast, these rare Congost dolls offer an exciting addition to any Barbie collection. Their scarcity and unique designs make them highly sought after among collectors worldwide. Due to a quality not as good as the US version Barbie dolls a lot of them did not survive the millenium. That’s at least what I was told when asking a friend with an apartment in Spain.

Conclusion:

In our quest to explore the world of Barbie dolls, we’ve discovered the enchanting realm of Congost Barbie dolls. These hidden treasures from Spain, produced under license by Congost due to Mattel’s limited production capacity, captivate collectors with their distinctive charm and exquisite fashion. With your help, we can further identify and appreciate these Spanish Barbie dolls, adding to our knowledge and enjoyment of this fascinating hobby. Embark on this journey with us and uncover the beauty of Congost Barbie dolls, a testament to the allure of the Barbie universe.

Posted on

How to get wild Barbie hair under control again

I bet you have all experienced this situation that you have a doll with wild Barbie hair and you did not know how to get them under control again. This happened to one of my viewers in the last weeks and he asked me if I could do a video with the content of how to get wild Barbie hair under control again.

DSC08523
Skipper with wild pony

To be honest I had two ideas in mind when he asked me and I realized that wanted to make a video about this topic but lost the idea somehow in my mind because I had so many other things I wanted to do in the meantime.

Working on a lot of parallel projects is something you have to do when releasing at least one video a week. No losing the overview is important. The video of how to get wild Barbie hair under control again was an easy one and very relaxing. The amount of time I needed for planning, taping and processing was manageable.

DSC08525

Using a special kind of rubber is what I think is the most useful thing for getting long and wild Barbie hair under control again. That’s at least my experience after 10 years of rerooting https://barbie.final-memory.org/my-first-barbie-reroot/ . The second little diy helper I show you here in my video is very simple to diy. You often get these little plastic caps when you buy used Barbie dolls or her sister or family. Let’s call this plastic thing cap. It’s very helpful when you have a doll with a short pony. These hairs have tendency to become wild and uncooperative. It may be in the nature of the short hair. Anyway but I have a solution for these wild hairs. It’s really easy and fun to craft these caps yourself.

DSC08527
Skipper’s wild pony under control
DSC08530
Barbie’s wild hair under control

Don’t forget to plan some weeks until you might have it finally under control. Sometimes the hair is really unwilling to cooperate. Sometimes it can last some months until you see a success.

Posted on

Unexpected ways to meet Tropical Barbie

Do you know Tropical Barbie with the vibrant swimsuit from 1985? Yes, that’s right. She is already 33 years old but she’s not alone. She has many sisters worldwide and I don’t want to talk from the US version. She has a sister in Spain, one in Peru and one in Venezuela. Maybe there are even more versions I never heard of. I have four versions. Two versions made for the US, one from Spain and one from Peru. I haven’t found a version from Venezuela but there are pics online.

Anyway today I want to share my versions of the dolls with you. The Spanish one came in May into my collection although she is hard to find. One of the US versions came recently. My first version came several years ago but her hair is very thin. The versions from Malaysia and the Phillipines are the same but the make up is different. The blue is different and the amount of make up used for the dolls.

Phillipines
Different versions of the Tropical Barbie
Spain
Different versions of the Tropical Barbie
Peru
Different versions of Tropical Barbie
Posted on

Totally Hair Barbie around the world

Have you ever asked yourself if the Totally Hair Barbie had the same make up in every production place around the world? If your answer is no, then you are right. There are many different make ups depending on the production place. Here are some of them as examples.

46025514 1993730457372656 6084761227160977408 n
African American version of the Totally Hair Barbie
Steffi head mold
Ultra Hair Whitney, a friend of Barbie
45906069 1993730344039334 2683833674956275712 n
Totally Hair Brunette version ( only sold in the USA and Venezuela)
Ultra Hair blonde version
Totally Hair Barbie/ Ultra Hair Barbie

Thanks to Christian Felipe Silva for the permission to use his pics.

Posted on

What everybody is saying about Winter Sport Barbie

In times before Fashionista Barbie and Made to Move Barbie was available my generation already got to know flexible Barbie bodies. The first ones available were the Gymnast Barbie from 1993 or 1994 and Winter Sport Barbie from 1994 or 1995. The flexibility made a lot more movements possible. Maybe this was the reason why she was at first only available as a sportswoman?

I had her as a kid. She was one of the last I really wanted for playing. I always liked her and recently I had the chance to get one. So I have her back again. This is maybe not very exciting for you but for me.

Barbie 1994
Winter Sport Barbie and Midge

I found Midge almost a decade ago but Barbie was somehow harder to find.

Posted on

Do you also know “Floating Cool”?

Many many years ago I had a Bikini for my Barbie dolls. For a long time I was looking for this bikini. I had no idea how it was called. I did a long research and found it finally. Recently I found the bikini for a reasonable price. I’m glad to have it. This time I’m not going to sell it.

Barbie 1990s fashion

Posted on

Twist n Turn Barbie

Finally I found my very first TNT Barbie.  I don’t know the exact hair color but it doesn’t matter so much to me. It’s just good to have one. I have been looking for one for several months or years… I have forgotten it. Anyway, here she is…

Tnt2

Tnt

She’s the one from 1966 with the marking that you may have seen something like Pat. Pend. then (C) 1966.  She has real eye lashes but I have to replace them later since they are not perfect anymore. She’s the first one with bendable legs with joints and a hip joint.  She was produced in Japan ( typically for early TnT Barbie dolls). Later versions were produced in Taiwan and Korea. I did a short video to show her with all her beauty. Here’s the link to my Twist n Turn Barbie video.

Posted on

Forgot to mention how it works

On Saturday I told you about my Hollywood Hair family but I think a video of how it worked is better than just to describe it. So what is better than the original TV ad? Demonstration pure…

If you prefer to watch the German TV ad, watch this video…

Posted on

The Complete Hollywood Hair Barbie Family

I am thrilled to announce that my Hollywood Hair Barbie collection is finally complete! After years of searching and waiting, I was able to add Ken to my doll family just this week. Now, all four dolls are together, creating a stunning display of beauty and style. My little Hollywood Hair Barbie family is complete now.

Ken, with his dashing looks and impeccable fashion sense, is the perfect addition to the Hollywood Hair Barbie family. Standing alongside Hollywood Hair Teresa in orange, Hollywood Hair Skipper in turquoise, and the iconic Hollywood Hair Barbie in white, Ken completes the vibrant and fashionable quartet.

Each doll in this collection is unique and brings its own charm to the group. Hollywood Hair Teresa, with her fiery orange outfit, exudes confidence and charisma. She is a true fashion icon, always setting trends with her bold and daring style choices.

Hollywood Hair Skipper, with her stunning turquoise locks, is the epitome of youthful energy and fun. She is always ready for an adventure and never shies away from trying new hairstyles and experimenting with different looks.

Of course, no Hollywood Hair Barbie collection would be complete without the star of the show herself. With her flowing white and glamorous outfits, Hollywood Hair Barbie is the embodiment of elegance and grace. She is the ultimate fashionista, effortlessly capturing the essence of Hollywood glamour.

Now that Ken has joined the group, the Hollywood Hair Barbie family is complete. They are not just dolls; they represent a world of imagination and creativity. Each doll allows me to explore different hairstyles, mix and match outfits, and create endless stories and adventures.

Having all four dolls together in my collection brings me immense joy and satisfaction. It’s like having a little piece of Hollywood right in my own home. I can’t help but feel inspired by their beauty and style, and I can’t wait to see what new looks and hairstyles I can create with this complete set.

If you are a fan of Barbie dolls, I highly recommend adding the Hollywood Hair Barbie collection to your own collection. These dolls are not only stunning to look at, but they also provide endless possibilities for creativity and imagination. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting your Barbie journey, the Hollywood Hair Barbie family is a must-have.

In conclusion, I am thrilled to have finally completed my Hollywood Hair Barbie collection with the addition of Ken. With each doll representing a unique style and personality, this quartet brings a touch of Hollywood glamour into my world. I can’t wait to continue exploring different hairstyles and creating new adventures with these fabulous dolls.

Now I have this series complete after almost 25 years. I had the Barbie doll in my childhood and wanted Skipper and Teresa but I never got them. I had not enough money to buy them all when I was a child. Barbie dolls were expensive back then in Germany. I needed the milk money of approx. two months to buy one. I think in 2010 I got Skipper and Teresa and Ken was still missing. Now have this series complete.

blonde Hollywood Hair Ken in his original box, part of of the complete Hollywood Hair Barbie family

Hollywood Hair Ken in his original box, part of of the complete Hollywood Hair Barbie family

and the whole series …

Complete Barbie Hollywood Hair family with Hollywood Hair Skipper, Hollywood Hair Ken, Hollywood Hair Barbie and Hollywood Hair Teresa all in their original pink boxes from 1993

IMG 4051

I can’t say what was in the bottles back then. Some say it was only water. Some say it was a special liquid and the Saran hair got a special treatment so that you could make it shimmer in pink as soon as you sprayed with the liquid.  The sad thing was that the smell was incredibly awesome but the stars disappeared very soon.