Do you have a vintage doll that you treasure? But perhaps the hair isn’t salvageable? Oftentimes vintage dolls come to us in need of some TLC. That's why choosing Saran doll hair can be used to restore your doll’s hair.
Unlike other fibers that tangle, poof up, or turn into a bird’s nest overnight, Saran hair for dolls stays smooth, soft, and effortlessly stylish., easy to manage and won’t leave you battling knots every time you touch it.
Curious to know more? Keep reading to find out why choosing Saran doll hair is a great choice for restoring your dolls!
What is Saran Doll Hair?
Saran doll hair is a fine synthetic fiber widely used in doll manufacturing and restorations. Known for its smooth texture and durability, it has a slightly waxy or oily feel due to an anti-static coating applied at the factory. This coating helps prevent static buildup, making it one of the best doll hair materials for long-lasting use. The hair is often washed after rerooting to remove the anti-static coating, leaving you will soft flowing hair styles.
Brief History and Origin
Originally developed for industrial applications, Saran doll hair became popular in the toy industry by the mid-20th century. It quickly became the preferred choice for brands like Mattel, especially for Barbie doll hair, due to its natural matte sheen and resistance to frizz.
While Saran doll hair is smooth and easy to manage, it does not naturally hold curls or long-term styles like nylon does. It can be styled, but products like hair spray, gel, or diluted craft glue is required to keep styles in place for a long-term hold. This makes it a versatile yet low-maintenance option for doll collectors and restorers.
Why Choose Saran Doll Hair?
Saran doll hair is popular by collectors and customizers for its exceptional quality and performance. Here’s what makes it the perfect choice!
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Durability: Compared to other durable doll hair types like Polypropylene, Saran doll hair ages better.. This ensures the doll's hair remains smooth and intact for many years.
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Historical Preference: A long-time favorite among manufacturers, particularly Mattel, Saran doll hair has been the best doll hair material for Barbie doll hair and is often preferred by Barbie customizers.
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Weight and Texture: With a slightly waxy feel, Saran doll hair helps control flyaways while maintaining a sleek appearance. Its light weight reduces tangling, making it one of the softest doll hair options available once the anti-static wax coating has been washed out.
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Low Maintenance: As the best type of doll hair for durability, Saran is less prone to frizz or tangling, making it a hassle-free option for collectors and customizers alike.
Ease of Straightening: Need silky, long doll hair? Saran can be easily straightened using boiling water, so some feel the best doll hair for customizing is saran. What Makes Saran Hair Ideal for Vintage Dolls?
Restoring vintage dolls is all about bringing back their timeless charm, and Saran doll hair does just that! The matte finish makes for a better sheen match to vintage doll hair, making it the best doll hair material for restoring long-lasting beauty.
Does Saran doll hair tangle easily? Not at all! Its natural light weight resists tangling, making it perfect for vintage dolls. The natural matte sheen gives dolls an authentic, vintage look, while its durability ensures it lasts for years.
Why is Saran hair the best for dolls? Because saran resists frizz, and stays smooth with minimal maintenance. If you're styling Saran hair for Barbie dolls, recreating classic curls, or smoothing out waves, then it makes it easy to style doll hair flawlessly.
For collectors and restorers, it remains the ultimate best doll hair for customizing, keeping vintage dolls looking as stunning as the day they were made!
Saran Doll Hair vs. Other Doll Hair Types: A Comparison

Nylon Vs Saran Doll Hair
1. Maintenance: Saran is the best doll hair material for minimal upkeep, while Nylon is more prone to static. Nylon, however, has a vast amount of colors and textures, and is extremely soft, making nylon a popular choice for rerooters. Saran on the other hand has limited color options and is only available in straight hair options. Curling and crimping Saran will only work long-term if you add styling products to the hair.
2. Texture: Saran doll hair has a smooth, waxy feel, while Nylon doll hair is lighter and fluffier.
Saran vs Kanekalon Doll Hair: Which is better?
1. Heat Resistance: Kanekalon tolerates higher heat, making it great for styling, while Saran needs lower heat or boiling water. However, some studies show Kankelon can release a toxic chemical while heated, so please wear a mask if heat styling.
2. Best Use: Saran is ideal for vintage and Barbie doll hair, while Kanekalon is better for high-heat styling. There have been a lot of complaints about Kanekalon being far inferior to Saran and Nylon both in quality and durability. There have also been many cheap grades of Kanekalon sold in the retail markets, making Kanekelon typically the last choice for rerooters.
3. Texture: Saran is soft and silky with a matte sheen once washed, while Kanekalon doll hair is slightly coarser that does not match the texture of standard doll hair.
Saran Vs Polypropylene Doll Hair
1. Styling: Saran holds styles well and remains manageable, whereas Polypropylene is hard to work with due to its lower quality.
2. Longevity: Saran stays smooth and beautiful for years, while Polypropylene becomes dull and brittle.
3. Quality: Saran hair for Barbie dolls is soft and realistic, while Polypropylene hair is stiff and plasticky.
How to Reroot Dolls with Saran Hair? : A Step-by-Step Guide

Rerooting a doll’s hair can bring new life to an old or damaged doll, giving it a fresh and customized look. If you're wondering how to reroot a doll with Saran hair, the process requires patience, the right tools, and a bit of technique.
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to reroot dolls using Saran hair, ensuring a smooth and professional finish.
Materials Needed:
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Doll Hair: High-quality Saran hair in your desired color.
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Rerooting Tool: A specialized rerooting tool designed for inserting hair plugs.
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Needles: Appropriate size for your doll's scalp; typically, a size 5 rerooting needle is suitable for standard fashion dolls.
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Pliers: To remove the old hair and glue.
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Scissors: Sharp pair for trimming existing hair and cutting new strands.
Glue: Fabri-Tac or a similar adhesive to secure the new hair inside the head.
Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Prepare Your Workspace: Choose a well-lit, comfortable area. Organize your tools and materials within easy reach. Protect surfaces with a clean cloth or mat to prevent damage.
2. Clean the Head: Ensure to remove all old glue and debris using pliers. Submerging the head in boiling water for two minutes will shrink existing holes. This will not affect factory face paint.
3. Measure and Cut: Determine the desired hair length. Typically cutting a 36 inch hank in half will give the doll a long length, as each strand will be folded in half during the rerooting process.
4. Insert needle: unscrew rerooting tool slightly. Remove rerooting needle from package and place into tool, then tighten. Needle should be fairly short, Sticking up long enough to punch through a doll’s head.
5. Insert Hair Plugs: Wrap a few stands around your index finger in an “x” formation and pick up with the rerooting tool. Align the needle with an existing hole on the doll's scalp. Gently push the needle into the hole until it penetrates the head's interior. Withdraw the needle carefully, leaving the hair plug securely in place.
6. Apply Glue: Once all hair plugs are inserted, apply a generous amount of Fabri-Tac glue inside the head. Use a cotton swab to distribute the glue evenly, ensuring all plugs are coated.
7. Final Touches: Trim and style the hair as desired. For setting styles, consider using gentle heat methods like a boil wash.
How to Maintain Saran Doll Hair?
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Straighten with Boiling Water: If you need to straighten Saran hair, running boiling water over it can make it flow straight.
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Handle with Care: Be gentle with vintage dolls and avoid using water that is too hot to prevent damage.
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Gentle Brushing: Use a doll-specific brush or a wide-tooth comb to gently detangle the hair. Start from the ends and work your way up to the roots to minimize breakage.
Regular Care: Periodically wash and condition the hair to maintain its softness and shine. Liquid dish soap and liquid fabric softener make the perfect solution for washing and conditioning doll hair.
Where to Buy High-Quality Saran Doll Hair?
If you're on a mission to give your dolls a fabulous hair makeover, Doll Planet Hair is the place to be! They offer a massive collection of Saran doll hair in every shade available—whether you want classic blonde, fiery red, or even bold fantasy colors.
Known for its silky texture, durability, and natural matte sheen, their best doll hair material is perfect for rerooting, restoring, and styling. Plus, the hair comes in measurable weights and lengths, making it easy to create the perfect look for any doll. So, if you're looking to buy Saran doll hair that’s smooth, long-lasting, and easy to maintain, Doll Planet Hair has you covered!
FAQs
1. How to curl Saran doll hair?
Wrap sections of Saran doll hair around rods or straws, secure them and dip them in hot water for about 30 seconds followed by a dip in ice water. Hair products like hairspray or gel will need to be applied to hold the curls long-term.
2. How to fix saran doll hair?
The best way to detangle and restore Saran doll hair is by soaking it in warm water with liquid fabric softener. Use a metal tooth comb to gently remove knots and let it dry naturally for a smooth finish.
3. How to restore Saran doll hair?
To revive dry or frizzy heat-resistant doll hair, apply fabric softener mixed with water, let it sit overnight in the solution then rinse and comb through gently. This helps bring back its silky, tangle-free look.
4. How to straighten saran doll hair?
Dip the Barbie doll hair in hot (not boiling) water while combing it straight. Let it dry flat. Avoid excessive heat to maintain the integrity of the Saran hair for dolls.
5. How to style saran doll hair?
From Saran hair braiding to ponytails and waves, Saran's hair allows various styles. Use gentle clips, mini curlers, or braids for creative looks while keeping the fibers smooth and damage-free.
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