American Girl doll question. Which one to buy?

[Jey12]

Just to throw my tomboy nature off DD5 loves dolls. I had rolled my eyes and happily avoided the opening of our local American Doll store last year. Even though DD was into Disney princesses she hadn't expressed an interest in Barbie or the bigger 18" dolls, until last June. Factor in a dance recital, 18 little girls and a song that required the girls to bring their dolls to class and voila we were the proud owners of an American Girl doll. I didn't want to spend $100 on a doll I wasn't sure DD would play with so I found Josefina on craigslist for $40 and DD fell in love. She has played constantly with this doll and takes great care of her. The problem is this doll, being used, had very dry hair and it's impossible for DD to do anything with. I suggested to her that we could send Josefina to the doll hospital and they would give her a new head with beautiful hair. DD burst into tears. Yes I should have probably worded it differently than saying she'd get a new head.

Now I can't get this doll away from DD to send in, and I got to thinking about getting Josefina a friend that had hair DD could comb and braid. DD will be 6 right after Christmas and we'd like to get her a brand new doll, and one that she can comb the hair and fun things like that. I do have to admit I love the books that come with Josefina, plus Josefina is the only doll that actually looks like DD. I'm frustrated with American Girl that they don't offer a medium skinned doll with black hair and brown eyes for their My American Girl doll line.

My question is what doll to get? Josefina looks like DD so getting one that looks like her isn't a big deal. I'm sure sometime in the future I can wrangle Josefina away from DD and send her in for a new head. The other doll she's decided would be a good friend for Josefina is Kaya. Am I going to run into the same dry hair issues with her as we have Josefina if we keep her hair combed out and put into a braid unless she's being played with? We have the wire brush and would plan on proper care from the start. Unfortunately we didn't have that option with Josefina being used. Another thought was Julie. DD mentioned she liked her and her outfit the last time we were in the store. Is her hair better or the same as Kaya? I know it's different colors, but as far as play goes are they much different? Which storyline would be best for a 6 year old to grow with? So far we are on book 2 of Josefina and it's held both of our attentions. This is why I'd prefer to stick with the historical figure dolls, because of the books.

Any help would be appreciated. I was very impressed with the quality of the doll once we owned one, and finally I understood the appeal of these dolls. I'm not so worried about play, because DD has done such a wonderful job caring for Josefina, even if her hair was beyond help.

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

I am not sure of the eyar but thinking early '90's American Girl had a doll named Addie. She represented the Civil War years. Addie was Dark skinned, Dark hair and Brown eyes. That Christmas my daughter also recieved lots and lots of Addie play items. ( These are the items made for each doll but sold speerate.) I have not seen Addie among the offered dolls. Sure would be nice if they brought Addie back. Addie was not bought as a look alike to daughter--- As a matter of fact Addie was a complete opposite of my daughter, but it was Addie she loved and played with the most. I agree with you an American girl doll with dark skin skin and brown hair should be offered again.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Since you have a store near you, I would reccomend taking the doll into them and ask if you take her into the hair salon can they do anything for her.

When my DD went they taught her all about taking care of her doll and then they could answer the question about the other doll and her hair.

If they salon can salvage her hair, that would be more fun and less traumatic and less expensive!!

 

[Jey12]

Thank you for the suggestions! Addy is still available and she's one of the dolls I've looked at because her book series looks wonderful. The only problem is her hair,they said it can only be combed by using a pick. DD wants to use the brush she has and comb through her doll's hair. We did take Josefina into the AG store the day after we got her and sadly they said a new head was the only thing they could do for her. Of course they explained it to DD much better than I did.

 

[donnajon]

Julie's hair would be the best for her to play with. It is very silky and stays that way. Kaya's would end up frizzing. Try going to agplaythings.com and searching how to do a Downie dunk on your Josephina. You use Downie fabric softener with water and soak the doll's hair in it. It will help soften it back up. It probably won't look like new but will be a vast improvement. Also, when I was getting my hair and my DD9's hair done last month, our stylist told us that she had done a treatment on an AG doll for a client to soften up her hair. That might be another option to try and your DD could watch.

 

[robinb]

Julie's hair would be the best for her to play with. It is very silky and stays that way. Kaya's would end up frizzing. Try going to agplaythings.com and searching how to do a Downie dunk on your Josephina. You use Downie fabric softener with water and soak the doll's hair in it. It will help soften it back up. It probably won't look like new but will be a vast improvement. Also, when I was getting my hair and my DD9's hair done last month, our stylist told us that she had done a treatment on an AG doll for a client to soften up her hair. That might be another option to try and your DD could watch.

I was going to suggest a Downy Dunk too. Here are the instructions: http://www.justmagicdolls.com/articles/HairCare/AdvancedHair.htm

Since she's so young, perhaps a pair of Bitty Baby twins might be more appropriate. Plus, you have an AG store nearby you can pick out your twins in any race/gender/hair color combination. My DD has a blonde Bitty girl and a dark haired Bitty boy. I'm not sure if you can mix and match like that online.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

Do not get Kaya if you are looking for a doll so your daughter can do it's hair. I think AG puts Kaya's hair into the braids before cutting them because when you take it out her hair is all different lengths and looks like a 3 year old gave her a hair cut

Addy's hair is textured, so it is not silky smooth but my daughter does have fun messing with it since you can get it to do things that the smooth hair cannot.

Felicity and Elizabeth have really good hair but they are both retired so they would be harder to get without paying a fortune.

Kanani's hair has been an absolute mess the second we took her out of her box so I have to keep it braided at all times.

Elizabeth-Grace's hair is similar to Kanani but not quite as bad and I don't know about Cecile's yet since she is a Christmas present.

Those are the only dolls I have had experience with so far.

 

[tlbwriter]

I do have to admit I love the books that come with Josefina, plus Josefina is the only doll that actually looks like DD. I'm frustrated with American Girl that they don't offer a medium skinned doll with black hair and brown eyes for their My American Girl doll line.

Isn't it funny that they seem to have every conceivable combination, and yet when you look for one that matches your daughter, there isn't one? I had the same problem - wanted a doll with fair skin, dark brown curly hair, and hazel eyes. Didn't exist at the time. Too bad they don't do it cafeteria style and just let you pick the features you want.

Anyway, I wonder if she'd be happy with one of the Our Generation dolls from Target? They're the same size so they can share clothes and stuff. Alejendra looks like she might have the right coloring; it's hard to tell.

 

[Jey12]

Thanks for all of the great tips, Josefina is sitting in the Costco brand of Downy right now. Hopefully it will help enough that I can trim off the last inch or so of hair.

I think the Bitty Babies are adorable, but DD says they are for little kids. She's at that all important age of almost being 6 and she thinks she can do everything now. I was surprised at the great care she's taken of Josefina, the hair issues were there before we owned her. She hasn't even lost a shoe that belongs to this doll since the day she brought her home, and that's why I think she'd do fine with a new one all on her own. Plus most of her friends at school all have the regular AG dolls. So of course that's what she wants.

Thanks for the tip on Kaya's hair. I thought it might be like Josefina's. I'll have to talk more with DD and make sure her heart isn't set on Kaya, if not I might lean more towards Julie due to the hair issues.

Thanks again! I'll have to let you all know how the Downy dunk turns out!

We did look and research the Our Generation dolls at Target last year before Josefina and the quality of the hair I don't think would last? From what I've read and seen of my cousin's kid's dolls the hair gets tangled easily and there's not as much of it?