1983 Loving You Barbie (#7072) Philippines
1985 day to night barbie 7929. Domestic release
1982 hawain barbie 7929
1982 Twirly Curls Barbie (Stock Number 5579).
1983/1984 Great Shape Barbie (#7025)
1985 day to night barbie 7929 European variant
The Damage
She arrived with major issue that would typically deem a doll unsalvageable for most collectors....
The Chin Split. A clean separation at the base of the jawline to the neck.
The Major Hairline split running through the crown and down more than half of the scalp.
Why save her?
The "Two-Dot Eye" Paint Variation. Unlike the standard domestic releases, this regional factory variant features a distinct eye screening. It is characterized by two white paint highlights (dots) stacked within the iris. In contrast to its domestic counterpart with a one dot iris.
Process.
Step 1. PreStyling the Finger Waves The front swoop and structured S-wave pattern bang were set and styled first while the scalp piece was separated from the face. Wrapped in clear wrap.
Step 2. Sealing the Hair Roots. The top section of the scalp was carefully separated. A generous layer of Mod Podge was applied along the inner rim, the split seams, and across the interior hair plugs along the hair line. Mod Podge Matte acts as a flexible structural sealant so I've researched
Step 3: Compression clear wrap to make sure the hairline completely relines. I used a pin to the scalp tosecurely lock it into place .
Step 4. Cross my finger for the next 4 to 5 day 🤞🤞🤞
Step 5. Re-attach her body. I boil her neck hole and peg to soften materials for easy reattachment.
Step 6 dipped brush in boil water to get hair wet to set with clear wrap and curl.
Step 7. Repeat step 4 🤞🤞🤞🤞
Another day, another Barbie restoration! 🧵✨ (Day 2)Yesterday, a massive 3-part mail haul arrived—a total of 25 Goodwill lot dolls waiting for some serious TLC! Today, I’m diving straight into the studio work to bring these 1990 favorites back to life.The hair fiber on these girls needed a total reset, so this morning was all about precision heat styling.🧼 The Restoration Process:1990 Hawaiian Fun Barbie: Her long Kanekalon fiber took the boil dip beautifully, restoring a gorgeous, heavy drape. The real challenge here was smoothing out the long lengths without losing or disrupting her original factory side-twist. I managed to keep it completely intact and protected during the dip! 1990 Bathtime Fun Barbie: She needed a perfectly sleek, flat finish. After the boil dip, I did a wet-set, pinning the hair flat under tight plastic wrap so it dries bone-straight and the bangs lay flawlessly across her forehead. 1982 Fashion Jeans Barbie (#5315): I actually tackled this absolute classic last night! Her before-and-after transformation is unbelievable. Her messy, matted blonde lengths were given a thorough wash, deep conditioning, and a meticulous roll-set. She is currently drying in pink rollers under plastic wrap to perfectly lock in those bouncy, glamorous early-80s Superstar curls.There is nothing more satisfying than watching matted thrift store hair completely transform into a silky, glass-like shine. Once these girls are fully dry, they are going right back into their original 90s fashions.Follow along to see who I pull from the Goodwill lots next! 📦👇#BarbieRestoration #DollRestoration #VintageBarbie #90sBarbie #GoodwillFinds #ThriftHaul #DollSpaDay #ToyRestoration #HawaiianFunBarbie #BathtimeFunBarbie
Another day, another Barbie restoration! 🧵✨ (Day 2)Yesterday, a massive 3-part mail haul arrived—a total of 25 Goodwill lot dolls waiting for some serious TLC! Today, I’m diving straight into the studio work to bring these 1990 favorites back to life.The hair fiber on these girls needed a total reset, so this morning was all about precision heat styling.🧼 The Restoration Process:1990 Hawaiian Fun Barbie: Her long Kanekalon fiber took the boil dip beautifully, restoring a gorgeous, heavy drape. The real challenge here was smoothing out the long lengths without losing or disrupting her original factory side-twist. I managed to keep it completely intact and protected during the dip! 1990 Bathtime Fun Barbie: She needed a perfectly sleek, flat finish. After the boil dip, I did a wet-set, pinning the hair flat under tight plastic wrap so it dries bone-straight and the bangs lay flawlessly across her forehead. 1982 Fashion Jeans Barbie (#5315): I actually tackled this absolute classic last night! Her before-and-after transformation is unbelievable. Her messy, matted blonde lengths were given a thorough wash, deep conditioning, and a meticulous roll-set. She is currently drying in pink rollers under plastic wrap to perfectly lock in those bouncy, glamorous early-80s Superstar curls.There is nothing more satisfying than watching matted thrift store hair completely transform into a silky, glass-like shine. Once these girls are fully dry, they are going right back into their original 90s fashions.Follow along to see who I pull from the Goodwill lots next! 📦👇#BarbieRestoration #DollRestoration #VintageBarbie #90sBarbie #GoodwillFinds #ThriftHaul #DollSpaDay #ToyRestoration #HawaiianFunBarbie #BathtimeFunBarbie
Another day, another Barbie restoration! (Day 2) Yesterday, a massive 3-part mail haul arrived, a total of 25 Goodwill lot dolls waiting for some serious TLC! Today, I’m diving straight into the studio work to bring these 1990 favorites back to life.The hair fiber on these girls needed a total reset, so this morning was all about precision heat styling. The Restoration Process:1990 Hawaiian Fun Barbie: Her long Kanekalon fiber took the boil dip beautifully, restoring a gorgeous, heavy drape. The real challenge here was smoothing out the long lengths without losing or disrupting her original factory side-twist. I managed to keep it completely intact and protected during the dip! 1990 Bathtime Fun Barbie: She needed a perfectly sleek, flat finish. After the boil dip, I did a wet-set, pinning the hair flat under tight plastic wrap so it dries bone-straight and the bangs lay flawlessly across her forehead. Next, 1982 Fashion Jeans Barbie (#5315): I actually tackled this absolute classic last night! Her before-and-after transformation is unbelievable. Her messy, matted blonde lengths were given a thorough wash, deep conditioning, and a meticulous roll-set. She is currently drying in pink rollers under plastic wrap to perfectly lock in those bouncy, glamorous early-80s Superstar curls.There is nothing more satisfying than watching matted thrift store hair completely transform into a silky, glass-like shine. Once these girls are fully dry, they are going right back into their original 90s fashions.Follow along to see who I pull from the Goodwill lots next! 📦👇#BarbieRestoration #DollRestoration #VintageBarbie #90sBarbie #GoodwillFinds #ThriftHaul #DollSpaDay #ToyRestoration #HawaiianFunBarbie #BathtimeFunBarbie
Barbie You Can Be Anything Paramedic Doll (Model GYT28)
Splash 'n Color Teresa doll made by Mattel.
Splash 'n Color barbie doll made by Mattel
2002 My Scene - Wave 1 - Barbie #B2230
1991 Party Sensation Barbie #9025
Hands down my favorite part of collecting barbie is the hunt and reveal. I love taking these dolls from mehhh back to barbie. I worked on 5 dolls last night. All thrifted from goodwill bulk buy lots. These lots range from amazing to down right scary. But what I can say is with a little TLC. And some boil water these dolls are all still beautiful. All dolls have been washed and boiled dipped. The original superstars will receive curls. The two splash n color dolls have been reset back to their original boxed hairstyle high ponytail with braided piece pulled back with curled bangs. These dolls are so great to me I just love the changing hair color and gold tinsel. Paramedic petite doll will stay straight and the My Scene will most likely stay straight as well. I'm not 100 % on the identity of my scene. If anyone knows for certain that would help.
Hiiii, I'm a 2nd hand barbie collector who has been collecting, restoring, and preserving barbies for 3 years. I recently ran out of room in my home for all my dolls. To solve this issue, I've rented a climate control storage space close to home. It's a 10x12 space. I've been there a little over a year and it feels like a 2nd home. Here's just a sneak peak of my space. Now that I found this community I'll make a more in depth post in the future about the dolls I have.
A little bout me: as I said, I'm a 2nd hand collector. I run a small online shop with barbie dolls and accessories pieces. But, what I really enjoy doing is sharing all the amazing deals I find online, not only the ones I've scored myself but also like to share links to specific dolls that I know others are looking for when I stumble upon them in online lots. I have a background in cosmology and enjoy styling dolls hair the most. Every barbie I find usually gets a glow up in the hair department.
There is nothing quite like finding a messy, tangled, unloved thrift store or estate sale Barbie lot and seeing the absolute potential hiding underneath. This stunning Superstar face mold girl arrived with frizzy, matted hair, but with a little patience and a proper factory reset, she is back to pure 90s runway glamour!Since some of you have been asking about my process for reviving vintage doll hair, here is exactly how I brought these high-volume, side-parted platinum curls back to life
The Deep Clean: A gentle wash with dish soap to remove decades of dust and surface oils.
The Detangle: Carefully working from the tips up to the roots with a fine-tooth metal comb while the hair is soaking wet to avoid stretching or breaking the strands.
The Boil Wash: Safely boil dip to relax the old, messy crimps and reset the plastic memory of the hair.
The Set & Curl: Sectioning out that classic, dramatic 90s side part and secure it using some.plastic wrap! using straw rollers to lock in these bouncy, voluminous glamour curls with stick pins. Wait 48 hours to carefully remove all pins and straws.
Thrifting for "ugly" or messy doll lots isn't just budget-friendly—it’s where the real treasures are hidden. When you know how to look past the tangles, you can rescue a classic piece of toy history for a fraction of the price.What’s your favorite part of restoring vintage dolls? Let me know in the comments below! 👇🏼#BarbieRestoration #VintageBarbie #DollCollector #SuperstarBarbie #DollTransformation #ThriftStoreFinds #BarbieHair #DollHairReset #CosmetologyLife #90sAesthetic #ToyRestoration
😭🎉The vintage Barbie gods have been smiling down on me over the past few weeks. I’ve been hunting through "ugly, messy lots" that most people overlook, and the blind-buy luck is getting ridiculous.Last night, I was digging through online listings and spotted a nude, unassuming doll buried in a massive jumble of others. I looked closer and realized it was a 1960s American Girl Barbie! I ended up winning the entire lot for just $48.This caps off an incredible streak of grail finds from risky lots over the last few weeks:A few weeks ago: Scored a beautiful 1965 Titan Swirl Ponytail Barbie for only $24.99.Last week: Pulled a 1980s Black Barbie and a 1975 Hawaiian Barbie out of a junk lot for $12.99.And now last night: Snagging this American Girl!She is completely nude and will definitely need some cleanup and hair styling when she arrives, but I have her original bathing suit and japan blue mule heels 😆🎉 Seeing those classic features hiding in a cheap bulk lot was the ultimate collector's high. I'm on cloud nine. If anyone knows the exact hair color please let me know. I want to say she is ash brown but not certain. Thank you
Because look who was hiding inside, The iconic 1980 Black Barbie, designed by Kitty Black Perkins. "She's Black. She's beautiful. She's dynamite!" Proof that you should NEVER scroll past the ugly, messy, tangled doll lots! 🧵✨I took a gamble on an unboxed, unseen ShopGoodwill bulk bundle for just $10.99, and look who was hiding at the bottom of the pile.This is a vintage 1980 Black Barbie (#1293), designed by the legendary Kitty Black Perkins! 👑 She was groundbreaking as the very first African American doll to officially hold the "Barbie" title (not just a sidekick/friend mold).A lot of buyers pass on messy lots because they require time, cleaning, and hair restoration. But for restorers, these "ugly" listings are exactly where the rarest treasures hide. She needs a gentle spa day, but finding a piece of toy history for under eleven bucks makes the hunt entirely worth it.Don't judge a lot by its thumbnail! 🔍💎
#BarbieCollector #VintageBarbie #DollRestoration #ThriftFinds #BlackHistory #ToyCollecting #BarbieHistory #ResellerCommunity
Beyond Repair? Think Again. I'll admit, she was really bad off when I first spotted her. We’ve all seen them, vintage dolls listed as "TLC" or "ruined haircut" because their forehead looks totally bare. It’s easy to look at a 1968 Mod Stacey or a Twist 'N Turn Barbie with an exposed scalp line and assume she needs a complete hairline reroot.
I love saving dolls that most collectors/ people would consider "beyond repair" doing it without adding a single new plug of hair or a drop of fresh paint. Bringing a deeply discounted TLC back to life.
#VintageBarbie #DollRestoration #BarbieCollector #ModBarbie #VintageMattel #DollRepair #BarbieStacey #CollectorCommunity
Hey everyone! Now I know she doesn't look like much now, BUT.....I just bought this gorgeous 1968 Twist 'N Turn Stacey doll off eBay for a steal!!! She officially arrives in the mail tomorrow.As you can see from the first photo, her hair is a bit of a wild, messy mane right now! Luckily, looking closely at her factory root pattern, her hairline is completely intact🥂🎉💓....she just has that classic rooting pattern and needs to be restyled. No plugs missing here, just decades of hard play! My goal for this project is plain ol' preservation. I want to keep her entirely original if I can🤞🏼🤞🏼. I’ll be doing a deep cleanse, sectioning out those vintage Saran hairs 😩 and doing a serious boil-wash to get that heavy copper-penny hair laid down flat and sleek against her scalp just like her factory hairstyle 💅🏼.I’m also hoping her original rooted eyelashes are just bent and not missing so I can steam and style them back into shape instead of doing a full lash re-root🤞🏼.Swipe to the second photo to see my very last restoration project from earlier this week. She's a 1968 Talking Barbie head that I saved and mounted onto a solid 1960s straight-leg body. I managed to get her original blonde hairs perfectly flat using just boiling water, tension, and a clear wrap setting band!I’ll be posting updates on Stacey’s bath, boil-wash, and styling process as soon as she lands.Wish me luck with the mail carrier tomorrow!
For those who have restored this specific copper Saran fiber, how did it turn out. Please let me know and share your results!! Thanks everyone 🫶🏼 if any one has questions about the restoration of any of the vintage barbies I've done, please ask 💕
Hey everyone! I had a highly productive week in the restoration room and wanted to share the results of bringing these three gorgeous Mod-era girls back to life.I washed, conditioned, and completely reset all of their hair, finishing them off with factory-style clear cello face shields and pearl pins to keep those bangs and face-framing styles perfectly crisp.Here is the breakdown of the trio:
Left doll
1971–1972,Walk Lively Barbie (Model #1182)
This is a classic Walk Lively Barbrie wearing the ultra-rare 1968 "Snug Fuzz" fashion set. It features a wild psychedelic, multi-colored geometric print romper paired with an attached hot pink knit turtleneck top and a matching pink plush vinyl hood/collar.
Middle doll
1970 Side-Part Twist 'n Turn Barbie (Stock #1160)
Dressed in "Zandrina" (#1861)This gorgeous blonde is sporting the stunning 1968 "Zandrina" ensemble. It is a signature one-shoulder Grecian-style maxi dress featuring striking, diagonal Mod stripes in hot pink, orange, yellow, and chartreuse.
Right doll
1968 Talking Barbie Head on a 1961-1967 Bubble Cut Body (The Hybrid)
This unique girl is a beautiful historical rescue! Her head is an authentic 1968 Talking Barbie #1115—complete with those exquisite, perfectly preserved rooted eyelashes. She is currently resting on a straight-leg Bubble Cut torso. To complete her look, I scored her original 1968 hot pink textured knit swimsuit top off eBay. It features the classic looped yellow and pink fringe trim at the hem.
I love preserving the unique history of these hybrid playthings while giving them the pristine collector treatment they deserve. Let me know what you think of the trio, or if you've restored any of these specific tricky Mod fabrics recently!
As a second hand barbie collector, who's always is hunting for the deal, I quite literally hit the jackpot last night! All 5 of these dolls and more for under $100 on Goodwill lots. The lots have about 30 dolls in them apiece but these were my reason to get the lots!! A little back story for ya. I collect Steffie face dolls so this lot was unbelievable for me to get that cheap.
Doll #1
1969 T’NT Stacey # 1165 – blonde Flip – 2. Edition
Doll #2
1968 HAIR FAIR Variation blonde #4042 on #1190 body
Doll#3
1984 Heart Family AA Steffi Face Mom 2499
Doll #5
Dream Date P.J. Doll 1982 Mattel # 5869
Doll 6
1975 Hawaiian Barbie Steffi Face Mattel #7470
The newest Steffie face in my collection 💕 I purchased her at a local garage sale naked for 5$🎉 her blue eyes are so striking and I immediately wanted to dress her in this 1991 teen talk barbie outfit. Her earrings are classic clone 90s earrings. I also had to pierce her ears to put them in 🫣 I can't believe she's 40 years old. Her hair is so soft still. Mattel just don't make her like they use to 😩🙃🫶🏼
After her night of drying with tape, we put her in straw rollers . She waiting for her original swimsuit should be here Monday😒 but while she waits she slipped into a Vintage 1983 Mattel Barbie Doll Fashion Fantasy #4810 Pink Robe.
Found this gem in a thrift lot online for a steal. When I first spotted her amongst the piled dolls, her bangs were pushed back with a rubber band. Making her appear as if she was bangless. She arrived today and to my surprise shes a 1968 talking barbie doll🎉🫶🏼 her body appears to be a earlier barbie. Marked barbie midge body. Even with this frankin doll I'm still thrilled. After getting her opened and washed I boiled dipped and set her hair into a mid height side swept pony tail. Laid her " side burns " and gave her a side swept bang. This dress was also in the lot I found her in. She'll be redress in mod era clothing but I wanted to just say how cute she looks in the 60s era dress with a clean ponytail. She currently is all tapped into place and drying over night. I'll update tomorrow with completed pictures
Photo 1
tapped in place drying overnight
Photo 2
how she looked when I took her out from the box and removed rubber band.
Photo 3
After the first wash and hot soak
Photo 4
focused on her rooted eyelashes and side glance 💓
Hey everyone. I was lucky enough to find her in an online lot. Is she a repo or original. She appears to have longer blonde hair and no bangs. Her hair line seems perfectly straight across in the front. She seems to have rooted eyelashes and red lips with some blush. Any help would be appreciated
Over the past few years I've collected every Steffie face mold I've come across. Finally, I'm the proud owner of wonder curl whitney, Persian worlds doll, and a rewind midge doll. All of my dolls are part of a 2nd hand collection. I enjoy bringing them back to life with a restyle.
New addition to the family. Meet Kong. The happiest little boy I've ever meet. New to this community and happy to be here!