Here, you can see the step-by-step transformations of antique and vintage dolls brought to Dolls’ Stories Hospital. From repairing fragile porcelain and cleaning vintage fabrics to restorative wig styling and delicate touch-ups, see how worn-out heirlooms are gently returned to their original beauty and charm. 

This vintage vinyl doll came to me with severely deteriorated rooted hair. Much of the original hair was missing, while the remaining fibers were dry, thin, and no longer suitable for styling. The doll’s vinyl surface also required careful cleaning, and her facial paint had lost some of its original freshness.

My goal is to work meticulously and preserve as much of her original, authentic charm as possible.

The restoration began with cleaning the vinyl parts and carefully removing all remaining original rooted hair. Each old plug was cleared from the scalp so that the head could be prepared for a new, even reroot.

I selected natural hair in a shade chosen to closely match the colour of the doll’s original hair. The new hair was rooted by hand, creating fuller coverage while respecting the original hairline and the proportions of the doll’s molded head.

Her facial paint was gently refreshed, with small corrections made to revive her expression without changing the original character of the face. The final stage was styling: the new hair was shaped into a soft, full hairstyle that suits the doll’s features and gives her a finished vintage appearance.

The result is a clean and renewed vintage doll with a more balanced, lively appearance. Her original vinyl body and facial character were preserved, while the damaged hair was replaced with a carefully selected natural-fiber reroot and a period-appropriate style.