Hairstyle Fridays - Messy Back Braid

     Hey Y'all! Welcome to Hairstyle Friday! And today, we are going to be learning a simple, quick, yet cute 'do'. This hairstyle will take less than 5 minutes, and is geared toward longer straight hair dolls. The dolls hair needs to be past shoulder length for this style. Lets get started:

For this hairstyle you will need:

Wire Brush (AG brush recommended)
 Spritz bottle with water
Small elastic hair ties














Using the spray bottle, spritz your dolls hair, making sure to get it damp, but not drenching it. Also, cover her eyes and be careful not to get water in them, or they may rust.

Brush the tangles out of her hair.

Pull her hair back like you might tie it in a low ponytail.

Divide her hair into three equal sections.





 

 

Start to braid your dolls hair. To start the braid, cross the left most strand over the middle strand. 

 

 

 

To continue with the braid, cross the right most strand over the middle. Repeat the two steps. Left over middle, right over middle, left over middle, right over middle.

 

 

 

Continue the process until there is hardly any hair left to braid.

 



 

 

 

Tie the braid off with the small hair elastic.

 

 

 

Tada! You're now done with this super fast, simple, yet retro looking messy back braid.

 

 

 

Here's the finished look! Email us here with your feedback, or submission for another style for next week!

 

 

 

 

 



- E
The We Are AG Team

Product Review Thursdays: MAG #39

Welcome to Product Review Thursdays! Today, we are going to be reviewing MAG #39, light skin, layered caramel hair, and blue eyes:

E & I both have this doll and are absolutely smitten with everything about her! 

E & B's Twin Dolls- Madalyn & Paisley

Even though, I absolutely LOVE all of my dolls, this one is probably my favorite. She's my most recent doll added to my family and I can't get enough of how adorable she is. Other doll lovers must think she's pretty adorable too, because this doll is an award winner at American Girl. 

She has layered, caramel hair that's shiny, smooth, and extremely easy to brush. Another great plus about her hair is that it's just long enough for styling. You can fix it up in a ponytail, braid, bun, etc. and it looks fantastic! I recommend to brush this doll with the American Girl doll brush for the best results. 

Her eyes are an exceptional beautiful shade of blue. They're absolutely stunning to look at. 

Her limbs are not loose at all and are very easy to move around and control. Her skin has stayed in perfect condition and hasn't faded at all. She's such a beauty and the pictures online and in magazines don't do her justice! Her hair and eye combination coordinates well with any outfit, which is lovely. 

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Ever since I first laid eyes on this doll, I absolutely fell in love with her. I couldn't ask for a better way to spend my money than on her. I love how durable and easy to move around she is. It makes for a great day playing outside or working on a new craft with the other girls.  

She's perfect for me and I know she is for many others as well. I recommend this doll to any girl of any age who absolutely loves AG and styling hair. To wrap things up, here are some final ratings:

Overall Rating:  5 Stars!
Quality:  5 Stars!
Age Appropriateness:  5 Stars!
Educational Value:  5 Stars!
Play Value:  5 Stars!

If you have any questions about this doll, feel free to visit the Contact Us page. Did you enjoy our first Product Review Thursdays post? What products would you like to see reviewed next week? What doll is your favorite? Do you have MAG #39 like we do? If so, what do you think about her?

Happy reviewing!
-B
We Are AG Team

Doll Care Wednesdays: General Cleaning of Your Doll's Skin

Welcome to Doll Care Wednesdays! American Girl dolls are meant to be played with, so every now and then, they will need to be cleaned and sparkled up. As you should already know, your doll's skin is made of vinyl with a soft, matte finish. American Girl has developed this type of skin to make it look as lifelike and authentic as possible. Cleaning of your doll's skin is simple & easy, as long as you follow the basic tips.

For general cleaning of your doll's skin, I {as well as American Girl} recommend the water & baking soda method. There are 6 essential items/products for cleaning your doll's skin properly:

1. 2 soft washcloths
2. Bowl filled with lukewarm water
3. Baking soda
4. Towel
5. 1 empty bowl

First, you are going to make a paste with the lukewarm water and baking soda. Combine a tablespoon of baking soda with just enough lukewarm water to make a paste about the consistency of toothpaste.

Next,  your going to get your doll ready by pulling her hair back and wrapping a towel around her body to keep her dry.

Then, dampen one of the soft washcloths with lukewarm water. Don't get it sobbing wet- just enough where it's not dripping and becoming a mess. 

Dab a bit of the paste onto the washcloth and gently rub it into your doll's vinyl skin in a circular motion. By doing this, you are cleansing her skin and removing any dirt/bacteria. Be very careful not to get water or the paste in her eyes as this can result in rusting. If you can, try covering her eyes when cleansing her. Make sure to also keep her soft-fabric body and hair as dry as possible! And remember, never submerge your doll in water.

Once you have rubbed the paste all of over her vinyl skin, wipe her with another wet washcloth to remove the residue. Rinse the washcloth frequently with lukewarm water. Once you're all done, dry your doll off with a soft towel. 

There you have it AG lovers, once you use this method on your doll, she'll be clean, sparkly, and oh so cute in no time! 

That's all for today! Join in tomorrow for our next post- Product Reviews Thursday. If you have any questions, please visit our FAQ or Contact Us page. 

Did you enjoy our first Doll Care Wednesdays post? What's your favorite skin care tip? Now that you know how to properly clean your doll's skin, are you going to start? Weigh in below with your answers!

Happy cleaning!

-B

We Are AG Team

Tricks & Tips Tuesdays: Tips on Taking Care of Hair

Hello doll lovers! Welcome to Tricks & Tips Tuesdays! Even though Fridays are Hairstyle Fridays, where we discuss the various styles to make on your doll's hair, today, I will be  pouring you with all sorts of tips on how to make sure your doll's hair is looking it's absolute finest!

Just like us, AG dolls have hair that needs to be properly kept and maintained on a regular basis. To help your doll's hair remain in high maintenance, I would always suggest washing your hands before messing with your doll's hair {or even handling her}. Why? Whether you're coming in from a play outside or a walk in the park, your hands are home to many germs, oils, and dirt! Ew..yuck! As a doll mommy, I'm sure you wouldn't want any of that on her body or in her beautiful locks, now would you? Of course not! By washing your hands, you are doing your doll a favor, keeping her CLEANER!

There are two essential items for brushing your doll's hair:

1. Doll Wire Hairbrush- This brush from the AG official website, is what we recommend to comb and style your doll's hair for beautiful, lustrous locks. It has a sturdy wooden handle and wire bristles that won't make your doll's hair frizzy! This brush can be found on the American Girl website for $8!

2. Misting Bottle- No matter what kind or where you get it from, any regular misting bottle will be just fine to do the job. These type of bottles are great for getting your doll's hair slightly wet when brushing it.

Once you have these two items, you are ready to start brushing your doll's hair! You never want to use ANY other type of brush besides the American Girl brush listed above. Using other brushes can result in loss of hair, ripping, and damage to your doll's sensitive head.

I recommend brushing your doll's hair daily to prevent it from getting tangled and frizzy. For best results, use your misting bottle to spray/mist your doll's hair lightly before brushing it. Getting your doll's hair slightly damp is okay. Getting it soaking wet isn't- so don't overdue it. Use just enough water so that her hair is easier to work with. Reminder: Never get water in your doll's eyes- they can rust! I always make sure to cover my doll's eyes when I'm spraying their hair, just to be on the safe side.

Once you have sprayed her hair, then you can start brushing it. Always brush small sections at a time, starting at the bottom and working your way to the top of her head, making sure to get all tangles out. Be careful and don't pull too hard. Pulling too hard could cause your little girl's head to loosen. Make sure you have a firm hold on your doll by sitting her in between your legs or having someone hold her while you brush.

Your doll does NOT have human hair. In that case, never put mousse, hairspray, shampoo, conditioner, tangle free liquids, foam, or any other chemicals on your doll's hair. These items can damage your doll's hair in the long run rather than help it. Water is the best product to use on your doll's hair as recommended by American Girl.

Never use a blow dryer, a curling iron, hot rollers, or a straightening iron on your doll's hair, unless you want to dry, stiffen, frizz, or even melt your doll's lovely locks. Yikes! The fibers are made of a special acrylic, according to American Girl, and when those products are used on your doll's hair, they can result in severe damage. American Girl has other fun and safe alternatives to curling and styling your doll's hair such as perm rods, which can be found in this kit.

Your doll's hair maintenance is just as important as your own. By following these simple tips, your doll will be looking like a star, all the time. I hope you have enjoyed our Tricks & Tips Tuesdays! Stay tuned tomorrow for an all new post- Doll Care Wednesdays! Happy styling!

-B
We Are AG Team

DIY Mondays: iPad for your doll!

Hi! Welcome to DIY Monday, and thanks for checking out our blog! Let's cut to the chase- you want to make a doll sized iPad, and you have definitely came to the right place!

Here's what you will need:

Printer (color ink)
Glue or Tape
Scissors
Cardboard (cereal box, back of a notebook, folder, shoebox, etc.)

The first step is to print out the template. You can do this by copying this picture:

Next, you need to open a word document and paste the image. (for example; Microsoft word, word pad, etc.)

Once the image is in the document, enlarge the image to the size you want. This is the size it will print out in, so make sure you like it. Tip: Put your dolls hand up to the screen and justify the size you want.

Print the document.

Now your template should look something like this:



The next step is to carefully cut out the front and back of the pictures. (You can discard the side view). Be super carefully, and try to get out as much white as you can, without snipping the images.

Once you have these pieces cut out, take your cardstock (cardboard) and line the iPad onto of it, in a corner, if possible. I am using an old school folder. Cut along the edges, being careful not to snip the iPad. This piece will act as a backbone, and will make the iPad less flimsy. When you're done cutting, you should be able to fit the cardstock right behind the iPad without being seen.

You should now have these pieces.

Next, Glue the front and back of your iPad to the card stock.

Finally, trim off any of the cardstock that could be sticking out.                                                       

                                                 

Tada!! You now have your own doll iPad! That was easy, huh?





That should be all for today! If you have a suggestion on what next week's DIY should be, send us an email at: weareag@outlook.com
Join us next time on DIY Mondays for another cool new craft! Happy crafting! -E





Welcome!

    Hello and thank you so much for taking a moment to stop by and check out our new blog- We Are AG! We're so glad you're here at our happy place all about American girl dolls where we compile and share all of our ideas and tips, as well as share our love of dolls with you!

    The spark to create a blog began when the bloggers {E & B} met. We instantly had a connection and that only progressed when we found out we shared some of the same passions- writing and American girl dolls. It couldn't have worked out better. After discussing our dolls, sharing them with one another, and revealing all kinds of other doll talk, we found the blog world.  Then it hit us- why not pair our love for American girl dolls with our love for writing? But why a blog? We both enjoy journalism, and what better way to share our love for dolls with YOU, than to blog about it? Our blog idea came together and the blog was born on July 5th, 2013. 

    We spend all of our free minutes working on beautifying our dolls, styling their hair, taking photos and videos, creating all kinds of crafts and DIY's, and going on amazing adventures with our girls.

    You can expect the following blogging schedule:

DIY Mondays - We post easy DIY products/crafts for your dolls.
Tricks & Tips Tuesdays- We blog all the tips and tricks that you need to know about AG.
Doll Care Wednesdays - We teach you how to keep your little ones healthy and looking good.                                           
Product Review Thursdays- We post AG products reviews for you! Make sure to submit your product!
Hairstyle Fridays - The best day of the week just got better with tutorials on trendy hairstyles for your girls. 
Weekends - SURPRISE! We will have special segments that are different each week!

    To check out more information about our doll families, visit here! Our passion and love for dolls has done nothing but grow over the past few years and we couldn't be more psyched about sharing all kinds of AG madness with you all! As hectic and chaotic as life is, we hope to post at least four times weekly, if not, daily. 

Thanks again for visiting us! If you have any questions or concerns, please visit our FAQ's or Contact Us page for more information.

With lots of love,

E & B 

We Are AG Team