American Girl Doll Restoration: Lea Clark | What Went Wrong (and Right!) While Fixing Up a TLC Doll

In this video, I fix up a TLC Lea Clark doll that I picked up from Facebook Marketplace. I share my fails and triumphs as I walk you through what I did. Now the question remains.. do I sell her as-is, or customize her? Let me know in the comment section!
-- LINKS --
Instagram: / ag_evelynrose
Sophia's Hairbrush: tinyurl.com/SophiaBrush
Micro Mesh: a.co/d/dGY5ZgV
-- TIMESTAMPS --
00:00 - Introduction
00:41 - Supplies Needed
00:59 - Assessing the Damage
02:12 - Cleaning the Doll
04:27 - Spot Removal
05:42 - Hair Cleaning & Brushing
08:42 - Shine Mark Removal
09:36 - Finishing Touches
11:18 - The Reveal
12:23 - Outro
-- EQUIPMENT & TOOLS --
Footage and photos taken on iPhone 14 Pro Max
Microphone: Samson Q2U
Visuals created using Canva
Music from Epidemic Sound
-- INFO/TAGS --
American Girl doll collection, American Girl tutorial, American Girl Customizing, Fix up American Girl Doll, Restoring American Girl doll, Girl of the Year, GOTY
#americangirldoll #americangirlbrand #americangirl #dolls #americangirldolls #agig #dollcollector #dollcollection #dollcollecting #dollcollectors #customdoll

[@strangelyliteral]

Okay, plucking out those shorter hairs is a genius move. I’m always nervous to do that kind of thing because they can’t grow it back, lol, but it really did improve the way the wig looks.

[@EvelynRoseAG]

It helps so much! Plenty of hair comes out when brushing anyway, so I figured I might as well and it definitely goes a long way

[@Sandy42800]

She looks so pretty! You did such a great job fixing her up, she does look a lot better, especially her hair!

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thank you so much! I'm happy with how she turned out. It's amazing how gorgeous Lea is even with the disheveled look going on.

[@CherishedDollFriends]

Nice job fixing up Leah! Sorry about her foot but I think she has many nice qualities and I agree it makes her an affordable addition to someone’s collection. I love fixing up dolls too. It’s so satisfying! I use my own shampoo and I haven’t found getting the wig cap wet to be an issue. The worst that can happen is the wig could loosen and it can always be glued back. This has never happened to me though. I actually love your tip of picking out the fly aways. What a great idea! She turned out beautiful. Leah has beautiful eyes. Very good video 😃

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thank you! ❤️ That’s great to hear about the wig cap, as I’ve never tried getting it wet and have heard you shouldn’t. But that makes a lot of sense!

[@bellaboo8952]

100% better! She is lovely!

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thank you! She definitely needed some love!

[@LynnieBird]

You did such a great job! I'm getting up the courage to repair and restore a lot of my old dolls, and this is very inspirational. Thank you!

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thank you!! I’m glad you enjoyed. Best of luck with your restorations! ❤️

[@agdollies4ever]

I think she came out great ! These are my fav videos so I definitely enjoyed 🥰 honestly, a customized Lea doll would be so perfect. Lea is one of my favorites. I would be so curious to see what you would do during customizing her!😍

[@EvelynRoseAG]

I'm so glad you liked it! I appreciate your support as always :) And I'm not sure what I would do but I know she does make a great base because of her gorgeous face and brows. I have a black curly wig that would be pretty!

[@ALT-vz3jn]

You did a great job of restoring her ❤ I almost always wash doll hair when I get pre-owned dolls. I’m super allergic to mold, so when dolls have that slightly musty smell from being in storage I end up sneezing and itching. Just washing the hair and giving their body a good scrub with a magic eraser fixes the problem. I like using a synthetic wig shampoo for their hair, it makes their hair really shiny.

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thank you! That’s actually a really good point - you don’t really know what you’re bringing home on the doll 🤢 I’ll have to look into the synthetic wig shampoo. That sounds like a great idea.

[@americangirlbliss]

I truly love your channel. Keep doing the best work, this video is great! Good job! ❤

[@EvelynRoseAG]

This comment made my day 🥹 Thank you so much!

[@AGdolphan-bp7zm]

She looks great, well done! Lea is my fave AG doll :)

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thank you so much! I can see why - Lea is one of the most beautiful they have ever made! ❤️

[@Agstar91]

Awww what a glow up!! Super impressive! Now I think I need to try and find that sofias brush. Cuz it's so much bigger - looks easier to work with. You did an amazing job! So disappointing about the foot :( you should do whatever you think is best, I'd say if you want to customize her, maybe do that in a way you're interested in and then if you want to accept offers do that!

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thanks Kaley! 🥰 The link for the brush is in the description and I totally recommend it! I’ve had it for years and was glad to have it when that wig ended up being so tangly. I’m still undecided on what to do with her but I’m sure I’ll figure it out!

[@hildasantiago-perez7470]

She looks beautiful you did a good job keep her

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thank you Hilda ❤️❤️

[@WondrousAG]

She’s gorgeous ❤

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thank you!

[@AGsunflowers]

beautiful work Evelyn!!!!

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thanks Christiania!! 🥰

[@bethbacarella]

She looks gorgeous! What a lovely transformation. I'll be curious to see what you decide to do with her. :) Thanks for sharing!

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thanks Beth! I still haven’t decided what to do. Despite the mark on her foot and some persistent scratch marks she does look pretty good so it’s hard to decide.

[@bethbacarella]

@@EvelynRoseAG Why are doll decisions so hard to make? I feel the same way!

[@dollahlah-54321]

You did a wonderful job restoring lovely Lea! She looks almost like new to me now. Thanks for sharing your helpful tips and tricks! ❤

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thank you so much! I appreciate the kind comment. I’m still always learning more about restoring dolls but it’s so fun to see these transformations 😍

[@AGTV4Life]

Wow!! She is one of my favorite dolls and you brought her beauty back!! ❤

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thank you so much! ❤️ she’s one of my favorites, too!

[@Prepwithane]

You did an excellent job! 11:47

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@DollFairyCrafter]

She turned out great! The nit picky plucking is a good tip!!! I didn't think of using tweezers for that. Have you seen that tiktok dead end hair trimmer? I wonder if it would work on doll hair 🤔

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Ooh I have seen that! I’m too scared to even get it for my own hair.. but doll hair… might be a good way to test it out!

[@clairejoanne123]

I think you should keep her, thank you for sharing

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thanks so much! ❤️

[@67luis64]

You made a very good restore: the doll came back in almost perfect shape and is really l♥vely; I'd purchased it from you if it weren't that I live in Italy and the shipping would be more expensive of the doll itself. If you ask me, keep the doll and take care of her: after been badly threated by the previous owner, she deserves to have someone who gives her a lot of l♥ve.

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Thank you for the kind comment! That’s a great point. I’m starting to lean toward making a custom doll out of her ❤️

[@TotallyDolls]

LOL! Based on your description of Lea's previous owner, I imagined a gready, untidy man, who has very furtive eyes.

[@EvelynRoseAG]

LOL!! Untidy is right.. but he was very friendly. Maybe a little too friendly. He was younger than me though and it was his parents house. I wondered where all of the doll things came from.

[@TotallyDolls]

@@EvelynRoseAG You said his house looked like a hoarders house. They probably go to estate and garage sales and buy stuff to sell.

[@EvelynRoseAG]

That may have very well been it!!

[@nerdyicy6614]

I'm fixing my Lea up right now too. I just need to shampoo and restyle her hair. I might add a touch of conditioner too since her hair is pretty dry and frizzy at the ends. I still only paid $60 and am one step closer to completing her collection. My TM 65 though is not as I expected. I didn't realize her tag was like ripped off of her body (luckily the body is in tact) and her hair was cut. None of this was mentioned by the seller. I have a new wig coming, I'm just waiting for my magic erasers to show up and than all of my preowned girlies are getting a wash. And pretty much all of them need a resting hehe. But I love my collection and I can't wait to make everyone look brand new

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Oh shoot, that’s super disappointing! I recently purchased some dolls with the neck strings and body tags both cut. But the seller was a parent, not a collector, so she didn’t think anything of it. I hope you’re able to make the best of it and still enjoy her ❤️

[@bettyluquis5118]

I was gifted a Julie and her hair is very dry & matted 😢 I’m going to try to steam it but I have never done it before so I’m a bit hesitant since her hair is so straight. Her tag was cutoff as well but since I don’t plan to sell her I’m ok with it.

[@EvelynRoseAG]

Hi Betty, have you heard of a boil wash? Luckily, since Julie’s hair is straight already, using a boil wash, a steamer, or just a straightener (on very low heat while the hair is wet) can do wonders to bring her hair back to life. After you’ve brushed the hair and gotten the mats out, a boil wash and straighten would help significantly I’m sure.