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Giving AG Addy Yarn Box Braids: aka Dimitria’s Hair Day! Pt. 2

Full Tutorial Under the Cut!

Thank y'all so much for being so patient 💟

I also am going to create more video content on my BumbleBeeTLC accounts if anyone is interested in this content as doll spa/hospital/restoration/restyling video content is personally some of my favorite!

* Instagram *

• YouTube •

Hello all! My lovely Dimitria is a PC AG Addy Walker who has been customized and restored by me secondhand, however she has her pleasant company original wig. The texture and condition of the wig is important, if it's too thin/brittle/straight it won't turn out right or could possibly damage your hair.

If it's the correct type of hair, it's a safe and reversible process that is protective as well as a beautiful black cultural hairstyle.

I have compiled this tutorial from my lived experience as a black person and experience in giving myself yarn braids, however if you run into issues that aren't fleshed out in this tutorial, here are some additional general tutorials and information on yarn braids:

https://minibraidmethod.com/2012/06/how-to-parting-on-a-grid/

https://www.rookiemag.com/2013/09/diy-yarn-braids/

https://youtu.be/maA-MlLENhw?si=ctYXuToTLWmNBLqI

Materials:

• Black (or your desired color) 100% Acrylic Yarn (Link to one I used [X]) *This is extremely important to have 100% acrylic, some yarn textures can bind itself to the hair, making it extremely difficult to remove.

• Spray water bottle

• Doll Brush (Metal bristle preferably)

• Sectioning/rat tail comb

• Hair Claw or Salon Styling Clips

• Scissors

• *Curlers, optional but I recommended them as they help the braids to look more full overall.

• *Crochet Hook/Weaving Pick, optional to feed the hair in if you have difficulties.

• *Murray's Beeswax - optional to smooth hair. Murray's Beeswax is used for styling locs, braids and twists. I applied a very small amount to the beginning of the braids and the ends as well as a very thin amount over all the braids before putting them in curlers to steam/boil wash.

Preparing the Yarn:

The first thing I did was find an object, it can be a crate, a stool or chair, a cardboard box, etc that is long and sturdy enough for you to wrap the yarn around to prepare it to cut.

You want it to be a bit longer than your dolls hair overall to make sure you don't cut their ends whenever they are removed. This is going to depend on your dolls hair length so it will just depend. For me, I used one of my lap desks that was perfectly the right size for Dimitria's length:

Once you are wrapped a while, cut all along the same end, this should give you your prepared yarn:

(This isn't an exact science, it's more guestimating, you absolutely can do a lot of planning to the exact amount of braids you want and calculate the strands on that but um... Not me 😳 - If you run out (I did from the picture above), you can just prepare more. I did this about one other time then I had a leftover that went into my yarn scraps. ♻️

Braiding:

A few things to note, luckily this type of wig cap makes it easier to section for braids as following the wefts creates your horizontal sections until you get to the crown. You can make bigger braids by adding more yarn. (more strands = thicker braids/sections) I wanted thinner braids so I only used 2 and ended up with 52 braids total. Make sure you mist and brush the hair out before you start and as you go as you create your vertical sections.

Using 2 strands, link them together evenly like so:

Then, create a loop like so, taking care to ensure the link is at the top and the ends even:

You then feed the hair through, using your hands or a tool, make sure to keep the link in the middle as you tighten the loop around the base of the hair.

Using the middle hair as its own section, braid all the way down until you run out of hair, then split the yarn into 3 sections and continue to braid down about an inch. This is where you can use a very small amount of the beeswax or even simply water to smooth the ends of the hair to aid the transition of hair ends to ending yarn braid. Then, create a single strand knot at the end to secure the braid. After finishing all the braids, trim the ends about a centimeter past the knot.

Curling:

The method depends on your choice of curlers, I used plastic snap curlers this time, perm rods would also be a great choice.

I added a small amount of beeswax to the ends as I started the curler to help it stay formed. Make sure to only use a couple braids on the curler, as the braids are thick on the curler when wrapped. Some places where I wanted more detail that frame the face, I only used one braid to create a more springy spiral. I then steamed the braids with my handheld steamer, using a rag to protect her face. Just to be safe due to the thicknesses, we also did a boil wash. Be sure to try any excess moisture after!

WAIT AT LEAST 24 HOURS/UNTIL COMPLETELY DRY TO TAKE CURLERS OUT.

Finished Look!

Ta-dah! Ready for Spring!

Thank you so much for reading!

I appreciate everyone being patient in waiting for this! I had so much fun doing them, filming the process and styling the braids! I love the finished product so much, I am definitely gonna keep them in for quite a while! 💕

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Cécile and Marie-Grace ✨

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I always find my way back to these girls 💕

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As she deserves!!! This has been such a fun tourney, thanks for hosting it!

And with that, the best truly me tournament has come to a close! Our winner:

Truly Me #58!

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Innerstar School of Magic, Letter to Parents

August 1, 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians,

          We are pleased to welcome your child to the Innerstar School of Magic, the premier institute for instructing American Girls with gifts and talents such as your child’s.

First, a little bit about our school:  

The school is divided into two institutions, the Lower School, for grades 4-8, and the Upper School for grades 9-12. Lower School students are exposed to a variety of subjects meant to give them a broad knowledge base from which to select more specialized studies in the Upper School. All students receive instruction in English, mathematics, science, and social studies, in addition to a variety of other subjects such as astrology, magical compounding, fencing, debate, music, and transmutation. To illustrate, we have attached sample schedules.

4th Grade, any house:

11th Grade Walker house, academically inclined:

All students are sorted into one of six houses, Larson, Parkington, McIntire, Merriman, Montoya, and Walker based on their latent abilities and interests. These houses are your child’s school-year families. Although friendly competition is encouraged within the school, all students will adhere to the highest standards of behavior.

o        House Larson specializes in magic as it pertains to the natural world. Students in this house excel in caring for creatures, nature manipulation, and shapeshifting into animal form.

o        Parkington House students are exceptionally adept at magical devices, music, and oratory. Sung and spoken spells, as well as those stored in magical devices such as runestones, magical instruments and other such arcana are considered under the purview of this house.

o        Transformation and travel magics are the specialties of the students of McIntire House. This includes broom riding and other travel aids, and the transmutation of one thing into another.

o        Students in Merriman House are gifted in charms and spells of protection and defense. Many train in combat, both magical and mundane, so they may better protect those who cannot protect themselves.

o        House Montoya is known as the House of Healers because so many of its students are dedicated to the healing arts. Potions, magical salves, and tinctures are a specialty of this house.

o        Students in House Walker are true seekers of knowledge. This house comprises those of myriad interests, and a significant percentage have a talent for scrying, looking into the past, and predicting the future.

The school term begins September 1 and concludes June 30. All students board at the school. Winter break is the last two weeks in December through the first week of January. For the 2023-2024 school year, this will be December 17 through January 6. We offer a special summer session July 1-August 31 for those students who prefer to remain on campus during the official school break.

Again, welcome, and we look forward to seeing your child at the beginning of the term.

Sincerely, P.C. Washington, Headmistress

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Finally completed my Back to School themed doll display! Here we have girls of the 2020s: Nina, Priya, Rosemary, Wah Paw Moo, and Emauni.

Next, Esther, my girl of the 90s. She earned her Book It pizza already!

And lastly our girls of the 1800s: Ana Louisa, Kirsten, and Josefina. Their display is part Back to School and part Fall, since I don’t have lots of school themed props for them, but they’re looking cute as always!

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Final last minute (not really) propaganda for Round 1! Vote 61!

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More propaganda I forgot to post! Vote 55!

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Late propaganda, but she still deserves it! Vote 44!

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She’s my profile picture for a reason, Vote 32!

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Propaganda time! Vote 25 she looks good in everything

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First poll where I’m biased for a choice! Vote 17 she’s adorable

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200 Follower Giveaway!!!

Hey guys! As a thank you for getting this blog to 200 followers, Rose and I are hosting a Disneyland vacation outfit/accessory pack giveaway!

Giveaway will include:

Rainbow Mickey dress and ears!

And an accessory kit including:

-A Minnie Mouse tote bag

-A Disneyland Map

-An Ariel doll

-A Pin Collector Lanyard

All items are made to fit 18" American Girl Dolls or similar sized dolls :) They are all handmade and while they are made to handle light play I would not recommend giving them to children.

Giveaway Rules (Below the cut):

You must be 18 or older to enter this contest. By entering this giveaway you are certifying that you are 18 or older.

To enter this contest you must be following this blog. To enter reblog this post with the tag "AGRH 200 Follower Giveaway". One entry per blogger. (Honor system: Please do not reblog to multiple blogs for multiple entries to keep things fair!)

Contest will run until Sunday, August 27th at midnight CST. Winner will then be randomly selected from all entries. In order to receive the prize you must be willing to provide an address to send the prize to.

Prize only consists of the items listed/pictured above. No exchanges of items is allowed, and prize is not able to be exchanged for monetary value.

5. Blogger is not responsible for what is done with the prize after it has been awarded to the winner.

6. Not a requirement, but if you would share a picture of one of your dolls with the prize after it is received I would love to see!

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✨Lindsey Bergman✨

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Harmony is ten years old in the summer of 1996. Now that school is out, she's spending every moment playing outside!

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Cecíle!