My choice focused between Kayla, the doll with the deepest complexion and the honey blonde (the center doll shown above). I studied this image for several days and ultimately decided on the honey blonde because of her unique complexion-hair combination. She would add some spice to the family of dolls, I thought, whose complexions represent the African American color spectrum from deep to pale.
I was hesitant to choose her initially because her lip color seemed too pale and I have an aversion to deep complexioned dolls with pale lips. I was pleasantly surprised that her lip color, complexion, and hair color are quite complementary. Upon her arrival, I noticed several other pleasing factors about the chosen one which are outlined in the several photos below.
Initial Photos
As described in the
guest post by the creator of Curly Girls United, each doll is 18 inches tall with vinyl head, arms, and legs. A portion of the torso is cloth (which will be illustrated below). The dolls can stand alone without the assistance of a doll stand. This is always a welcome feature.
Because my doll is the 12th doll made, she arrived in a plastic bag inside a plain shipping box. (The boxes designed for the dolls are still in production mode.)
The photos on the left and right were taken immediately after removing from the plastic bag. Her hair had not yet been fluffed.
She wears a velour aqua jacket and pants, sleeveless light pink velour blouse, and pink Mary Jane-style shoes. The shoes are accented with embroidered aqua star shapes. The back of the jacket bears the Curly Girls United logo.
Before undressing to determine if she could wear any on-hand 18-inch doll fashions,
Honey (the name she received while this sentence was written), took a complexion comparison photograph with Madame Alexander's 18-inch Friends Boutique doll, "Patience." Honey's complexion has red undertones compared to Patience's yellow undertones.
A closer look at the subtle differences in the girls' complexions is illustrated next.
The Feet and Body
Honey can wear Patience's shoes. The ankle strap fits loosely because Honey's legs and ankles are thinner than her new friend's.
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| This photo illustrates the cloth portion of Honey's body and her slim legs. The cloth color used for the body is a close match to the vinyl color. The extra measures taken to match the cloth color with the vinyl color please me. (Many companies cut corners by using white or other light colors for brown dolls' bodies!) |
More Complexion and Body Comparisons
Above, Honey poses, undressed, with Journey Girls Taryn. The location of the cloth in their bodies is similar; however, the makers of Journey Girls did not use matching cloth for Taryn's body. Honey has a better posterior shape than Taryn (who is completely flat in back). Their leg size is similar, but the leg shape differs.
Honey and Addy compare complexion and body differences. Addy has an all-cloth body, and again, American Girl cut corners by using a lighter brown cloth for the body. Because of the full cloth body, Addy's body is less supportive of her weight than Honey's. I do not believe Addy is able to stand without assistance. (My Addy is kept on a doll stand; I did not test her ability to stand alone.)
Redressing
I have a stash of clothes that will fit 18-inch dolls. Honey only tried on clothes worn by Taryn, Addy, an 18-inch My Twinn fashion, and another American Girl boxed fashion that was readily accessible. In my mind, I am thinking Honey can also wear Magic Attic clothes, but I am uncertain if this is an actual fact.
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| Honey tried on Addy's Christmas dress first. It fits but it is a little longer than desired. Before taking this photo, her pink headband had been removed (because it would definitely clash with the tartan plaid of Addy's dress). Finger combing followed. |
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| Taryn's complete fashion, including the orange sneakers, are a perfect fit for Honey. In this photo, Honey's well-rooted mounds of curly hair have been fluffed. Some of her hair was pulled to the front and side to create a more sassy look. Doesn't she look adorable? |
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| Honey removed the jacket of Taryn's fashion before posing for this photo. I think orange is a good color for her. |
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| In this photo, Honey wears an 18-inch My Twinn starter fashion with Taryn's sneakers Yellow is a good color for her too. Her fauxhawk was achieved by pulling her hair back and wrapping loosely in the center with a rubber band. The ends were fluffed from front to back. |
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American Girl Julie's casual, 70s-inspired fashion is what Honey "chose" to continue wearing. She wears the floral embroidery embellished orange dashiki, purple split skirt, and brown boots well. With the fauxhawk released, additional finger combing and fluffing with a front side bang add to her "groovy" 70s look.
The Eyes
Honey has hazel sleep eyes, also known as open-close eyes. When in the upright position, her eyes are open. When in the supine position, her eyes close on their own as if she is asleep. Their hazel color matches her complexion as does the lid color, which perfectly matches the color of her vinyl. The eyelid and complexion color match, as well as the previously mentioned cloth body and vinyl complexion match, illustrates the amount of attention to detail these dolls received.
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About the Hair
Honey's natural-textured, curly hair is one of her best features. I love it! The fibers are well rooted, super curly yet silky, and it does not easily tangle. As described by the creator, "
The hair is fully rooted and of high quality that can be “cowashed” and finger combed."
I have no plans to cowash or otherwise wet the hair, but I can attest to the fact that it is of high quality and can be finger combed and finger fluffed with ease. As illustrated by the fauxhawk and side bangs, it can be restyled, as desired.
Am I pleased? Yes. I know the intended market for the 18-inch Curly Girls United dolls will love the line, particularly if they are curly girls themselves. Those who collect 18-inch dolls, natural-hair dolls, and those who have a diverse collection of dolls of all sizes will appreciate their cute round faces, lovely locks, matched eyelid/cloth body/vinyl coloring, ability to stand, and other features as well.
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