Small surface tears and loose joints can usually be fixed at home. Anything structural, electrical or on the face can't. The most useful skill is telling the difference before you start, because a failed home repair on silicone is much harder to fix than the original damage.
Here is what you can repair, how to do it, and when to stop.
First: is it a defect or damage?
This decides everything, including who pays.
It is probably a defect (contact us before you touch it) if it was there on arrival · appeared without any accident · is a seam separating on its own · is a joint that never held from day one · is an electrical option that never worked or stopped working during the warranty.
It is probably damage (you repair it, or we give you a quote) if it is a tear after a fall or a snag · a joint loosened by bending it too far · a cut from a fingernail, jewelry or a zipper · anything that happened after a clear accident.
The time limits that matter: shipping damage must be reported within 48 hours of delivery, with photos or video. Warranty claims must be sent in writing within 7 days of the fault appearing, with photos or video. Your doll is covered for six months and her electrical components for five, plus your local legal rights on top. See the details for your country.
If you are at all unsure, take a photo and ask us before you try anything. A repair attempt can make a claim harder.
Small surface tears
This means a shallow tear of up to a couple of centimeters that is not at a joint or a high-stress point.
You need: an adhesive made for silicone, a toothpick or fine applicator, an isopropyl-free cleaner, and something to hold the edges closed.
- Clean and dry the area completely. Adhesive will not stick to a damp or oily surface, and this is where most home repairs fail.
- Gently open the tear and work a small amount of adhesive into it. Use less than you think you need.
- Press the edges together and hold them. Don't squeeze so hard that the adhesive pushes out.
- Wipe off any extra right away. Hardened adhesive on the surface looks worse than the tear did.
- Let it cure fully before putting any strain on it. This usually takes 24 hours. Rushing this step is the second most common reason repairs fail.
- Once it has cured, a light dusting of powder over the area evens out the finish.
What to expect: a good repair is strong and much less visible, but it is rarely invisible. A faint line is a normal result, not a failed repair.
Deeper tears and stress points
Tears at the neck, armpit, groin, inner thigh or any joint are structural. They are in places where the material bends and carries weight, so a surface glue repair will open up again, usually larger than before.
Stop and contact us. These tears need a professional repair or a replacement, and using her will make the damage worse.
Loose joints
A joint that no longer holds a pose usually has a tension fitting that has worked loose. It is usually not broken.
Whether you can tighten it at home depends on her skeleton. Some skeletons have tension fittings you can reach and some don't. Take a photo of the joint, tell us which one it is, and we will tell you whether it can be adjusted before you open anything.
Don't bend a joint further than it is meant to go to test it. That is how a loose joint becomes a broken one, and skeleton damage is never a home repair.
Finger wires
Her fingers have thin wire inside that wears out with repeated bending. When a wire breaks inside a finger, the finger goes floppy, and sometimes a sharp end sits near the surface.
If you can feel a sharp point, stop using that hand and contact us. A broken wire can push through the silicone from the inside and turn a small problem into a tear.
Replacing a finger wire means opening the hand, so it is not a beginner repair. Ask us about the options before you try it.
Paint and finish
Face paint is not a home repair. Matching colors, blending and sealing are the parts of her that take real skill, and a touch-up attempt usually looks worse than light wear does.
Light wear where she is touched most, such as the nipples, lips and fingertips, is normal over the years and is not a defect. If it bothers you, ask us about a professional refresh or a replacement head. A second head is often the better choice, and it gives you a new look as well.
Electrical faults
Heating, sound and motion are never home repairs. Opening her body to reach a part risks a structural tear, and the fault is probably covered anyway.
Electrical components have a five-month warranty. Report the fault in writing within 7 days of noticing it, and send a video if the fault comes and goes. It is worth checking the charge, the connections and the switch position first.
What's in a repair kit
- Silicone adhesive, for small tears
- Color remover, for dye transfer, not tears (see the separate guide)
- Renewal powder, for the finish after a repair
- Applicators and cloths
When to stop and contact us
Contact us in every one of these cases, with no exceptions:
- The tear is at a joint or stress point
- It is longer than a couple of centimeters or goes deep
- Anything on the face
- Any electrical fault
- Structural damage to the skeleton or a joint
- A sharp point you can feel through the skin
- You tried a repair and it didn't hold
- You're not sure
The last one is the most important. Send us a photo before you try anything you are unsure about. We still answer questions from owners whose warranty ended years ago.
Already an owner? The full owner guide covers care, storage, repair and moving her.
Common questions
Will a repair be invisible?
Rarely. A good repair is strong and much less visible. A faint line is a normal result.
Can I use superglue?
No. Superglue (cyanoacrylate) doesn't bond to silicone properly. It leaves a hard, brittle, discolored patch that makes a proper repair harder later.
How long before I can use her again?
Wait until the repair has fully cured before putting any strain on it. This usually takes 24 hours, and longer if the repair is somewhere that bends.
Does a home repair void the warranty?
It can make a claim on that area harder. That is exactly why you should ask us first.
Can you repair it for me?
Send us a photo of the damage and we will tell you the options, whether that is a part, advice or a professional repair. We will tell you the cost before anything happens.