Debbie Does Pink Bubbles…Debbie Drake That is!

P.B.D.S. Client – #0041

From the collection of Jaime!

All dolls have secret lives as we all know…here’s a peek into one of them…

There’s been a lot of excitement around here at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa this week! We were not only able to add a very special celebrity client to our roster (which thrilled Vera by the way) but our very own shampoo girl Daffy got to meet and spend some time with one of her favorite T.V. personalities to boot!

Daffy’s idol Debbie Drake!

Daffy’s been a long-time fan of this lovely lady for years and religiously starts her day exercising with Debbie in front of her television set every morning at precisely 9:15 a.m. come rain or shine!

So that’s how Daffy keeps her figure…well, that and her jog here to the spa to clock in by 10:00!

One of Daffy’s beauty secrets revealed!

Now our newest guest is not only hostess of her very own television exercise program, but she’s also the authoress of the best-selling book “Debbie Drake’s Easy Way to a Perfect Figure and Glowing Health” and has two High-fidelity record albums to her credit; “Feel Good, Look Great! Exercise Along With Debbie Drake!” and “How To Keep Your Husband Happy: Look Slim! Keep Trim!”

As a matter-of-fact, here’s a shot of Daffy’s well-worn copy of Debbie’s book:

And if that isn’t enough, Miss Drake has had the honor of having an actual doll made in her celebrity likeness…the Debbie Drake doll!

The resemblance is uncanny!

Now you may be wondering how Debbie came to make an appointment with us here at the spa. Well, it all began with a phone call from Ms. Drake herself! She happened to be coming to town to make a personal appearance at our local Woolworth’s to promote her latest album:

Take a note ladies!

According to Vera, Ms. Drake would be coming directly from the airport as her tight schedule allowed no extra time to check in at the hotel to prepare herself for her in-store appearance. It also helped that we happened to be located on the same street as Woolworth’s! In just a few short steps, she would be able to greet her fans fresh and beautiful as a daisy! Needless to say, upon hearing the news that morning, Daffy was beside herself with excitement!

Here is a candid of an unmade-up Ms. Drake as she looked when she first arrived to Pink Bubble’s:

Must have been a rough trip!

Debbie began her visit with a star-struck Daffy who assisted her with our Pink Bubbles Beauty Bath for Face & Body. Daffy then washed and conditioned her idols hair and after wrapping her platinum locks in one of our pink spa towels, led her to my chair. After her comb-out, set and style, we discussed her make-up options and she decided she really wanted to emphasize her brown eyes and add some color and definition, a look she doesn’t usually wear. I think it really suits her and she loved it! A bit of blush to the cheeks and a quick stop at Madge’s nail station was all that was left to prepare her for the “In-Person” visit that was quickly approaching. As a finishing touch, Daffy presented Debbie with a pair of Beatrice’s pearl earrings. A gift from a fan!

Here’s Ms. Drake’s lovely results:

And her dramatic “Before & After” photos:

Below a fun-loving Debbie poses playfully after her make-over for our camera!

With a bit of time to spare and as a very special surprise to Daffy, we pushed the furnishings aside in our customer lounge and Debbie led us all through a quick exercise routine. Of course she just instructed us as she had just been made-up and was now wearing a lovely dress and high heels. Daffy just couldn’t believe it, a dream come true! Poor Vera only made it six minutes through…I guess the deep squats did her in. Of course she was wearing a girdle!

Daffy, an aspiring actress herself, was able to spend the last few minutes alone with her idol Debbie Drake who was gracious enough to give her some advice on making it in show business. Debbie told her if she applied herself, books, records and even her own T.V. show were all in reach for her too. And by the way, keeping a great figure wasn’t a bad idea either! Advice Daffy was sure to take to heart and practice…beginning tomorrow morning at 9:15 a.m. sharp!

In closing, here’s a candid shot of Debbie and Daffy commemorating their new friendship and Debbie’s visit to the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

Thank you Jaime for sending the fabulous Debbie Drake to the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa! Come back again soon!

Visit the “Book An Appointment” tab at the top of the page to treat your own doll to a day of beauty at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

Spa packages as well as individual services are available.

Please visit our blog’s store and view our current eBay listings for Pink Bubbles “Swan” dolls available for adoption into your own collections! The links are on the right side of the page above.

Here’s a “sneak-peek” of tomorrow’s eBay listings:

Have a great weekend everyone and look for a new make-over tale next week!

Tomato, Tamato!

P.B.D.S. Client – #0040

From the collection of Ernesto!

All dolls have secret lives as we all know…here’s a peek into one of them…

The busy week began when our receptionist Vera received an urgent telephone call from Ernesto, a dear friend of the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa.

Ernesto is not only a brilliant photographer, he’s also a wonderful writer and the creator of DOLLDOM one of my very favorite fashion doll sites! If you haven’t already, you must drop in…I’m sure you’ll all love it! In fact, the spa clients in today’s post are all in- house fashion models who work exclusively in his studio…and this is their story!

Vera informed me that Ernesto’s Silkstone models needed appropriate hairstyles for the elegant couture wardrobe that was to be featured in an up-coming DOLLDOM pictorial. He had scheduled hair appointments for his selected models with her…and she was very excited to have this elite group of supermodels visit us here at the spa. As some of you may know, Vera’s a bit high-toned and is always looking to add another fabulous feather to the Pink Bubble’s Doll Spa cap and informed us all that the models visit would “bring up the tone of the place!”

Now according to the plan, the seven girls were going to be driving down the coast very early the next morning for their hair appointments, giving them plenty of time to return that evening for the scheduled fashion shoot. Well, in a perfect world plans go…well basically as planned! Unfortunately, this was not the case in this instance and I’m afraid our dear Vera got caught up in the cross-hairs!

It all started when the models car broke down about half way down the coast. Fortunately they were able to call us from a garage to let us know of the delay. Now Vera, already knowing of Ernesto’s shooting schedule, wanted to make sure their visit went off without a hitch, so she decided to drive up and give the girls a lift the rest of the way in her Chevy convertible. You may have seen it about town. It’s hard to miss…baby pink with “Pink Bubbles Doll Spa” logos painted on both the doors!

Now that would have been a happy ending to a slight bump in the road…except Vera’s usually dependable Chevy overheated as well on the way back! Well, as you can imagine with a group as large as that; seven lovely young girls…as well as we’ll say, a very well-preserved Vera…rides to accommodate them all were hard to come by! The best the stranded group could do in this pinch was…are you ready…a lift in the back of an open-bed tomato truck inward bound to L.A.! Well, a rides a ride and the girls convinced a very skeptical Vera that they should take it.

So, with the Chevy hitched securely to the back bumper, off they went!

Back at the salon Daffy and I were beginning to worry about our clients whereabouts when suddenly, a big red truck full of tomatoes pulled up in front of the spa! Surprised, we both watched as the girls jumped out of the back, laughing as they headed towards the doors of the spa. Last to emerge was our very own Vera…hair askew looking a little windblown after the trip down the scenic coast of the 101 Freeway! And you should have seen the expression on her face as she hopped down out of the back of that truck and removed a very ripe tomato from the back heel of her shoe!

Well, with their road trip adventure behind them, each girl took their turn in my chair. They each received an elegant new hairstyle more suited to the classic couture they were soon to wear. A happy ending after all as the girls indeed made it back in time for the shoot!

Enjoy their hair transformation results below!

Now that’s what I’d call a lovely bunch of tomato’s!

Make sure to visit DOLLDOM where you can view the stunning results as the models take their turns in front of Ernesto’s lens!

Thank you Ernesto for sending your lovely troupe of models to the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa and featuring them on the pages of DOLLDOM! They look divine!

Visit the “Book An Appointment” tab at the top of the page to treat your own doll to a day of beauty at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

Spa packages as well as individual services are available.

Have a great weekend everyone and look for a new make-over tale next week!

Guilty!

P.B.D.S. Client – #0039

From the collection of Lyn!

All dolls have secret lives as we all know…here’s a peek into one of them…

This is lovely Mia, a recent client who came in for an afternoon of pampering and relaxation…Pink Bubbles style! She cashed in one of our holiday spa gift certificates given to her by her boss. She’s really earned it too as she holds down a very high-stress job as a secretary down at “Bickers & Bickers” law firm. You see, Mr. and Mrs. Bickers are the top divorce lawyers here in our town…in fact our receptionist Vera’s hired them to represent her in all three of her’s!

Now Mrs. Bickers is also a very loyal client of mine and visits me here twice a month for her lavender tint touch-ups. She really depends on me to keep her looking good in front of the judge! She’s such a doll…why just last week she told me that she and Mr. Bickers just celebrated their 38th anniversary…of the law firm that is! Yes, they’re divorced 31 years, but the firm continues to thrive so they’re still together every single day. You know, sometimes you just can’t get rid of man…no matter how hard you try!

According to Mrs. Bickers, Mia, her personal secretary, gets a bit frazzled at times handling all those squabbling couples every day out there in the front office. That’s why she’s treating her to this day of beauty. She’s heard Mia say more than once that she feels like “tearing her own hair out” sometimes. And that would be a real shame too as she’s got the most delicious brunette side-part bubble…a really rare hairstyle for sure.

Now I’ve had many gals come through my station sporting bubble-cuts of every color and shape (not to mention condition!) but Mia’s rare style is among the very few I’ve had visit me here to date.

Here’s a quick snap of a true “side-part” bubble-cut hair-do:

Mia requested a fresh wash and set of her hair and wanted to refresh her make-up a bit as well.

To soothe her frayed nerves, Daffy put on some soft music and assisted Mia with her Pink Bubbles Beauty Bath for Face & Body. Then on to the shampoo bowl where a scalp massage was part of the deep cleansing treatment, followed by a conditioner. Once seated in my chair, a comb-out, reset and style were all on the docket!

With her hair set to perfection, I tidied up her shadow and added a bit of blush. Her lips were also returned to their original coral pink color, that is after I removed some pink waxy lipstick that didn’t suit her at all.

Below are Mia’s amazing results:

In the court of public opinion, and I’m sure Mrs. Bicker would concur, the case is now closed.

Mia’s been found guilty…

Guilty of “Glamour in the Third Degree!”

Now that’s what I call a mug-shot!

Thank you Lyn so much for sending in your ultra-rare side-part bubble for a day of beauty! I hope you both enjoyed your visit with us here at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

P.S. Don’t forget, we do have appointments open. Treat your own doll to a day of beauty at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

I’ve listed specially priced spa packages on eBay this afternoon, so check them out. Just search for “Pink Bubbles Doll Spa” in their search engine.

Have a great weekend everyone and look for a new make-over tale next week!

She Bangs!

P.B.D.S. Client – #0038

From the collection of Steven!

All dolls have secret lives as we all know…here’s a peek into one of them…

This pretty gal came in this week for one of our complimentary Pink Bubbles Doll Spa consultations. She introduced herself as Elaine but asked me to call her Lannie, as all her friends do. Now when Lannie first took a seat in my chair I just assumed that it must have been very windy outside that morning as her hair, especially her bangs, looked a fright. But alas, it wasn’t the whipping wind that had done a number on her “do”, it was just Father Time’s way of saying “Girlfriend, your working a forty-nine year old hair set…make a hair appointment already!”

Obviously her main beauty concern was that her once sleek bob had become quite unruly, poofing out at the sides and that her bangs for some reason kept getting shorter instead of longer as the years went by. Odd, but true! She swore she never trimmed them, but they still kept creeping ever-upwards.

Now bangs aren’t for everybody, they do take a bit of maintenance. If you choose to wear them, they must be kept at the right length. Left too long, they look untidy and hang in your field of vision like a sheep dog, so you end up spending a good part of your day pushing them out of your eyes. Frustrated, some gals resort to hair barrette’s, clipping them up away, which is a cute look…if your name happens to be Skooter! On the other hand, cut too short, they look like someone (probably you) made a tragic hair trimming mistake “evening them out” and you’re now having to pay the price till they grow back.

Now Lannie still had all the basics for a great looking hairstyle. A classic American-Girl cut in a gorgeous shade of strawberry blonde. Though it did look a bit uneven to the untrained eye, it hadn’t in fact ever been cut…just needed a little Pink Bubble’s T.L.C. by yours truly!

The trick to a great American Girl hairstyle is all in the set. After a bit of time in the hands of my wonderful assistant Daffy, who made sure Lannie’s hair was washed, conditioned and tangle-free before returning her to me, I began the task of re-setting her hair close to the head. After that her hair looked quite a bit longer, including her bangs. A very light trim, just to even things out a bit was all that was left to return her classic hairdo to factory original standards!

The only thing left to do was add a touch of color repair to her shadow and lids and mix a special lip color of the palest of pinks for a light color-wash to match her wonderfully faded lips. A lip color like Lannie’s is like a fine wine in the fashion doll world…aged to perfection!

Take a look at Lannie’s make-over below:

Polished to perfection, Lannie’s hair never looked so good…well maybe it did in 1965!

So if you want to “go out with a bang!” ladies, this is the proper way to do it!

Thank you Steven for allowing us all to enjoy the results of your beautiful American Girl! I hope you both enjoyed your visit with us here at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

P.S. Don’t forget, we do have appointments open. Treat your own doll to a day of beauty at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

I’ve listed specially priced spa packages on eBay this afternoon, so check them out. Just search for “Pink Bubbles Doll Spa” in their search engine.

Have a great weekend everyone and look for a new make-over tale next week!

Automat Annie!

P.B.D.S. Client – #0037

From the collection of Victoria!

All dolls have secret lives as we all know…here’s a peek into one of them…

Annie’s a new client here at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa and we have Madge, our world-renowned manicurist to thank for introducing all of us to her. Now being in the nail business all these years, the absolute first thing Madge notices about anyone is the state of their manicure. She just can’t help it. I tell you your hair could be on fire and she’d be checking your fingers for chipped polish!

Now Madge always visits the Automat in the morning for a quick cup of coffee and a danish before she clocks in. According to her, she had just dropped a quarter into the slot for her pastry and was opening the little glass door to take it when the plate holding her breakfast suddenly began to slide inwards away from her! Now no one keeps Madge from her morning Bear Claw, so she gave the plate a rather firm tug back and out it came…with the server’s hand still holding onto the other side of the pretty jadeite green dish! Quickly letting go, it disappeared back into the compartment and out of sight.

Peering into the little opening, Madge shouted “You there! What’s the big idea…and what’s going on with those nails!” Reaching into her handbag, she took out one of her cards and placed it inside the compartment. Leaning in, she shouted “Come see me!” before closing the tiny door. Well according to Madge, not more than ten minutes later, a young girl clutching her business card appeared at her table where she sat finishing up her breakfast.

“Hi, I’m Annie.” the girl said. “I want to apologize about the danish…I was just trying to swap it out for a tuna on rye for the lunch crowd.” “Don’t worry about it Honey, frankly I’m more concerned with the state of your nails. I’m down the street at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa…you should come in. In fact, we have a special spa package deal going on right now that not only includes my services, but the works… skin, hair, make-up…anything you need. Come on by. Ask for Madge!”

And guess what? She did!

As you can all see, Annie’s nails were the least of her beauty problems! She did end up taking advantage of our special spa package which included everything she needed for her day of pampering. After her relaxing Pink Bubbles Beauty Bath for Face & Body, Daffy noticed and removed a broken earring post in Annie’s ear that had begun to corrode. Thankfully, the dreaded “green ear” had only just begun to form and she was saved from that fate in the nick of time! She then had her hair washed and deep conditioned, which was a good thing as it took quite a while to untangle.

I’m always amazed at how lovely a girl’s hair can actually become with a little effort! (Well, maybe more than just a little!)

With her pretty red hair returned to its former glory, I then addressed her make-up needs. For starters, she had no trace of eyebrows left at all, so I had to start from scratch, which is always a challenge. Shade and placement being key, I think hers turned out quite lovely. Next, I repaired her shadow and lids. Satisfied with these results, I moved on to her lips. A new application of red, mixed to match the remnants of her original shade, did the trick. And for a finishing touch, as always, a light application of blush. She then left my station and reunited with her new best friend Madge, where she spent the remainder of her visit just “soaking in it!”

Below are Annie’s amazing results!

Annie was so pleased with her new look that she promised to tell all her girlfriends about our spa. And as a very special thank you, she gave each of our staff five shiny new tokens each, good for anything our hearts desired that may lay behind the shiny glass compartments of Madge’s favorite morning stop, the Automat!

Thanks Annie, we’ll be stopping by soon!

Thank you Victoria for once again sending one of your “wayward” girls to the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

P.S. Don’t forget, we do have appointments open. Treat your own doll to a day of beauty at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

I’ve listed specially priced spa packages on eBay this afternoon, so check them out. Just search for “Pink Bubbles Doll Spa” under “Dolls” in the search engine.

Have a great weekend everyone and look for a new make-over tale next week!

Blending in!

P.B.D.S. Client – #0036

From the collection of Sue!

All dolls have secret lives as we all know…here’s a peek into one of them…

Now I know there are some of you dolls out there who wouldn’t dream of leaving the house without your make-up on. It’s O.K. to admit it! Some have to have the whole shabang, while others at the very minimum wouldn’t be caught dead without at least a coat of mascara and an application of their favorite Bonnie Bell Lip Smacker. Mine’s “Orange Pop”…what’s yours!?

Hey, we all want to look our best! I’m in the beauty business after all, so I know all about it. Quick question…what’s the biggest beauty blunder you can make? I know, I know, there are a lot of them, and trust me I’ve seen all kinds pass through the doors of the Pink Bubble. In my professional opinion though it’s this…matching your foundation to your skin color as close as possible. Secondly, blend darlings, blend! Use a clean make-up sponge and don’t stop at the jaw line ladies, after all, your skin doesn’t. Apply a little foundation color to your neck as well. I’m sure you’ll all agree that there’s nothing worse than a white pasty neck under a tanned and blushed face, no matter how perfect the rest looks.

My newest client Daisy was a good example of not matching her foundation to her complexion. But Daisy gets a pass and I’ll tell you why…she was a little confused, and I can’t blame her! You see Daisy, a gorgeous #3, is a transitional gal. That is, she has the pale head and torso color of a regular #3 and the tanned arms and legs of her later #4 sisters. Ask yourself…what color foundation would you choose? Do you match your face to your torso or do you go for the sun-kissed color of the rest of you? What a predicament to say the least. Especially during those hot summer months when you have to wear shorts!

Well, the best advice I could give Daisy was this…embrace what makes you different and don’t cover anything up, just be yourself and show off both! After all, you’re a rarity, be proud of your place in Barbie doll history. You’ll find that very difference is what makes you special and probably the most interesting girl in anyone’s collection!

Deciding to take my advice, Daisy and I began our afternoon together starting as always with our recommended Pink Bubbles Beauty Bath for Face & Body. And boy did she need it! I’d guess Daisy may have been wearing her foundation for years, but with a little elbow grease it was all removed.

After a good session of hair prep with Daffy, who washed and conditioned her brunette locks, she returned to my chair for her comb-out, set and style.

Here’s a quick shot of her refreshed ponytail, before and after her hair session:

From there we moved on to her make-up. She needed some attention and repair work to her brows. Happy with the results, I moved on to her eyes, replacing the missing color on her shadow and lids. Next, beautiful new lips and of course a bit of blush. Gold hoop earrings were the obvious missing accessory and these of course were brought to us by the ever helpful Beatrice. Thanks Bea!

Here is a beautiful photo of Daisy’s results!

Enjoy her “Before & After” pics as well!

I guess the old adage “Less is more!” certainly applied to Daisy’s dilemma. Now, her two-toned body is her best feature. No need to hide it Daisy…you’re a special doll indeed!

A great big thank you goes out to Sue for sending Daisy to the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa! In fact she was so excited with Daisy’s recent results, that she wanted to share her with you all right away!

P.S. Don’t forget, we do have appointments open. Treat your own doll to a day of beauty at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

I’ve listed specially priced spa packages on eBay this afternoon, so check them out. Just search for “Pink Bubbles Doll Spa” under “Dolls” in the search engine.

Have a great weekend everyone and look for a new make-over tale next week!

“Heads Up!” Miss Barbie!

P.B.D.S. Client – #0035

From the collection of Steven!

All dolls have secret lives as we all know…here’s a peek into one of them…

Usually I get clues as to what a new client may need as far as services when they visit me here at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa. Traces of long-lost paint color on her face or nails can be used to color-match and repair faded or damaged make-up. Even a single hair plug salvaged from the scalp can give you an idea of her original hair color.

So it’s rare a gal comes in as “clean as a whistle” condition as Miss Barbie did just this last week. Not a trace of her previous life could be detected from the shoulders up. The only color on her face came from her bright blue eyes…which by the way could open and close. That’s pretty rare…and pretty unsettling as I soon discovered.

As I was adjusting her smock…and without warning…her head fell from her shoulders and right onto her lap! I stared down at her lovely face, her flirt-y eyes were closed in peaceful slumber as she faced upwards to the ceiling. Not missing a beat, Miss Barbie gently replaced her noggin back onto her slim neck. Now folks, I’m rarely speechless, but I was in fact at a loss for words!

“I’m so embarrassed!” she cried. “It’s happening more and more lately. At least it landed in my lap this time. Why, you should have seen the commotion at the supermarket yesterday. My head fell off, bounced twice and rolled right over to the ice machine as I was looking down at my coin purse at the check-out register. I’m lucky it didn’t crack…I’m at my wit’s end!”

“Now dear, I’ve seen everything (except this) here at the spa, and whatever it is we have to do, we’ll just figure it out together!” I told her, patting her shoulders…gently! My mind began to race as I hatched a plan to keep her head on her pretty shoulders…but how? Scotch tape? No, too obvious. Rubber band? Too temporary. Hot glue gun? Too unprofessional. It was clear. I had to address the cause of the problem…the deteriorated rubber washer used to secure her head to her neck so many years ago.

Now I don’t claim to be a doll hospital, but I can rise to the occasion if necessary. A quick trip down the block to the hardware store while Miss Barbie enjoyed a hot cup of tea rose to the top of my “to-do” list. I returned triumphant with what was needed to do the trick. As her head finally snapped back firmly into place, she twisted it back and forth looked up a down and all around, blinking her eyes with delight! “I haven’t felt this good in years!” she cried. This feels better than it did when I left the factory in 1964!

With her neck repair behind us thankfully, we discussed what was to be done as far as hair and make-up. I knew from my Mattel Beauty School Correspondence Course that the correct hair color for her was reddish-brown, but she confided to me she always dreamed of going blonde. With those baby blue’s, I agreed with her and thought it was a terrific idea. Why go with what’s expected?! Pretty new brows in a dark blonde tone and a full lips of orange-y pink brought her unique look together. And what’s Miss Barbie with out her trademark headband? I sent Daffy over to Beatrice to fetch me one from her stock in shocking pink, a tribute to the shade of Miss Barbie’s original swimsuit. All in all, a fabulous and quite striking new look to say the least and certainly unexpected for Miss Barbie fans!

A ‘Plain-Jane” no more, Miss Barbie hopes you enjoy her transformation pics below!

Thank you Steven for sending Miss Barbie

to the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

P.S. Don’t forget, we do have appointments open. Treat your own doll to a day of beauty at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

I’ve listed specially priced spa packages on eBay this afternoon, so check them out. Just search for “Pink Bubbles Doll Spa” under “Dolls” in the search engine.

Have a great weekend everyone and look for a new make-over tale next week!

Pink Bubble’s Double Bubble Trouble!

P.B.D.S. Clients – #0033 & #0034

From the collection of Pat!

All dolls have secret lives as we all know…here’s a peek into one of them…

Happy New Year Everyone!

Many of us start off the new year with a bit of the bubbly. In fact, Vera’s New Years Eve bender still hasn’t worn off…she’s wearing her dark sunglasses at her desk as we speak and it’s been three days! She won’t discuss it and I’m not going to ask. Must have been one hell’eva night though. Don’t worry, she can’t hear us…she’s just gone back to the lounge, probably looking for more aspirin.

Anyway, I thought this sparkling pair of Bubble Cut sisters would be a perfect way to ring in another great year of fabulous make-over stories here at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa.

First up is Ada, the red-haired Miss of the bubble-haired sister duo.

She looks a bit on edge doesn’t she?! Well, the thought of another year without a trip to Pink Bubbles would make any girl a nervous wreck. A “New Year means a New You!” is what I always say! So hop into my chair Ada, and let’s go!

Ada started her transformation with the help of Daffy who assisted her with her Pink Bubbles Beauty Bath for Face & Body. She then had her hair washed and conditioned before she returned to my chair for her comb-out. With her face scrubbed clean I saw that she had no eyebrows at all and her smudgy lips were gone as well. Anything other than original face paint always comes off during our special cleaning process.

Now everyone knows I love a blank canvas and Ada needed the works! But first things first, I started with her hair and chose to style it away from her face with pretty curls at the temples before I set it.

New brows, work to her eyes, eyeshadow and lids revealed a lovely set of peepers! A fresh application of new lip color and healthy blush revealed what I knew was there all along, an elegant gal ready to face the new year!

Hang on to your hats and blow your party horns folks…here’s the new Ada!

I sometimes can’t believe it myself!

Enjoy her before & after pictures below:

Now let’s meet Ada’s sister Ida!

After seeing Ada’s new look, Ida couldn’t wait for her turn! Once seated, she teased me that only one of them still had their natural hair color and could I guess which one of the two sisters were the “real deal”? Well honey, I’m a hairdresser and I knew before they even made it past Vera’s desk!

Can you guess which one still has her natural-born color readers? I’d tell you, but it wouldn’t be polite discussing my clients personal business. I’ll leave you all to guess, but remember, only her hairdresser knows for sure!

While I had been tending to Ada, Ida was in the capable hands of Daffy and was already prepped and ready to begin. I combed out her bubble and reset the style so it was closer to the head. I love big hair, but let’s keep it under control ladies! (By the way, Ida blamed her inflated bubble on the windy trip here in her sisters Corvair convertible. I knew it was really due to missed hair appointments… but you didn’t hear that from me!)

Unlike her sister, Ida had her original brows, which by the way, were a lovely shade of natural blonde (Hint – hint!) Her great looking eyes only needed a light touch-up and I evened out her blue shadow and repaired her chipped lids. I then whipped up a close match to her original lip color and filled them in. A final touch of cheek blush was all that was needed to finish her up and she just loved her results!

Ida treated both herself and her sister to lovely pairs of new pearl earrings provided by the ever vigilant (and commissioned) Beatrice from our gift shop, who by the way eyes my clients progress and knows just when to strike, I mean appear, with her tray. She’s saving up for a new color television and is relentless!

Take a peek at Ida’s results below:

With their afternoon of beauty treatments behind them, the sisters decided to show off their new looks and have lunch out before returning home. I had Daffy fetch me a pair of complimentary Pink Bubbles head scarves. They’re so chic! Clear plastic with pink bubbles printed on them and a handy snap closure at the chin. “Keep those bubbles safe girls on the way home. Especially if you keep the top down!” I whispered to them as they tip-toed passed an elegantly snoozing Vera!

Thanks Pat for sending your gals to the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

P.S. Don’t forget, we do have appointments open. Treat your own doll to a day of beauty at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

I’ve listed specially priced spa packages on eBay this afternoon, so check them out. Just search for “Pink Bubbles Doll Spa” under “Dolls” in the search engine.

Have a great weekend everyone and Happy New Year to you all!

Holiday Hair Happenin’s!

P.B.D.S. Client – #0031

From the collection of Karen!

All dolls have secret lives as we all know…here’s a peek into one of them…

Winter greetings everyone! Brrrr! Is it ever beginning to get nippy outside! I know, I know…California’s winter weather is so much easier to take than in other parts of the country, and no, I wouldn’t want to trade…but trust me, we’re definitely starting to feel the chill here at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa! My receptionist Vera has been driving with the top up on her baby pink Chevy for weeks now, windows tightly shut and the heater full-blast. And though I think she’s nuts, Daffy still insists on wearing her uniform skirts a bit too short for the cold…you know, just in case a casting director or producer’s wife happens to be picked up from her appointment by her well-connected husband. I swear, what that girl wouldn’t do for a good part! She just knows she’s bound to get discovered sooner or later. She’s a “go-getter” if you know what I mean. In fact, she just recently landed a gig in a Coke commercial! Look for her, she’s the blonde on the back of the bicycle built for two, drinking the soda pop with her feet propped up on the handle bars while her boyfriend does all the work peddling! Don’t blink, you’ll miss her!

At any rate, I’d like to share a story with you about a recent client who dropped by just this last week. Jeneva was a first-time guest here at Pink Bubbles and let me tell you just as sweet as they come! A gorgeous young thing with beautiful all-original face-paint. Didn’t need a bit of make-up outside of a touch-up on her lids and a just kiss of blush. Besides, that wasn’t why she ended up in my chair. Unfortunately, lovely Jeneva suffered a horrible hair mishap. Someone, obviously without a beauty operators license, had treated her to an “at-home” haircut. Clipped her pretty blonde swirl bang hair right down to the roots, not to mention smack-dab in the middle of her forehead. I know, we’ve all been there. Who amongst us hasn’t fallen into the wrong hands at one time or another and had to wait months for their bangs to grow out?!

Let’s face it, with the Christmas holidays just around the corner, she just didn’t have that kind of time to wait. She had parties to attend and pictures with her family and friends to take. Now I don’t care how pretty head scarves are these days, even the ones with poinsettia’s printed on them, the season just calls for beautiful holiday hair! Luckily for Jeneva, the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa had a quicker solution available!

Now initially she had come in for one of our complimentary wig fittings with Beatrice (sorry Bea about the lost commission!) to deal with the problem. She even showed me this clipping she pulled from her purse with s few styles she liked. Take a look:

Now I don’t care what Mr. Frederick says about “Wigging your way to glamour.” I knew I could do one better for my new client! In fact, I too was going to make sure she couldn’t tell my work from her own hair, and there was going to be no need to send anything back to Mr. Frederick anytime soon! (Though I have to admit that #C, the “Lucky Streak” wiglet is pretty fab! I may have to whip that look up for myself for New Year’s Eve!)

So off I went to my hair supply drawer, and wouldn’t you know it, I didn’t have the right color in stock. I had to send Daffy down to “Maude’s Hair Supplies” to pick up the perfect shade after checking my hair swatches and consulting with Maude on the phone personally. Of course, Daffy couldn’t wait to get out and grab a breath of fresh air. Besides, she’s got a mad crush on Maude’s son Lawrence. I think she may be barking up the wrong tree though since little Larry does better hair than I do! In fact he’s the one who encouraged his Mother to go into the hair business. It was hair supplies or his own beauty shop and frankly I’m glad they went with the former. I don’t need the extra competition in this town and besides, Larry’s a wiz with a rat-tail comb and don’t get me started with his Bouffants…pure magic! Thanks to Larry, I’ve seen his mother Maude with hair so big I was surprised she had the strength to keep her head up on her own neck! Maude really loves big hair though. She always says “The bigger the hair, the smaller the hips look!” I have to agree…words to live by. Maude and her son/personal hair stylist Larry…no, I don’t think Daffy’s going to be able to break those two apart any time soon. Did I mention, Larry collects antique Shirley Temple dolls? Last count, I think it was something like 75 or so in his collection. And their all in perfect condition. He displayed them at the library once and he treated the crowd to a very informative lecture on little Shirley’s film career and his dolls. No, I’m afraid there’s not enough room left on the Good Ship Lollypop for you Daffy! There’s only three seats…one for Momma, one for Larry and one for Shirley! Oh, and by the way, you didn’t hear any of this from me…remember I’m not one to repeat gossip…so you better be sure to listen close the first time!

Anyway, enough about Maude, Larry and Daffy’s love triangle. Back to my client!

Here’s a shot of her hair from behind…

With her hair having been cut in the front, I was a little afraid the rest may have been trimmed as well. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see when I complete the styling. Where is that girl anyway? Maybe she’s getting the nickel tour of Larry’s collection! Well, when Daffy finally returned with the hair, I got to work!

16 hair plugs later (as well as a wash, set and style) was all that was needed to return her hair to its former “Swirl” glory. Though the length of her hair may have been trimmed slightly, it turned out just beautiful. The color-match was perfect! An added touch of color on her lids and a bit of blush completed my work.

I challenge Mr. Frederick to tell me where the new hair starts and ends! Judge for yourself with the “Before & After” photos posted below. The ever helpful Beatrice, (who as you know by now works on commission) assisted our client in the selection of the final touches of her “Safety-First” replacement pearl earrings and a sunny yellow hair bow…both available by the way in our gift shop.

I think we can all agree that Jeneva and her restored Swirl hairstyle are both more than ready to greet the season in style! Lucky will be the young fella who accidentally winds up under the mistletoe with this lovely lass!

Thanks Karen for sending Jeneva to the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa for her hair restoration needs! We wish you both, as well as all of our readers, the happiest of Holidays!

P.S. Don’t forget, we do have appointments open. Treat your own doll to a day of beauty at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

I’ve listed specially priced spa packages on eBay this afternoon, so check them out. Just search for “Pink Bubbles Doll Spa” under “Dolls” in the search engine.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Halloween With Millie!

P.B.D.S. Client – #0029

From the collection of Patricia!

All dolls have secret lives as we all know…here’s a peek into one of them…

I just love Halloween. The air is crisp and cool and I enjoy the crunching sounds of the fallen leaves under my feet. Carved pumpkins and black sparkly cats that decorate the windows and porches all over town are wonderful to behold on my walk in to work. Later tonight, I’ll be joined on my journey home by little witches, ghosts and goblins running along the sidewalks and front lawns with their overflowing bags of treats. It’s a magical night!

I also love a spooky tale, especially true ones…don’t you?!

It was Halloween and I was alone here at the spa. Vera, Daffy and Beatrice had all left early to prepare themselves for the evenings festivities of costume parties and trick-or-treaters. At 4:30 in the afternoon it was already beginning to grow dark outside as it does this time of year. Doubting anyone was going to drop in for a last-minute rinse and set, I decided to go ahead and call it a day myself.

I went in the back and gathered my things. Putting on my coat, I turned off the lights as I passed their switches one by one till I was at the front door. I flipped over the hanging sign to “Closed” and gave one final glance over my shoulder, making sure everything was in order before I left. Giving the last switch a final flick, I reached for the doorknob. Suddenly, a voice coming from the dimly lit room behind me whispered a soft “Hello.” Clutching the collar of my coat, I whirled around to face my newest and most unexpected client. “Oh my lord, you scared me to death!” I laughed nervously, quickly switching the lights back on.

“I’m sorry I frightened you…won’t you help me…I’m so very late.” said the young girl. Calming myself I replied, “Of course dear, I can help you, I just didn’t hear you come in!” (which was strange as I always hear the beauty chimes ring as the door opens in the reception entry.) “Just let me take off my coat.” Placing it on a chair, I began to say “What is it that I…” turning to face a now empty spot. Somehow the girl had already taken a seat at my station, which by the way, was on the other side of the room!

She sat there staring at her reflection as I walked up from behind. “You’re pretty quick!” I told her. Her eyes slowly lifted up to meet mine in the mirror. “I’m sorry…won’t you help me…I’m just so very late.” she softly said again. “Now dear, it’s never too late here at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa, in fact you just made it in for our Halloween special! I said cheerily. “What’s your name?” I asked her. “Millie.” she said softly. “O.K. Millie, let’s see what we can do!”

I started off Millie’s beauty treatments with our Pink Bubbles Beauty Bath for Face & Body of course! I then washed and conditioned her hair. I couldn’t help but notice she was just ice-cold as I wrapped the towel around her blonde locks, brushing my fingers along her neck, tucking in the strays. “Your freezing you poor thing!” I gave her an extra-large spa towel to drape over her lap for warmth. After I set her hair, I said “Lets start on your make-up. Are you going out tonight sweetie? You got a Halloween date?” Though she hadn’t said much all this time, she suddenly looked up and replied “Yes…my date…I’m so very late…” “Well, you’ll be worth the wait!” I said continuing my work. I shaped and colored in her brows and replaced the missing color from her blue shadow and then darkened her lids. A fresh coat of deep red lip color was then applied. “Almost finished…there!”

And with that, I slowly turned her back around to face her reflection. “I think you need a bit more blush though, you’re still so pale!” dabbing her cheeks with just a bit more color before I was satisfied with the results. “And wear these, a little “treat” for Halloween…on the house!” I said placing the golden hoops on her ears.

Millie gazed at herself in the looking-glass in a way that almost seemed she was looking far beyond her own reflection. “Well I guess that’s it for me, besides your late, remember? Let me get you your bill and my card. I’d love for you to come back!” I went to Vera’s desk to get the receipt book. Filling in her first name…”Millie,” I began my walk back. “What was your last name dear?” I asked, realizing just then that it was very quiet. Too quiet. I was alone. My station and the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa were both very empty!

Walking home that chilly evening, my pace quickened as it always does, past the old cemetery. Something did catch my eye though, just behind the tall iron gates. It was a quick glint of moonlight reflecting off a golden hoop earring. I stopped and slowly turned to get a closer look. It was worn by a pretty young girl whose blonde hair was tied back in a familiar top-knot ponytail. She was standing just beyond the second row of granite tombstones and statues, the evening mist just beginning to form at her feet. Her beautiful pale face seemed to glow in the moon’s silver beams. Millie smiled at me from the darkness and raised a pale hand and slowly waved. Taking my own hand from the warmth of my coat pocket, I tentatively returned her wave. As if by magic, a tall young man with a crew-cut appeared at her side. She seemed happy to see him, and took hold of his offered arm. They made a hauntingly beautiful couple! I stood mesmerized as they both seemed to slowly fade away…into the darkness.

Millie wishes you all a very Happy Halloween!

Thank you Patricia and Millie for visiting us (I think!) here at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa. Come back again soon!

P.S. Don’t forget, we have appointments open. “Treat” your own doll to a day at the Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!

I’ve listed specially priced spa packages on eBay this afternoon, so check them out. Just search for “Pink Bubbles Doll Spa” under “Dolls” in the search engine.

Have a great weekend everyone!