
Images and Text by LaVonne Salle.
You’ve probably heard me say this before – I enjoy saying it all the time especially when I am being interviewed for TV or the newspaper – but I’ll say it again now:
Nipples Are My Specialty
I have perfected altered barbie doll nipples. And it’s your lucky day because I am about to give you my nipple knowledge right here in an OOAK Barbie Nipple Tutorial!

Progression during process. (Left to right.)
Supplies
- Barbie doll (naked)
- Pencil with eraser on the end – does not have to be a new pencil or eraser, but the surface of the eraser must be even and flat
- Acrylic paint in one or two colors that are similar to your Barbie doll’s skin tone – for this tutorial I am using Delta Ceramcoat paint (available at your local craft supply store) in Medium Flesh and Autumn Brown colors. One color works fine, but two colors can look more natural.
- Varnish (again I use Ceramcoat) in your choice of Satin, Gloss, or Matte finishes. Any of these finishes will work and I decide which to use based on the barbie project.
- Fine tip paint brush that is new or very clean, with flat or rounded handle-end tip. If the tip of the handle is pointed, it won’t work very well.
Instructions
- Choose your paint and shake the bottle to mix it up, making sure some paint goes into the bottle cap area if possible.
Remove cap from paint bottle and place it paint side up on your work surface - Dip the eraser end of your pencil into the paint bottle cap, gathering a generous glob of paint #1 (the lighter color, if you are using two colors of paint) on the eraser end surface.
- Center the eraser on the Barbie doll’s breast, touch it down upon the breast just long enough to be firm in your touch, then immediately pull it straight up and off. Repeat steps 3 & 4 for the doll’s other nipple and then let dry for an hour or more.
- Repeat the above steps for a second coat of paint in the same color as the first coat. If this second coat doesn’t fill the entire space of the nipple (as determined by the first coat) – that is OK! It can look more natural if the second coat doesn’t spread out as much as the first coat.
- Dip the handle-end tip of the paintbrush into paint (use paint #2 for this step, if you are using 2 different paint colors), and gather a generous glob of paint on it.
- 7. Center the paintbrush handle tip over the center of the nipple, touch down on it firmly and steadily, then immediately pull up off it again.
- Repeat this step with the other nipple.
- Let nipple paint dry for an hour or more.
- Repeat steps 6-8, except this time use a lighter touch. Don’t press down on the nipple with the brush, just let the paint on the end of the brush touch the top of the nipple. Then pull up immediately. This should create a very “erect”-looking nipple. Go ahead and smile at it – you know it’s smiling at you! Let doll dry for an hour or more.
- Seal paint with a coat or two of your varnish of choice. Use the brush end of your fine-tip paintbrush to apply the varnish. The varnish should completely cover the painted nipple.
- Let each coat of varnish dry for an hour or more.
And that’s it! Wasn’t that easy?
Ask any questions you might have in the comments and I’d also like to know if there’s something else you’d like me to do a tutorial on. So please leave any suggestions you might have! Thanks!