Enter the world of Crissy.
Did you know there was a doll in the 1970s who’s hair grew? Her name was Crissy and she was all about the hair.
My name’s Christina and my friends call me Chrissy. Who knew my life would have been predicted by a doll in the 1970s?
Beautiful Crissy: Her hair “grows” down to her toes!
The Crissy doll had a hair that grew when you pressed a button on her stomach. It turned from a bob into a ridiculous floor grazing mane. When you wanted a new look you could wind her hair back in with a dial in the middle of her back. I wish my hair would grow at the touch of a button.
Crissy had a cousin called Velvet and a bunch of friends with great hair too.
Click here to watch to embedded video of the Crissy commercial
This Crissy doll commercial is hilarious. There was also a talking version of Crissy but she’s a little disturbing. Crissy says “I have a secret. I’ll never tell.” She also wants you to brush her hair and set her hair, and she’s very polite.
I can’t believe there’s a hair doll with my name. It seems so weird.
Have you ever heard of the Crissy doll? If you were a doll what would she say?
Crissy image from Collect Toys. Photo of me by Xiaohan Shen.
Thanks for the post. I was given a Crissy doll when I was 4 and still have it today. My grandmother made clothes to go with it which are still in a bag. Nothing better than pushing on a belly button and pulling all that hair out! I hoped I could find her a new owner among one of my three daughters, but got no takers. So sadly she sits in her bag in the closet waiting on granddaughters. I still love her.
When I was about 8 or 9 my older cousin Terri received an original Beautiful Crissy with floor length
Hair I was fascinated by both her smile and her beautiful ruby red hair (by the time my sister Juli and I had seen though Crissy’s hair was all tangled and ratted). 2 years my sister received a Cricket doll.
25 years later I found one at the local doll show and gave it to my niece Aubry for birthday. Her younger sister Brittany saw it and wanted to know where her dolly with the growing pony tail was so, I had to look for a Velvet doll and eventually outfitted both nieces and their friends with grow hair dolls. My mom then asked for a set and when she passed I inherited her collection. I now have several Crissy’s with floor length Hair both white and black versions as well as Crickets, Kerri’s, Tressys, and Baby Crissy’s. The only one to elude me to this day is ” Black Tressy” a very unique doll and very hard to find. Thank you
I actually still have my Velvet doll and she is still in working order. She has white blonde hair and had a purple dress (which I unfortunately lost). My mum used to sew and knit a lot of our dolls clothes and so Velvet is now dressed in a pale blue knitted jumpsuit. I’ll never part with her!
I still have my velvet doll. She is in mint condition.
No way – she’s a collector’s item! x
I had Baby Chrissie.
She was a HUGE baby doll with long hair.
Now I see how ridiculous that is…
Love this post! I had a Chrissy doll back in the 70’s and loved styling and cutting that pony of hers. I finally cut it so short it was just a little sprout on the top of her head. Thanks for the memory!
What a lovely post. The Barbie doll is so cute and pretty.my daughter will also love dolls. Thank for the awesome articles.
I had Crissy and Velvet! My Mom made clothes for my various dolls including my Barbies. Now that I sew, I can’t imagine how she sewed something so small.
Blessings,
Lorilee
OMG I had one of these dolls when I was little and my brother got mad at me and grabbed her by her hair swung her around and she went flying but her hair stood in his hands.. Nice..
OMG!! I TOTALLY inherited my Mom’s “Beautiful Chrissy” when I was about 6! I was so fascinated by her (my sister inherited one of Chrissy’s friends). I’m not sure what happened to them, but I do remember playing with her hair for hours! I don’t know if I was more intrigued with the hair, or the idea of playing with a doll that my Momma had when she was little 🙂
PS…I LOVE LOVE LOVE that picture of you!
Thanks Maribeth x
Yes I’ve heard of the Crissy doll because, my mom told me about her,If there was a doll named off of me she would say “Can you keep a secret?” and “Life is wonderful” and also “Everyone is special in there own way”! Lol!
So sweet! I like a life-affirming doll x
Hi Christina,
I am not sure if I told you this a long time ago but perhaps I didn’t.
I have an original Chrissy doll still – she prefers to go nude these days (definition: I’ve lost her clothes) and she has to make an appointment for the Opthamologist (definition: She has a dicky eye in need of attention).
But I love her and she was my 1 of 2 only dolls I had when I was little – I still have her vintage retro pram too – very orange and pinks with lots of psychedelic swirls.
have a great day lovely lady
x Loulou
Thank Loulou! I couldn’t remember who mentioned it to me, was it on Instagram? Thanks for letting me know x
Oh my gosh Christina…I had a Crissi doll (well an Australian 1970’s version), she was my favourite doll, I would amaze people with her hairstyling abilities….either that or they were humouring me ;).
I did become a hairdresser, I wonder if that was because of my doll?
I love reading your blog, I haven’t been a hairdresser for a long time now so I feel like you keep me a little up to date with the hairdressing world…thanks so much 🙂 Tracey
Thanks Tracey! Maybe Crissy did inspire you to become a hairdresser…just wish she could teach us the grow your hair back at the touch of a button!