10 Shocking Signs that You Should Start a Doll Collection - Even if You Think You Have No Interest in Dolls

Generally, most of us can admit that we played with dolls or action figures as a kid, but how do you admit to yourself that you still have the same desire as an older teenager or full-blown adult? Do you find yourself drawn to the world of dolls, captivated by their intricate designs and the nostalgia they evoke? Before a collector becomes a collector, they must admit they still love dolls. This guide will help you determine 10 weird, unexpected signs that collecting dolls is the right hobby for you.

1. You Can't Stop Watching Doll Content on YouTube

Yes, the channel may be targeted toward kids, but you can still enjoy it with childlike wonder and pick up on any adult or more mature jokes sprinkled in the mix. So many types of doll content are available on YouTube, like doll unboxing, doll customizations, and stories. Before a collection was even in the back of my mind, I would spend late nights watching unboxing videos of large BJDs. 

If you haven't already dove into this side of YouTube but have always wanted to, just try! At first, I felt embarrassed. But I enjoyed it so much, I couldn't stop and eventually didn't care. The possibilities with dolls were endless and beyond anything I had ever imagined. It definitely expanded my admiration. 

2. You Have Recurring Dreams About Them

If you are interested in dreams and their mysterious meanings, you have heard that recurring dreams hold compelling information. Usually, recurring dreams are not a good sign, especially if they are nightmares or have dark themes. But if you are having pleasant recurring dreams, this is something to note. Especially if you have recurring dreams about something satisfying in your childhood, like dolls. Recurring dreams of a pleasant kind can be a reflection of subconscious interests. 

I couldn't stop having this fantastic dream about being in a grocery store, already in the toy aisle, or rounding the corner and seeing row after row of beautiful Bratz dolls. They were perfect and so pretty, and in my dreams, most times, I had unlimited money to buy whichever ones I wanted and fill the cart up to the brim. I'd crouch in awe, staring at the beautiful dolls' faces. 

My subconscious told me how much I missed my dolls and cared about them in general. Finally, after recognizing how often I had these dreams, I listened to them and learned more about dolls. 

3. A Significant Family Figure Was Also a Collector

My grandma's apartment was the coziest place to be when my family would visit home. Smoke filled the air, pretty fish swam in the tank on the coffee table, Degrassi: The Next Generation was on constant repeat, and there against the wall was a bookshelf lined with dolls. They always entranced me. My grandma collected dolls, and it was normal. She had all kinds - porcelain and fabric, big and small. 

One of the last times I visited her before she fell ill and was put into hospice, she graciously gave me the one doll I had been obsessed with from her collection: a beautiful tall Native American doll with a big blue and white crochet dress and a matching headpiece. From then on, the beauty I saw in dolls never left my spirit. 

4. You Miss Your Childhood Collection

I was only 11 or so when my mom came to me and asked me what I wanted to do with all my Bratz dolls and all their cars, accessories, clothes, and playsets. I said I wanted her to get rid of them all. It was a huge mistake I didn't regret until my late teens. I could not stop missing those Bratz dolls, especially seeing them dwindle from store shelves. I never saw that day coming - when Bratz would be a dead toy line. But it came. It proved that my childhood had disappeared from reality, and I wanted all that back. I wished I had told my mom no or put them in storage. But buckets of dolls were donated. 

Later on, I got two Bratz dolls from their last set of collections, a travel collection, Jade, and a sleepover collection, Chloe, for Christmas one year. But because my scope for dolls was limited, I assumed I had to play with them and make them talk like I used to. But I couldn't. I wasn't interested in play, so I gave those dolls away, too. 

Eventually, I started watching Bratz doll lot videos on YouTube, living vicariously through people who had the money to pay 100's of dollars for vast boxes of random Bratz dolls and their clothes shipped from eBay. I wanted to buy one, but shame and guilt held me back. 

5. You Want to Buy Dolls, But the Idea of Playing With Them Makes You Cringe

When I realized I no longer wanted to play with dolls, the face-up collection stunned me. People just let fashion dolls sit on shelves and look pretty? It was exactly what I never thought dolls were for. It was exactly what I wanted, though. As we age, we grow out of some things that others may not. And realizing that you don't have to play with your dolls just because you have them can be therapeutic. Yes, they can just be 'decorations' if that's what you want your collection to be. They can transform from children's imaginary play toys to art pieces in a curated museum. 

6. You Have an Interest in Fashion, But Your Own Wardrobe Stresses You Out

If anyone loved fashion, it was me. From watching Runways to flipping through the fashion editorials of WSJ every Sunday, fashion was a huge part of my life. Let alone the wardrobe I had before minimalism dug its teeth into me and the fashion blog I ran shortly. 

As I got older and my life changed, I didn't have time or a reason to dress up. I was no longer constricted by a school uniform and had finished experimenting with my style. I'd come to a neutral point with my style - a fashion uniform, as they call it. So, I was left at a loss with a tiny wardrobe and a lifestyle that never required anything, even dressy casual. I still loved fashion and still wanted to experiment with outfits. Even to this day, dolls still serve this purpose for me. 

Dolls can be a creative outlet if you have a strong interest in fashion but are interested in something other than a large closet or shopping. If real clothes stress you out, doll clothes will be perfect. There's no size checking, no ill-fitted jeans, and since most fashion dolls' clothing is based on the runway, it's like being rich and able to afford high fashion. 

And if fashion design intrigues you as well, you can take that to a miniature scale and make clothes for your dolls. Break out your sewing machine! Doll clothes are faster, cheaper, and less stressful to make than clothes for yourself. 

7. You're Obsessed with Aesthetics

Did you know that beauty is a value like respect, courage, and loyalty? Why not take a values test and determine if beauty is one of your values in life? People who value beauty see it everywhere: in nature, in animated objects, and even in processes like taking study notes. Beauty and aesthetics go hand in hand. The control and consistency dolls can be perfect if you care about your space's appearance and stick to a particular interior design or style theme. 

8. You Want to Heal Your Inner Child

If dolls were one of the happiest parts of your childhood, you may greatly benefit mentally and emotionally from bringing them back into your life today. Having things around you that remind you of the good parts of your childhood or the parts you always wished for but never had can heal your inner child. Listening to your deepest needs and introducing those things into your environment can bring comfort and innocence back into a chaotic and tumultuous life. 

Because I kept having those recurring dreams, I considered a theory and wanted to test it. If I went out and bought a doll, would the dreams subside? Lo and behold, over a year into collecting dolls, I do not remember the last time I had one of those longing, recurring dreams. The dolls satisfied something deep in my core.

9. You Love Trinkets, Stuffed Animals, and Decorations That Remind You of Your Childhood

Suppose you like to go to the local thrift store and pick up cute things, like sparkly snow globes or music boxes. In that case, dolls may provide a similar feeling of nostalgia and transport you to a different time. A beauty you used to have when you were little may perfectly complement your collection of jewelry boxes, piggy banks, stuffed animals, and other miscellaneous items from childhood. 

10. You Love the Idea of Makeup, But When It Comes to Applying It to Yourself, You're Not Inspired

Like your style, you may fall into a pattern with your makeup routine or have decided that makeup doesn't fit anymore due to your values and lifestyle. But on Pinterest, you're still pinning gorgeous makeup looks. You still love watching YouTube MUAs review the latest palettes or try new makeup trends. Learning how to do doll face-ups could be your next step. 

Though it is very different from restyling - and requires more art supplies and a learning curve - face-ups could be a way to channel your inner makeup artist that's currently lying dormant. You can stick to only doing simple makeup, like removing and changing the doll's lip colors, or you can erase her entire face and paint on a new one from scratch. It can give you the same outlet as buying cosmetics. You could also apply false lashes to your dolls for an even more dramatic look or add designs to their faces to mimic particular aesthetics. 

In Conclusion 

If you resonate with any of these signs, it may be time for you to go out on a limb and explore the digital world of dolls to see if starting a collection is anywhere in your future. Maintaining a doll collection can be therapeutic, soothing, and fun. Even having beautiful dolls in your space could improve your mood and everyday life.