Summary
- Troy Polamalu is the face of anti-dandruff shampoo Head & Shoulders, and is very effective in commercials.
- "Tiny Troy" is a shrunken version of Polamalu in recent ads, sharing the benefits of Head & Shoulders shampoo.
- Polamalu and Patrick Mahomes have great chemistry in Head & Shoulders commercials, showing their charisma off the football field.
Football fans who have been paying attention to the ads between downs will know the spokesperson for the Head & Shoulders commercials, but those whose knowledge of the NFL is slightly lacking (or begins post-2014) may be wondering, "Who is Tiny Troy?" The anti-dandruff and non-dandruff shampoo Head & Shoulders (H&S), owned by the multinational company Procter & Gamble, is synonymous with the solution to the skin condition that causes dry scalps to flake.
Troy Polamalu is a former American football safety who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL for 12 years. In that time, he earned an NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, won two Super Bowls, went to eight Pro Bowls, entered the Steelers Hall of Honor, was part of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, and was the cover athlete for one of the best Madden video games, Madden NFL 10. Plus, he invented jumping over the line before the play starts, which has altered an aspect of the game in the showiest way possible. He's incredible.
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"Tiny" Troy Polamalu Has Been In Several Head & Shoulders Commercials
Polamalu Is A Longtime Spokesperson For The Shampoo Brand
Head & Shoulders made a brilliant marketing move when they selected Polamalu to be their spokesperson, and he's as synonymous with the brand as dandruff itself. Polamalu's long flowing hair has been a part of his persona since he entered the NFL. He's instantly recognizable with his locks flowing out the back of his helmet and down his back. After Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson pulled him down by the hair for a tackle (a legal maneuver), Polamalu didn't cut it; he just insured it for $1 million (via BBC). It's that important to him.
From within a zoomed-in version of the woman's scalp, "Tiny Troy" discusses the benefits of the shampoo.
Polamalu has been in Head & Shoulders commercials for years, but recently he's appeared as "Tiny Troy", a shrunk-down version of himself. In the commercial, a woman is having her hair washed in a salon and the attendant recommends she use Head & Shoulders shampoo every time she showers. Tiny Troy's voice pipes up from within the woman's hair, and the attendant asks the miniature spokesman what he thinks. From within a zoomed-in version of the woman's scalp, "Tiny Troy" discusses the benefits of the shampoo. The scene then cuts to him sitting in the salon, life-sized, reading a magazine.
It's a very effective commercial. Polamalu is game for the strangest ad ideas and always looks like he's having a good time. As a longtime spokesperson for the brand with instantly recognizable long, wavy hair, he's the exact type of person someone would trust with haircare recommendations.
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Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Has Also Represented Head & Shoulders
Polamalu And Mahomes Are A Spokesperson Team
"Tiny Troy" isn't the only NFL star in the hair salon Head & Shoulders ad. H&S seems to prefer athletes over celebrity actors for their commercials because the attendant in the salon is played by none other than Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. This is not the first time Polamalu and Mahomes have appeared together in a Head & Shoulders commercial. Mahomes usually plays the straight man to Polamalu's more excitable character, but he brings his own lightness and energy to the role, and the two play off each other well.
"Tiny" Troy Polamalu's best-known endorsement is for Head & Shoulders, but Mahomes has even more products he's spoken about. He's been a part of many ad campaigns, including ones for State Farm, Subway, DirectTV, and memorably, Hunt's Ketchup, due to his oft-spoken-about love for the condiment. With charm to burn, these two charismatic athletes definitely have a future in commercials that may very well outlast their football careers.