By now, you should know that TikTok, while amazing at times, is loaded with beauty hacks, trends, and tips that you definitely should try. On said list are things like using , replacing your and this thing called hair cracking or scalp popping. If you've stumbled upon one of these videos, the sound is likely burned into your mind forever.
Scalp popping, which is usually performed by someone on another person, involves yanking on a piece of hair to produce a popping sound. Many TikTok-famous dermatologists have reacted to the viral videos on the practice, advising strongly against it. But why would someone want to do it in the first place? We tapped an expert to find out.
Keep reading to learn more about scalp popping, including exactly what it is and some of the potential dangers of trying the trend. , MD, is dermatologist at , which is based in New York City. The videos on hair cracking are pretty jarring and may cause you to question if they're fake, but doctors confirm this is a real thing.
"Scalp popping is where people pull rapidly on the root of the hair, leading to a popping sensation," dermatologist Muneeb Shah, MD, tells PS. That shocking sound you hear isn't a special effect. "The popping sensation is an audible noise produced when the galea aponeurotica separates from the underlying tissue," Dr.
Shah says. The galea aponeurotica is the medical term for the fibrous connective tissue of your scalp. The practice is believed to originate from parts of Asia and is said .