Hair Cracking Is Making The Rounds On TikTok, But There Are Drawbacks
For those of us with migraines or any type of raging headache, there's no trick we won't try to numb the pain. This can sometimes be a problem, because there we are at three o'clock in the morning scrolling TikTok stumbling across the silliest, most outlandish techniques that, naturally, we're going to try in a desperate attempt to find relief. Where does that take us? To cracking our hair, of course.
While hair cracking, also known as scalp popping (due to an obvious popping sound when you do it), may sound absurd as a means to mitigate headaches and tension, TikTokers are all about it. According to this sea of inventive folks, most of whom don't have a medical degree, if you can find someone you trust enough to pull your hair a few times for you (without ripping it out), all your pain is gone. Like a lot of things you find on the Internet, there are legions of fans who swear by this cracking business and you can't convince them otherwise. Although there's something to be said about DIY remedies when it comes to alleviating aches and pains, before you call up your bestie and ask them to come over and give your hair a hard pull, you might want to think twice.
What is hair cracking?
First of all, there is some legitimacy to hair cracking. Both Peruvian and Mexican cultures have similar techniques to deal with head pain. In Peru, the practice is called chucaque, which is also the name of the headache they experience in the highlands and, according to Glamour UK, massage therapist Jon Musgrave relayed witnessing a similar technique in Mexico to Health —that link is now gone. But it's safe to assume that whatever the specifics are for these particular methods, it's steeped in greater knowledge and anatomical understanding than what TikTok reveals.
"Scalp popping is where people pull rapidly on the root of the hair, leading to a popping sensation," dermatologist Muneeb Shah, MD, told Popsugar. "The popping sensation is an audible noise produced when the galea aponeurotica separates from the underlying tissue." As Shah explained, that's the connective tissue that basically keeps your scalp in place. In that context alone, it would seem like hair cracking might not be a good idea, and guess what? It isn't.
Why it's not a good idea
Not only do you not want to mess with your galea aponeurotica, but doing so could result in literally ripping it so much so as to tear it. "You can easily tear the inside of the scalp which can lead to bleeding and possible infections, it can become sore and extremely uncomfortable," dermatologist Dr. Ross Perry told Tyla. Hair cracking can also be seriously damaging to your hair because you are, after all, pulling it. We're not talking about just upsetting a few hair follicles, but potentially developing traction alopecia in which the hair becomes so damaged from repeated manual pulling that it stops growing back.
If that weren't enough, you might actually also be contributing to your migraines. "The trauma can also increase inflammation in the scalp, potentially worsening your headaches," board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Connie Yang, MD told Byrdie.
Yes, migraines and all headaches are awful. Some can be so bad that they're debilitating and people have to stay in bed for days dealing with the pain. But no matter how much pain you're in, cracking your hair isn't going to help. If ibuprofen or other OTC meds aren't cutting it, talk to your doctor about other possible remedies.