This douse of wax is a horror show.
Clout-seeking fools are getting their entire faces waxed in a new viral TikTok trend that outraged dermatologists are deeming dumb and dangerous.
Alarming videos of the harebrained skin-smoothing procedure have collectively amassed millions of views on TikTok.
The latest clip, posted by Kapsalon Freedom barbershop in the Netherlands, shows a barber caking a patient’s face — including their eyes — with gloopy green wax as if casting a mold for the “House of Wax” horror movie.
He even has wax-dipped Q-Tips stuck in his nose to extract pesky nasal hairs.
Another wince-worthy vid shows the rogue beautician peeling the beauty batter off another patient’s face in one piece like a slasher villain mask.
Needless to say, skin experts are warning the public against giving one’s face a full wax.
“It is clearly not a good idea to cover the whole face with wax,” Dr Emma Wedgeworth, a consultant dermatologist and spokeswoman for the British Skin Foundation, told Yahoo News. She said that the “senseless practice” is particularly harmful when applied to the nose due to the delicate skin and the blood vessels that sit close to the surface.
Dr. Anjali Mahto of the British Association of Dermatologists seconded her sentiment:
“Waxing is a traumatic process for the skin, especially sensitive areas such as those found around the eyes,” Mahto cautioned. “These areas can become inflamed and irritated, in some cases tiny pimples or pus-filled bumps could develop as a result, this is known as folliculitis.” He said that children are especially susceptible to damage from wax-foliation because of their sensitive skin.
The dermis doc also told Yahoo that social media is to blame for the proliferation of questionable cosmetic fads as they can spread them quickly without vetting if they “are actually good for you.”
In the past, TikTok has seen the rise of a plethora of half-baked beauty hacks, from reshaping teeth with nail files to using erection cream as a pout-plumper. Other notorious TikTok trends are even uglier — resulting in serious injuries and even the death of one teen who took the “Benadryl Challenge.”