Actress Anne Hathaway shared a beauty trick involving a tight ponytail to create a temporary, non-surgical face-lift [1, 2].
This trend has gained significant traction on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, leading many users to attempt the method to achieve a more youthful appearance [3, 4]. However, medical professionals said the practice could lead to long-term skin and hair damage [1, 2].
The technique involves pulling the hair back with enough tension to physically lift the skin of the face [4, 6]. The method first gained widespread attention in March 2024 after an Instagram post from the Oscar-winning actress went viral [4].
While the effect provides an immediate visual tightening, dermatology experts said the constant tension can be damaging [1, 2]. The practice of pulling hair too tightly can lead to traction alopecia, a form of hair loss caused by consistent pulling on the follicles [1].
Beyond the scalp, experts said that repeated mechanical stress on the skin from such tight hairstyles may not provide the lasting benefits promised by social media trends [2]. The hack has been tried by public figures, including ABC's Lori Bergamotto, as part of the trend's spread across U.S. and UK media outlets [1, 3].
Social media platforms often amplify quick-fix beauty solutions that lack clinical backing [3]. In this case, the contrast between a celebrity's curated image and professional medical advice has sparked a debate over the safety of viral beauty hacks [1, 2].
“A viral “natural face-lift” hack involves pulling the hair into a tight ponytail to temporarily tighten facial skin.”
This incident highlights the tension between celebrity-driven beauty trends and evidence-based dermatology. While a tight hairstyle can create a temporary aesthetic lift, the risk of traction alopecia and skin stress demonstrates how 'natural' hacks can have adverse physiological consequences when performed without professional guidance.
