That's right, a barreled curling iron or a curling wand (there's actually a difference between the two) can be used to remove tight elastic bands. The video above shows TikToker @muafjryan simply holding a hot curling iron up to the plastic bands. In a few seconds, the hairband pops off practically by itself. No tugging, pulling, or risking losing any precious hair in the process. 

This may seem like an outlandish concept, but it's not a huge mystery how the hack works. The heat from the curling iron melts the thin band almost instantly. Still, even though the trick saves you from the traumatizing experience of pulling or snipping, some anxiety is still involved. We have yet to hear of anyone melting the band to their hair, but it's probably not impossible. 

Additionally, whenever you apply hot tools to your locks, there is always the potential for hair damage. Nevertheless, the TikTok curling iron hair elastic trick is pretty ingenious. It does work to remove those bands in a snap and with minimal hair loss and discomfort too. If you're going all out with your hairstyle, using your curling iron to quickly pop off those bands would definitely make the process easier.