THE UNHINGED TIKTOK ERA WE DESERVE
TikTok is in its golden age of unhinged storytelling, and The Olive Oil Story is proof. With over 57.8 million views and 7.5 million likes, it's the perfect example how one woman's story collectively brought back our attention spans. If you’ve missed the memo, it all started with Megan Chacalos telling her story about attempt at an olive oil hair mask, which spiraled into an absolute disaster involving dripping oil, a dramatic fall, a triggered burglar alarm, and somehow an entire school day with her head wrapped in plastic. It’s unhinged, it’s oddly relatable, and it’s exactly why this trend is taking over our feeds.
But it’s not just about one story anymore. This trend has sparked a wave of similar confessions, each more absurd than the last. Every day, someone drops a new story. a breakup gone horribly wrong, a vacation turned apocalyptic, or a party that ended with one girl baking cookies for 100 frat boys. And we’re all hooked. It's the perfect mix of nostalgia for those long internet story threads (shoutout to early Twitter) and TikTok’s bite-sized binge culture.
Even better, celebrities and brands are now part of the chaos, showing us that even A-listers aren’t immune to ridiculous life moments. Meanwhile, brands have started using the format to tell their own behind-the-scenes stories, making their marketing feel human and relatable in a way that glossy ads never could. It’s genius—because when’s the last time you felt connected to a company over an Instagram carousel?
At its core, this trend works because it taps into something universal: the hilarity of real life going sideways. It’s messy, it’s imperfect, and it’s relatable in a way that brings people together. TikTok has always been about community, but this trend feels like it’s turning the volume up. Instead of doomscrolling, we’re collectively laughing at the absurdities of life—and honestly, it’s exactly what we needed.
To the olive oil girl and everyone who’s shared their chaos, thank you. Keep the stories coming and we’ll keep scrolling… and consider double-checking the floor before our next hair experiment.
