It's finally Halloween, and it's just a few hours now until the streets will be filled with people dressed to the nines in their best costumes to bring on the peak of spooky season in style.
One costume which has been particularly popular this year is the 'Ghostface' mask and cloak, made popular by the hit horror franchise Scream.
It first hit our screens back in 1996, and the latest instalment, Scream VI, was released in cinemas just last year.
However, the get-up isn't going viral for its fear factor, but actually because people across the internet have decided it's actually oddly a turn-on - a horror-themed 'hear me out', if you will.
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So much so, that 'Ghostface' is currently trending on TikTok, with over a staggering 1.3 million posts under it showing people's unrelenting thirst for masked men.
The viral sound used in many of the videos is a clip of Rose McGowan, who plays protagonist Neve Campbell's (Sidney Prescott) best friend Tatum.
Speaking to the real masked killer, under the impression it was one of her friends pranking her under the mask, right before she was brutally killed in the first film, she says: "No, please don't kill me Mr Ghostface. I want to be in the sequel!"
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Needless to say, MaskTok is definitely a thing - no matter how weird you think it is.
So, to help us decipher the TikTok trend taking over all of our feeds at the mo, Jaimee Bell, an erotic story writer and producer at Bloom Stories, has shared her expertise on why exactly we find masks so sexy.
The allure of the unknown
Now, the whole idea of a mask is to hide your face.
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This sense of mystery is apparently super sexy as, when someone’s face is hidden, we get to fill in the blanks ourselves.
"It’s less about who they are and more about who they could be," Jaimee says.
"Masks let us project our own fantasies onto the wearer, turning them into a canvas for our desires. This sense of the unknown is a huge part of what makes them so seductive."
A 'safe escape' from ourselves
Wearing a mask can also turn you on as they allow you to 'step into a whole new identity' which, in turn, creates a psychological distance that feels 'liberating'.
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Jaimee notes: "By hiding behind a mask, we can escape from ourselves and adopt a different persona, be it wilder, more daring, or more sensual.
"This is why Halloween has become a hotbed for seduction. Putting on a costume helps us indulge in our hidden desires, free from the constraints of our everyday selves."
The power dynamic shift
Wearing a mask doesn't only exude a sense of alluring mystery, it apparently also 'instantly shifts the balance of power'.
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Power play is a huge thing when it comes to the bedroom - and a mask only accentuates that.
"When someone wears a mask, they automatically gain control, as they’re 'keeping a secret'," Jaimee explains.
It's this exact sense of 'hidden identity' which puts the wearer in the driver’s seat, creating a tension that can be 'incredibly exciting'.
"In a consensual BDSM relationship, a mask can be a powerful tool to heighten the dominant/submissive dynamic by adding an extra layer of intrigue and anticipation," the expert points out.
Cultural and historical roots
"Masks have been tied to seduction for centuries, dating back to the opulent masked balls of the Renaissance," Jaimee shares.
If such events were anything like the masquerade balls in Bridgerton, then it's no wonder why we've got a seemingly built-in lust over the face coverings.
"These events were filled with intrigue and flirtation, where anonymity allowed people to explore taboo pleasures and forbidden encounters," the expert shares.
According to Jaimee, wearing a mask was like an invitation to push boundaries and break social norms without consequence.
"That tradition is alive today in modern kink culture, where masks are a common element in BDSM and roleplay, allowing for deeper exploration of hidden desires," she adds.
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Life, Social Media, TikTok, Halloween, TV And Film
Rhiannon Ingle