- The looksmaxxing trend, a online-fueled movement urging men to intensely “improve” their looks, is gaining popularity.
- It connects to similar appearance-based movements, such as its softer and more extreme counterparts.
- While often presented as empowerment, health professionals caution these trends can exacerbate body dysmorphia, anxiety, disordered eating, and even self-harm.
- Young men may be especially susceptible due to multiple reasons, including digital narratives about masculinity and value.
A rising trend on platforms like TikTok and Instagram is prompting young men to “enhance” their physical looks.
Known as looksmaxxing, the trend focuses on achieving the “perfect” face and body. It follows comparable online trends, known as softmaxxing and hardmaxxing, which promote practices ranging from rigorous grooming routines to surgical interventions and extreme physical alterations.
Although proponents claim these behaviors can be confidence-building, psychologists caution they can provoke body dysmorphia, anxiety, and other unhealthy behaviors.
One mental health professional described looksmaxxing as a “online-created body image disorder trend.”
“Young men can succumb to this false sense of approval, and what they believe women want from them,” he said. “They can get trapped in possibly lifelong battles with feeling inadequacy and handling that inadequacy.”
He further described that “People will focus their energies on improving their body based on emotions of low self-worth or inadequacy.”
“Individuals can get stuck in a cycle of trying to ‘fix’ their looks, but as mental health clinicians, we know that if you’re struggling with inadequate or inferior, those are the core problems to address with a qualified therapist.”
What Are the Differences Among the Three Main Movements?
While the terminology varies, the phenomena all have one thing in commonality: the drive to obsessively alter one’s looks.
“This trend is essentially personal development put on overdrive. It’s reframing the male body as something to be built,” the counselor explained.
Whereas softmaxxing entails more gradual adjustments to one’s appearance, often accomplished through skincare and habit changes, hardmaxxing is more intense.
“It includes serious methods to transform your looks, including rhinoplasty, injectables, surgical hair restoration, and chin surgery. The clear problem with this is that once you open that Pandora’s Box, it’s hard to close the lid,” he pointed out.
Another eating disorder specialist explained the key distinctions.
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to look good, and caring for your appearance can boost self-esteem and be gender affirming. But the major distinction is that this trend is based on self-loathing and trying to fit in, at the expense of your well-being and security,” she pointed out.
“The extreme version, on the other hand, appears to be venturing into dangerous territory, particularly some of its linked behaviors, like intentionally injuring facial bones with a hammer.”
The Reasons Looksmaxxing Is Especially Prevalent With Teenagers
Why does this movement seem to be resonating with young men in particular?
One therapist explained that young men, especially teens, are often at a stage of their lives when they are still discovering who they are, and many may be seeking ways to project what they perceive as “the ‘ideal’ expression of masculinity.”
He also suggests movements like this one may be related to incel culture and the manosphere.
“It started several years ago, with online influencers espousing certain views of masculinity. These types of ‘alpha’ influencers have led some men down a harmful path,” he said.
Another specialist shared a additional perspective about potential contributing factors.
“Mental health issues and loneliness are also prevalent right now, making this demographic especially vulnerable,” she noted.
The Line Between Healthy Self-Improvement and Harmful Obsessions
Recognizing the boundary separating taking pride in your appearance and an damaging obsession with how you look can be challenging for many people.
“Routines aimed at betterment become harmful when anxiety is the main driver; when your rituals are taking up so much mental space that you can’t be present in your daily existence and connections,” one specialist explained.
There are several dangers associated with these types of unhealthy behaviors.
“Eating disorders and dangerous actions are often connected to poor body image, anxiety, and poor self-worth,” she continued.
“Males are at risk of experiencing embarrassment around their bodies due to societal messaging that they should be fit and fit. And for some men, it can seem like a challenge to their sense of manhood and self-worth.”
The other counselor said that, for some people who try to make purely external changes to their body, it can lead to harmful, compulsive emotional voids.
“It can escalate quickly, and you may feel you need do something to help yourself feel better rather than feeling comfortable in your own body.”
Ultimately, he stated, healthy personal growth usually isn’t represented by the kind of self-care content that’s popular on social media platforms.
“It’s about taking care of yourself from the inside,” he concluded.
Strategies for Cultivating Self-Acceptance
Developing more body acceptance isn’t something that happens overnight, but there are healthy actions you can implement to start that process.
First, having mixed emotions about your body is normal and natural.
One therapist suggested “leaning into” that and discovering an creative expression for it.
“Creativity is a great way to let those feelings out in a way that might even be enjoyable. Consider drawing, making a collage, or making a journal to record your experiences,” she suggested.
Although social media use can worsen unhealthy habits and feelings, there are methods to minimize these risks.
“Subscribe to accounts that advocate for body acceptance and healthy masculinity. Or follow individuals who challenge the limited definition of masculinity perpetuated by society,” she
