- The looksmaxxing trend, a social media-driven trend pushing men to intensely “improve” their appearance, is gaining popularity.
- It connects to similar appearance-based trends, such as softmaxxing and hardmaxxing.
- While often presented as self-improvement, health professionals warn these practices can trigger body dysmorphia, stress, disordered eating, and even self-harm.
- Teenage boys may be especially vulnerable due to a number of factors, including online messaging about manhood and worth.
A growing trend on social media is prompting young men to “maximize” their physical looks.
Referred to as the looksmaxxing craze, the movement is obsessed with achieving the “perfect” physique and facial features. It mirrors similar social media phenomena, called softmaxxing and hardmaxxing, which advocate for everything from rigorous grooming routines to cosmetic procedures and radical body modification.
While proponents claim these behaviors can be confidence-building, psychologists caution they can provoke body dysmorphia, anxiety, and other unhealthy patterns.
One mental health professional described this trend as a “social media-driven body image disorder craze.”
“Adolescents fall into this false sense of approval, and what they believe women desire from them,” he said. “They can get caught up in possibly long-term battles with feeling a sense of inadequacy and handling that shortcoming.”
He further described that “People will devote their time on changing their body based on emotions of low self-worth or insecurity.”
“Individuals can get stuck in a loop of trying to ‘optimize’ their looks, but as therapists, we know that if you’re feeling inadequate or inferior, those are the issues to work on with a qualified therapist.”
Exploring the Distinctions Between the Looksmaxxing, Softmaxxing, and Hardmaxxing Movements?
Although the terminology varies, the phenomena all have one thing in common: the drive to compulsively change one’s appearance.
“This trend is fundamentally personal development put on overdrive. It’s recasting the male body as something to be designed,” the expert explained.
Whereas softmaxxing entails more gradual adjustments to one’s looks, frequently achieved through grooming and habit changes, hardmaxxing is more radical.
“It includes serious procedures to change your looks, including rhinoplasty, Botox, surgical hair restoration, and chin surgery. The obvious issue with this is that once you unlock that door, it’s difficult 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 taking pride in your appearance can build confidence and be positive. But the major difference is that looksmaxxing is based on self-loathing and trying to fit in, at the cost of your well-being and safety,” she pointed out.
“Hardmaxxing, meanwhile, appears to be dipping its toe into self-harm practices, especially some of its linked behaviors, like intentionally injuring facial bones with a hammer.”
The Reasons Looksmaxxing Is Particularly Prevalent Among Teenagers
Why does this movement appear to be resonating with adolescent boys in particular?
One expert explained that young men, particularly adolescents, are often at a phase of their lives when they are still discovering who they are, and many may be searching for ways to portray what they view as “the ‘correct’ version of manhood.”
He also suggests movements like looksmaxxing may be related to incel culture and the manosphere.
“It started several years ago, with male gurus espousing certain ideals of masculinity. These kinds of ‘masculine’ figures have guided some men down a harmful path,” he said.
Another specialist shared a additional perspective about possible contributing factors.
“Psychological struggles and loneliness are also widespread currently, making young men particularly vulnerable,” she noted.
The Line Separating Healthy Self-Improvement and Unhealthy Obsessions
Recognizing the boundary separating taking pride in your looks and an unhealthy obsession with how you look can be challenging for many individuals.
“Routines aimed at betterment turn harmful when anxiety is the primary motivator; when your rituals are taking up so much mental space that you can’t be present in your daily existence and connections,” one therapist said.
There are multiple dangers associated with these kinds of detrimental patterns.
“Eating disorders and self-harm behaviours are commonly associated with body dysmorphia, worry, and low self-esteem,” she said.
“Men are at risk of feeling shame around their bodies due to societal messaging that they should be muscular and fit. And for some men, it can seem like a challenge to their masculinity and self-esteem.”
The other expert said that, for some people who try to make purely superficial changes to their physique, it can open the door to damaging, compulsive emotional voids.
“It can escalate quickly, and you may feel you must do something to improve your mood rather than being content in your own body.”
In the end, he said, healthy self-improvement usually isn’t represented by the type of improvement content that’s popular on social media platforms.
“It’s about nurturing yourself from the inside out,” he concluded.
Tips for Cultivating Body Positivity
Developing greater body acceptance isn’t something that occurs quickly, but there are positive actions you can implement to start that process.
First, having mixed feelings about your appearance is normal and understandable.
One specialist suggested “exploring” that and discovering an creative expression for it.
“Artistic expression is a great way to express those emotions in a way that might even be enjoyable. Consider sketching, collaging, or creating a journal to document your experiences,” she advised.
Although social media use can worsen unhealthy habits and feelings, there are methods to reduce these risks.
“Subscribe to profiles that advocate for body acceptance and healthy masculinity. Or engage with people who don’t fit into the limited definition of masculinity perpetuated by society,” she
