The Dark Side of Looksmaxxing: When Self-Improvement Spirals into Obsession
At first glance, a movement encouraging young men to refine their physical appearance and bolster their self-esteem might seem entirely positive. However, experts are raising serious concerns about the rapidly expanding “looksmaxxing” trend, labelling it as deeply concerning and potentially dangerous. What exactly is this phenomenon, and why are health professionals describing it as “terrifying”?
Understanding Looksmaxxing
Looksmaxxing has resurfaced across popular social media platforms like Reddit, Instagram, and TikTok, attracting a growing number of men dedicated to enhancing their physical attributes. The methods employed are broadly categorised into two distinct approaches: “softmaxxing” and “hardmaxxing.”
Softmaxxing: The Foundation of Appearance Enhancement
Softmaxxing represents the initial phase of looksmaxxing, focusing on fundamental aspects of personal care and adopting a healthy lifestyle. This includes establishing consistent skincare routines, maintaining a balanced diet, and engaging in regular physical exercise.
Beyond these established practices, some less scientifically validated techniques have also gained traction. A prime example is “mewing,” a practice involving consciously positioning the tongue against the roof of the mouth. Proponents claim this can lead to a more defined jawline and improved dental alignment. Crucially, there is no scientific evidence to substantiate the purported benefits of mewing.
Hardmaxxing: Pushing the Boundaries
Hardmaxxing involves more extreme and often permanent interventions aimed at achieving an idealised physique. This category encompasses procedures such as Botox injections and surgical implants, with some individuals even resorting to rib removal to achieve a more sculpted waistline.
Perhaps the most notorious hardmaxxing practice is “bonesmashing.” This method involves repeatedly striking the face with a blunt object, with the unsubstantiated belief that it can enlarge facial bones and reshape the skull structure to appear more masculine. Scientific evidence to support this claim is entirely absent.
Another concerning practice gaining traction is “starvemaxxing,” which describes extreme dieting. The objective is to achieve hollowed cheekbones and a sculpted facial structure. However, this approach carries significant health risks, including metabolic damage, nutrient deficiencies, chronic fatigue, and severe mental health issues.
Furthermore, certain online communities dedicated to looksmaxxing, as observed by this publication, heavily promote the use of steroids. These forums often become spaces where members share anecdotal and unverified medical advice regarding steroid use for muscle enhancement.
Expert Warnings and Health Risks
Associate Professor Tim Moss, Health Content Manager at Healthy Male, an Australian organisation committed to providing accessible information on male health, encountered the term “looksmaxxing” while researching body image disorders in men. He expressed significant concern over the health risks associated with steroid use.
“If you take testosterone or synthetic versions of things that are like testosterone, then you shut down production of testosterone in the testes,” Professor Moss explained. “When I first stumbled upon looksmaxxing, it was terrifying. The fact that young men will take such severe actions to change their appearance to try to appeal to others is scary to me.”
Dr. Krista Fisher, a researcher at the Movember Institute of Mental Health, echoed these concerns, highlighting the alarming lack of research surrounding the use of unapproved drugs within the looksmaxxing community.
“We’re seeing a massive rise in non-FDA and non-TGA-approved peptide use and surgical intervention, which have the potential to impact young men’s health for the entirety of their life,” Dr. Fisher stated.
Origins and Evolution of the Trend
The roots of the looksmaxxing trend can be traced back to the early 2010s, with various online forums dedicated to optimising physical appearance. Within these communities, members often share their photographs for peer review and solicit advice on how to improve their looks.
A rating system known as the Proportion, Size, Lineation (PSL) scale is frequently employed to assess facial attractiveness and perceived “sexual market value.” The highest rating achievable is an eight, designating an individual as a “chad,” while a rating of zero categorises them as “subhuman” and undesirable.
“I can’t imagine why you would go there and open yourself up to that sort of stuff,” Professor Moss remarked, reflecting on the potentially damaging nature of these online interactions.
Scott Fatt, a clinical psychologist and post-doctoral researcher at the University of Sydney, noted that certain aspects of the looksmaxxing trend bear a striking resemblance to body dysmorphic disorder.
“There’s a strong focus on paying really close attention to detail, and this idea of obsessing about numbers, and you should be checking your progress obsessively,” Mr. Fatt explained. “That is a pretty key trait in body dysmorphic disorder.”
The ideology of the “black pill” often permeates these forums. This belief system posits that romantic relationships are inherently rigged, operating on a hierarchy that disproportionately favours conventionally attractive men.
The Online Harms and Wider Impact
While these specialised forums remain active, looksmaxxing influencers have gained significant traction on mainstream social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, drawing in a younger and more impressionable audience.
A prominent figure in the trend, known as Clavicular, boasts over 400,000 Instagram followers and reportedly earns upwards of $100,000 per month through streaming on Kick. This has propelled the looksmaxxing trend further into public consciousness.
“Clavicular was on the front of GQ magazine and walking in fashion shows; it’s definitely become more of a pop culture phenomenon rather than something that just exists in fringe spaces online,” Dr. Fisher observed. “Now what we’re seeing is this passive consumption of content. If you’re a young guy and sign up for a TikTok account, there has been research that has shown that within 30 seconds, you are going to be pushed content that is misogynistic, has drug, youth-related themes, or suicide and self-harm themes.”
The proliferation of mobile applications that claim to rank attractiveness using artificial intelligence by analysing a single uploaded image has also become prevalent in app stores.
Dr. Fisher warns that individuals offering “looksmaxxing courses” to impressionable teenagers are actively targeting a young and vulnerable demographic. “They’re not only financially taking advantage of these young people, but what it’s also creating is this significant amount of shame and secrecy,” she stated. “Even if it does change one’s physical appearance, it doesn’t really fix or alleviate the root of the issue, like body image concerns, low self-esteem and self-worth.”
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