Looksmaxxing: What It Is and Why It Can Be Harmful

It’s hard to keep up with social media trends and subcultures. It seems like a new one is born every day — and many fade just as fast.

Right now, the concept of “looksmaxxing” is having a moment. But what is looksmaxxing, exactly? And why does it have parents worrying about their sons?

Psychologist Susan Albers, PsyD, walks us through the basics and shares tips to help protect your child’s mental health.

What is looksmaxxing?

Looksmaxxing is the practice of “maximizing” your physical appearance. That’s nothing new. But what sets this trend apart is the mindset that some looksmaxxing influencers promote — namely, that your worth is determined by how you look.

“I find it interesting because the looksmaxxing trend is largely geared toward boys and young men. It’s about being more masculine,” Dr. Albers notes. “Traditionally, we think that women are more focused on their physical appearance, but these pressures can affect anyone.”

Looksmaxxers do all sorts of things to be more attractive. Within the community, they break these practices down into two categories: “softmaxxing” and “hardmaxxing.”

Softmaxxing involves making low-risk, practical and noninvasive modifications to your appearance through:

• Diet and exercise
• Skin care and makeup
• Grooming and styling
• Minor cosmetic procedures, like a chemical peel or teeth whitening
• Posture and self-presentation changes

Hardmaxxing behaviors are higher-risk, more invasive and more likely to cause harm.

Potential negative effects on teens

Looksmaxxing culture can have a negative influence on teen boys’ physical and mental health. Many argue that, like thinspo, it encourages disordered behavior.

Some looksmaxxing influencers promote a specific (and narrow) masculine beauty standard — and suggest that you have to fit those ideals to gain social acceptance.

Dr. Albers says “looksmaxxing” is a new term for a longstanding problem: The pressure to be perfect.

“Adolescents are incredibly vulnerable to messages like that,” she states. “They’re in a developmental stage where they’re sensitive about their appearance, fitting in and being liked. And looksmaxxing targets and amplifies those insecurities.”

Dr. Albers shares some possible mental health effects.

Body dysmorphia and eating disorders

In extreme cases, the self-scrutiny that looksmaxxing culture encourages can contribute to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a mental health condition in which a person fixates on perceived flaws in their appearance.

BDD and facial dysmorphia are common among people living with eating disorders (ED).

Anxiety and depression

The culture of comparison that looksmaxxing often promotes may feed anxiety and depression. If your child lives with these conditions, it can make them worse.

Dr. Albers says that social anxiety and isolation are common among teen boys and young men, and even more so if they believe they’re unattractive or unworthy.

“If you feel insecure about your appearance, you may not want to interact with other people,” she adds. “In many ways, looksmaxxing is more about belonging than it is about beauty.”

Self-esteem issues

When young men (or anyone, for that matter) base their identity and self-worth on how they look, especially compared to other people, it can make their confidence shaky. A compliment may provide a temporary boost, but one bad photo may be enough to trigger a shame spiral.

Those feelings can snowball quickly. It may start with hating something specific, like a perceived weak chin, only to grow into feeling undeserving of love, friendship and respect.

“It’s rarely about vanity,” Dr. Albers clarifies. “Underneath the obsession with body image are feelings of insecurity, hopelessness and low self-worth.”

Substance use

Some looksmaxxers misuse substances in the hopes of gaining muscle, losing fat or looking younger. Examples include:

• Anabolic steroids
• Stimulants and sedatives
• GLP-1s, diuretics and laxatives
• Testosterone and other hormones
• Skin-lightening agents
• Peptides and other supplements
• Unregulated or experimental products

In addition to dangers like overdose and addiction, using these substances as part of a looksmaxxing routine can create or worsen mental health issues.

Self-harm

Many hardmaxxing behaviors fall into the category of self-harm, but the most sensational is a practice called “bonesmashing.”

Bonesmashing involves reshaping your facial structure by striking yourself with a blunt object, like a hammer or closed fist. Some looksmaxxing influencers claim — without evidence — that these injuries, once healed, create a more chiseled, masculine bone structure.

While the practice appears to be uncommon, promoting self-injury in any form is concerning.

Advice for parents

If your teen is being negatively affected by looksmaxxing, one helpful step may be setting boundaries around their social media use.

“Algorithms are designed to keep their attention, not support their mental health,” Dr. Albers notes. “If they click on just a few of these videos, their feed will get flooded with these messages.”

Dr. Albers suggests that you:

• React with curiosity, not criticism. Looksmaxxing content is judgmental enough. Ask your child why they like it and what they’re getting from it.
• Teach them to question online content. Help your kid understand that influencers aren’t always honest about how they achieve their appearance. They may be using everything from filters, editing and lighting to undisclosed medical procedures.
• Promote other activities. Encourage your teen to build skills, enjoy hobbies, work toward personal goals, and spend time with supportive friends and family.
• Model a healthy body image. You don’t have to love your looks to exhibit self-acceptance. Start by tamping down negative self-talk and build from there.
• Be thoughtful with compliments. Instead of highlighting other people’s appearance, laud their skills (like public speaking) or traits (like perseverance).
• Recognize beauty of all kinds. The standard of beauty looksmaxxers promote is often narrow and unattainable. When you admire people who don’t fit the mold, you disprove the theory that there’s only one way to be attractive.

When to get help

Whether or not they’re involved with looksmaxxing, it’s important to get your teen help if their preoccupation with their appearance is affecting their well-being.

Dr. Albers recommends reaching out — both to your child and a mental health professional — if you notice that they:

• Avoid social situations
• Frequently compare themselves to other people
• Don’t enjoy activities and hobbies like they used to
• Spend a lot of money and time on beauty, fashion or fitness
• Misuse substances
• Body check more than they used to (for example, looking in the mirror)
• Lose sleep over their appearance
• Spend most of their free time online
• Avoiding photos — or taking dozens of them at a time to get one “good” one
• Seeking repeated reassurance about their appearance

“Self-care is a good thing. It supports your mental health and improves how you feel about yourself,” Dr. Albers says.

“And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look your best. But it shouldn’t be a full-time job. That’s a red flag that looksmaxxing is having a negative effect on your child.”