How the ‘Looksmaxxing’ Trend Harms Young Men’s Mental Health
The Real Cost of “Looksmaxxing”: When Self-Improvement Turns Toxic
Every one of us has stood in front of the mirror and wished something looked different—maybe after a bad night’s sleep, or when a pimple shows up at the worst time. But for some teenage boys and young men, those fleeting doubts spiral into a full-blown obsession known as looksmaxxing.
At first glance, looksmaxxing is sold as a path to self-improvement: “maximize your looks.” But beneath the veneer lies a disturbing undercurrent. A recent study by Michael Halpin and colleagues at Dalhousie University found that these online spaces can seriously damage the mental health of men and teenagers. (Welcome to Dalhousie University)
What Is Looksmaxxing — Softmaxxing vs Hardmaxxing
Looksmaxxing originally grew out of incel and “manosphere” forums, but it has since spread onto mainstream social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. (The Skeptic)
- Softmaxxing involves low-risk changes: skincare routines, better grooming, posture correction, healthier diet, and so on. (Parents)
- Hardmaxxing embraces extreme measures: cosmetic surgery (jaw, nose, eyelid), steroids, Botox, or even face-altering “bone smashing.” (Parents)
One extreme tactic — “bone smashing” — encourages hitting or tapping facial bones to reshape them, a dangerous and unproven practice. (The Guardian)
Then there’s mewing: a tongue posture technique (resting the tongue on the roof of the mouth) that claims to sculpt the jawline. While popular in many social media challenges, it lacks strong scientific support. (The Skeptic)
The Dark Side: Mental Toll, Harassment & Suicide Encouragement
Halpin’s study examined over 8,000 comments from a large looksmaxxing forum (which attracts millions of monthly visits). (Welcome to Dalhousie University) The typical user is male, heterosexual, aged between 14 and mid-20s. (Indigenous Health Today!)
Members rate each other on a strict scale—“chads” at the top, “normies” in the middle, and “subhumans” at the bottom. (Indigenous Health Today!) Critiques are ruthless:
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“Your body is disgusting.”
“You’ll never get a job unless you fix yourself.”
“No one will ever love you.”
Some trolls even encourage suicide. (Welcome to Dalhousie University)
This constant pressure teaches young men to pick apart every detail of their appearance—and pushes many toward dangerous solutions. Halpin notes that some men are told they are irredeemable unless they radically alter their looks. (Welcome to Dalhousie University)
Many scholars frame this as a form of masculine demoralization—a shifting standard of what it means to “be a man,” tied solely to physical appearance. (Michael Halpin)
Moreover, looksmaxxing forums often overlap with darker online spaces: misogynistic or extremist communities such as incel networks. (Michael Halpin)
How Looksmaxxing Harms Physical & Mental Health
1. Mental Health Risks
The obsession with perfection often leads to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)—a condition where one becomes fixated on perceived (and often imagined) flaws. (Wikipedia)
The hypercritical environment, relentless comparisons, harsh remarks, and impossible standards contribute to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. (Parents)
2. Physical Dangers
Beyond mental strain, practices pushed in hardmaxxing carry real physical risks:
- Unsafe surgeries with irreversible consequences
- Steroid use and hormonal imbalance
- In extreme cases, self-harm or facial trauma
- “Starvemaxxing” — extreme calorie restriction to slim the face — has also emerged as a dangerous subset of looksmaxxing. (New York Post)
3. Gateway to Broader Toxic Ideologies
Looksmaxxing often serves as an entry point into more extreme ideologies (incel, redpill, male separatist) that view one’s worth as strictly tied to appearance or social dominance. (Welcome to Dalhousie University)
What Experts & Educators Say
Morris Green, who leads the GuysWork program in Canadian schools, emphasizes that a person’s worth lies far beyond their jawline or physique. He argues that character, kindness, integrity, and empathy matter more. (Welcome to Dalhousie University)
Halpin and his team call looksmaxxing a growing public health issue—a risk that social and health services must acknowledge and address. (Welcome to Dalhousie University)
Studying the trend further, Halpin’s research warns that looksmaxxing does not uplift self-esteem—it corrodes it. (Welcome to Dalhousie University)
How Young Men Can Stay Safe: Healthy Alternatives
- Limit time in toxic online spaces. Avoid forums or social media channels that push harmful critique or ranking systems.
- Adopt balanced self-care. Focus on realistic grooming, hygiene, fitness, and nutrition—but avoid framing them as “musts to succeed.”
- Seek grounded role models. Read articles like our posts on confidence building and mental wellness at ViralSensei (for example, How to Build Self-Esteem or Healthy Habits for Teens) to counter superficial ideals.
- Talk about it. Encourage open conversations with friends, family, or counselors if appearance worries become overwhelming.
- Get professional help if needed. If someone is considering extreme procedures or shows signs of depression or self-harm, mental health professionals should be consulted immediately.
By spotlighting this dangerous trend and offering healthier alternatives, we can help steer the next generation toward empowerment—not obsession.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
