“Looksmaxxing” is a popular trend on TikTok and other social media apps. The word means trying to “maximize” or improve how you look by using different methods. It is mostly males who attempt to “looksmax,” but women can also use similar methods. People who follow this trend often try different ways to become more attractive. These can include simple things like skincare, haircuts, or going to the gym. However, some people take it much further and change their entire appearance in harmful ways.
In an article by the BBC, “Looksmaxxing attaches “scores” to aspects of male appearance, focusing particularly on jawline, muscularity and skin. Looksmaxxers aim to increase their scores via “softmaxxing” (such as using a gua sha, burning more calories than consumed, or moisturising) and “hardmaxxing” (such as steroid use, hair transplants, or cosmetic surgery).”
Health effects
There are two main types of looksmaxxing. The first is called “softmaxxing.” This includes normal self-care habits like washing your face, exercising, and dressing nicely. This way is usually harmless and it is just basic everyday things. The second is called “hardmaxxing.” This involves more extreme actions, like strict dieting, taking supplements, or even getting surgery. This way has more long term effects and negative health problems.
At first, looksmaxxing might seem like a good idea because taking care of yourself is important. But the trend can become unhealthy when people focus too much on their appearance. Many experts warn that it can hurt both mental and physical health.
“Mewing” is “a technique of resting one’s tongue against the roof of the mouth, in the hope that it would make jawlines more chiseled.” Some TikTok personalities claim this a good way to start looksmaxxing but The American Association of Orthodontists said in January that“scientific evidence supporting mewing’s jawline-sculpting claims is as thin as dental floss.”
Problems
One major problem is how it affects mental health. When people compare themselves to others online, they may start to feel like they are not good enough. This can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression. Some people may develop body dysmorphia, which is when someone becomes overly worried about flaws in their appearance that others may not even notice.
Another issue is that looksmaxxing can create unrealistic beauty standards. Social media often shows edited or filtered images, which are not always real. This can make people believe they need to look a certain way to be accepted or successful. Over time, this pressure can make people feel stressed or unhappy with themselves or they may even start to try to change themselves in ways that can hurt them.
In some cases, looksmaxxing can also harm physical health. Certain trends encourage extreme dieting, which can lead to eating disorders and serious health problems. Other dangerous practices, like trying to change bone structure or using unsafe products, can cause injuries or long-term damage to the body. There is also something called “bone smashing” in which people take hammers, bottles, or other hard objects to their face in hopes to rework their facial structure.
The trend can also become obsessive. Some people spend too much time thinking about their looks instead of focusing on school, hobbies, or friendships. Experts say this can lead to unhealthy habits and even social isolation.
Unneeded trends
“For years, as teachers, we have been trained to look for anorexia and bulimia warning signs. With looksmaxxing being a newer trend, most teachers probably know nothing about this so the warning signs are flying under the radar. This is a scary trend that could harm many of our students and teachers should be trained on what to look for so we can properly help our students, ” suggested Danielle Allen, English teacher at Colonia High School.
In conclusion, looksmaxxing is a social media trend focused on improving appearance, but it can become harmful when taken too far. While basic self-care is healthy, extreme behaviors and constant comparison can damage both mental and physical health. It is important to remember that everyone is different, and true confidence comes from accepting yourself, not just changing how you look.
