A growing social media trend urges young men to “maximize” their appearance. Known as looksmaxxing, it promotes pursuing an ideal face and body and overlaps with related trends called softmaxxing and hardmaxxing. While some frame these practices as self-improvement, mental health experts warn they can fuel body dysmorphia, anxiety, eating disorders, and even self-harm.
Jason Fierstein, MA, LPC, founder of Phoenix Men’s Counseling, calls looksmaxxing a “social media-driven body dysmorphia trend.” He says young men can fall into a false sense of what others—often women—expect, leaving them feeling inadequate. “People will focus their energies on improving their physique based on feelings of inferiority or inadequacy,” Fierstein said. He stresses that the underlying issues of shame and low self-worth are best addressed with a qualified therapist rather than endless appearance hacking.
The terms describe varying intensity. Softmaxxing usually means subtler changes through grooming, lifestyle tweaks, and better style. Hardmaxxing involves more extreme measures—cosmetic surgery, Botox, hair transplants, chin reshaping, and other invasive procedures. Christine Ruberti-Bruning, MA, ATR-BC, CEDS, LPC, a licensed therapist and certified eating disorder specialist, warns that looksmaxxing is often rooted in self-hate and a desire to fit in at the expense of health and safety. Some hardmaxxing behaviors verge on self-harm, she adds, pointing to dangerous viral stunts like intentionally injuring the face.
Why it resonates with young men
Experts say several factors make young men especially vulnerable. Adolescence and young adulthood are times of identity formation, when many search for the “correct” version of masculinity. Fierstein links the trend in part to influences from the manosphere and some male public figures, and he notes overlap with incel-related messaging that frames appearance as the gatekeeper of worth and relationships. Loneliness and rising mental health struggles also make young men more susceptible to online narratives that equate attractiveness with value, Ruberti-Bruning says.
When self-improvement becomes harmful
The line between healthy grooming and obsession can be subtle. Ruberti-Bruning points out that self-improvement is harmful when anxiety is the primary motivator and appearance rituals consume mental space, interfering with presence in life and relationships. Associated risks include eating disorders, increased shame about the body, worsening anxiety, and self-harm behaviors. Fierstein warns that making only superficial changes can open the door to obsessive psychological needs and a cycle of chasing an unattainable ideal.
Signs that looks-related efforts are unhealthy include:
– Constant preoccupation with perceived flaws despite reassurance
– Ritualized grooming or appearance checks that disrupt daily life
– Severe anxiety around social situations or relationships tied to looks
– Pursuing risky procedures or dangerous social media trends to change appearance
– Feeling worse, not better, after changes
Safer approaches and recovery
Practicing self-acceptance takes time, but there are constructive steps:
– Acknowledge and express complex feelings about your body. Creativity—drawing, collaging, journaling—can help process emotions.
– Curate social media: follow accounts that promote body acceptance and broader definitions of masculinity, and unfollow content that fosters shame.
– Prioritize connection: spend time with friends and family to reduce isolation and counteract internalized messages about worth.
– Seek professional help when preoccupation with appearance causes distress. Therapists experienced in body image and eating disorders can address underlying issues.
Ultimately, healthy self-improvement is less about optimizing every external detail and more about caring for yourself from the inside—addressing loneliness, self-worth, and mental health rather than chasing a manufactured ideal.
