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A rising trend on platforms like TikTok and Instagram is prompting boys to “optimize” their appearance.

Referred to as looksmaxxing, the trend centers on achieving the “ideal” physique and facial features. It is related to comparable social media phenomena, known as its two main subtypes, which advocate for everything from rigorous skincare regimens to surgical interventions and radical body modification.

While followers say these practices can be confidence-building, therapists warn they can fuel body dysmorphia, anxiety, and other damaging behaviors.

One licensed counselor described this trend as a “online-created body dysmorphia trend.”

“Teenagers fall into this illusion of approval, and what they believe women want from them,” he noted. “They can get caught up in potentially long-term battles with feeling a sense of not being good enough and coping with that shortcoming.”

He further described that “People will focus their energies on improving their body based on emotions of inferiority or inadequacy.”

“Individuals can get caught in a loop of trying to ‘optimize’ their appearance, but as therapists, we know that if you’re struggling with not good enough or less than, those are the core problems to work on with a trained professional.”

Exploring the Differences Between the Looksmaxxing, Softmaxxing, and Hardmaxxing Trends?

While the language differs, the phenomena all have one thing in commonality: the desire to compulsively change one’s appearance.

“This trend is essentially personal development put on steroids. It’s reframing the male physique as something to be engineered,” the expert clarified.

Whereas the softer approach entails more gradual changes to one’s appearance, frequently accomplished through grooming and habit changes, the extreme version is more intense.

“It involves drastic procedures to change your looks, such as rhinoplasty, Botox, hair transplants, and chin surgery. The clear issue with this is that once you open that Pandora’s Box, it’s difficult to close the lid,” he noted.

Another licensed therapist summed up the differences.

“It’s natural to have a desire for self-care, and taking pride in your appearance can boost self-esteem and be positive. But the big difference is that this trend is rooted in self-loathing and trying to conform, at the cost of your well-being and security,” she pointed out.

“The extreme version, on the other hand, appears to be venturing into self-harm practices, particularly some of its linked behaviors, like smashing your face with a hammer.”

Why Looksmaxxing Is Particularly Prevalent Among Teenagers

What makes this movement appear to be resonating with adolescent boys in particular?

One expert said that teenagers, especially teens, are often at a stage of their lives when they are still figuring out who they are, and many may be searching for ways to project what they perceive as “the ‘correct’ version of manhood.”

He also suggests trends like this one may be connected to incel culture and the manosphere.

“It gained traction in recent years, with online influencers promoting certain ideals of masculinity. These types of ‘masculine’ influencers have guided some men astray,” he said.

Another therapist shared a different perspective about potential underlying causes.

“Mental health issues and loneliness are also prevalent currently, making this demographic particularly susceptible,” she added.

The Boundary Separating Healthy Self-Improvement and Unhealthy Obsessions

Recognizing the line between taking pride in your looks and an unhealthy obsession with how you look can be challenging for many individuals.

“Routines aimed at betterment turn problematic when fear is the primary motivator; when your rituals are consuming so much headspace that you can’t be present in your life and connections,” one specialist explained.

There are multiple dangers linked to these kinds of detrimental behaviors.

“Eating disorders and dangerous actions are often connected to body dysmorphia, worry, and poor self-worth,” she continued.

“Men are at danger of experiencing embarrassment around their physiques due to cultural pressures that they must be muscular and fit. And for some men, it can seem like a challenge to their sense of manhood and self-worth.”

The other expert said that, for some individuals who try to make purely external changes to their physique, it can open the door to damaging, obsessive psychological needs.

“It can escalate quickly, and you may believe you must do something to help yourself feel better rather than feeling comfortable in your own skin.”

In the end, he stated, positive self-improvement usually isn’t represented by the kind of self-care material that’s popular on social media platforms.

“It’s about taking care of yourself from the inside,” he concluded.

Tips for Cultivating Body Positivity

Practising more self-acceptance isn’t something that happens quickly, but there are healthy steps you can take to start that journey.

First, having mixed feelings about your body is valid and understandable.

One specialist recommended “exploring” that and finding an outlet for it.

“Creativity is a wonderful way to let those feelings out in a way that might even be enjoyable. Try sketching, collaging, or making a journal to record your journey,” she suggested.

While social media use can fuel negative habits and emotions, there are ways to minimize these dangers.

“Follow accounts that advocate for body acceptance and healthy masculinity. Or engage with individuals who challenge the limited view of manhood perpetuated by society,” she