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Looksmaxxing

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 86.29.121.40 (talk) at 22:24, 29 February 2024 (the first mention of mewing should be linked for clarification but the first one seemed unnatural anyhow so i just changed it lol). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Looksmaxxing, or to looksmax, is a practice involving several forms of facial exercising and body care routines, in an effort to improve one's physical appearance. While the practice as a whole can refer to simple hygiene, more extreme methods have become associated with looksmaxxing, such as "mewing". The practice is affiliated with incel subculture, and originated on "manosphere" message boards such as Lookism, Sluthate and PUAHate.[1] The practice became a TikTok trend, and became popular amongst mostly teenagers in the 2020s, with origins tracing back to mid-2014.

Overview

"Softmaxxing"

Looksmaxxing is a practice in which people perform several body care routines in an effort to improve ones physical appearance. Some of these practices are fairly common and standard, such as clearing up facial acne, going to the gym, getting a new haircut, or moisturizing. These practices are the most popular, and are considered "softmaxxing". Additional practices have been associated with looksmaxxing, with a popular example being the act of "mewing", which involves performing various exercises with your tongue with the goal of achieving a "square jawline".[2][3] These methods are the most popular ones shared around TikTok, where "handsome" men are typically the ones giving the advice. These methods were previously popularized with magazines such as GQ, Esquire, and Men's Health sharing around skincare and hairstyle advice. Some that partake in "looksmaxxing" consider themselves to be making "facial gains".[3]

"Hardmaxxing"

Robert Pattinson is an example of a person with "hunter eyes"[4]

Some people who perform looksmaxxing have also performed more extreme methods. This has been coined as "hardmaxxing", and those who practice them refer to themselves as "hardmaxxers". Practices associated with hardmaxxing include getting implants or limb-lengthening surgeries, intentionally starving oneself ("starvemaxxing"), using moisturizers to attempt to appear more white ("whitemaxxing"), and withholding sexual climax in an effort to boost testosterone ("edging").[2][3] An additional method, known as "bonesmashing", refers to the act of hitting one's face against objects in order to create a "chiselled look". While this practice is considered an inside joke and few have actually done it, it has been warned as misinformation.[4][5][6]

Some that partake in looksmaxxing also look for others to rate their appearance, with some engaging in anonymous message boards associated with incel sub-culture. This rating has been considered to be one's "sexual market value".[2][4] Those that determine this value usually check for a variety of different facial features. One of the most prominent features checked for is "hunter eyes", which refers to a positive canthal tilt, resembling that of a predatorial animal. Additional features checked for include hollow cheeks and "pursed lips".[3][4] In order to achieve these features, some perform acts such as the aforementioned "mewing", rubbing against the orbital area, or even getting surgery.[4][5][7]

Those who receive a low rating are often harassed for their appearance afterwards, with some forms of harassment including suicide encouragement.[2] Additional terms have been coined by these communities in an effort to "dominate others". These phrases include "mogging", which refers to asserting dominance over another person based on their appearance, and being "Y-pilled", which refers to one viewing themselves as more masculine than the other and is a spin on the phrase "redpilled".[3][5]

History

The practice originated on "manosphere" message boards such as Lookism.net and Incels.me in the 2010s.[8][9] In 2015, a forum site named Looksmaxxer.com was registered to the Internet Archive,[citation needed] coining the term "looksmaxxing" and inspiring its usage on anonymous imageboard websites such as 4chan. Looksmaxxing became a TikTok trend in the 2020s, amongst mostly teenagers.[2][3]

Criticism

Looksmaxxing has been connected to incel sub-culture since its origins within it.[2][3][4] Writing for The Conversation, senior lecturer and researcher Jamilla Rosdahl of the Australian College of Applied Psychology considered the practice to convert young men into incels as a result of TikTok algorithms. On the popularity of looksmaxxing amongst young people overall, she wrote that "where young people feel like they can’t control their environment, they may turn to trends such as looksmaxxing as something they can control," attributing several real world problems such as an unstable economy.[2]

Several acts associated with looksmaxxing have been criticized by doctors and dismissed as misinformation, including mewing and bonesmashing.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ Conti, Allie; Kantrowitz, Lia (2018-06-20). "Inside the Disturbing Forum Incels Use to Brutally Criticize Each Other's Faces". Vice. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Rosdahl, Jamilla (31 January 2024). "'Looksmaxxing' is the disturbing TikTok trend turning young men into incels". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Notopoulos, Katie. "'Looksmaxxing' is the new TikTok trend for young men who want to be hot". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Sharma, Ruchira (2023-06-07). "Women Want One Thing in Men, and It's 'Hunter Eyes'". Vice. Archived from the original on 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  5. ^ a b c Nejam, Abderrahemane (2023-11-08). "'The majority of looksmaxxers are in their late teens': Inside the bizarre trend that's exploding in popularity among young men". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  6. ^ Zizaza, Nicky (2023-11-06). "What is bone smashing? The dangerous TikTok beauty trend surgeons are warning against - CBS Baltimore". www.cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on 2024-02-14. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  7. ^ Usborne, Simon (2024-02-15). "From bone smashing to chin extensions: how 'looksmaxxing' is reshaping young men's faces". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  8. ^ Bernstein, Joseph (2023-11-06). "Young Men Seek Answers to an Age-Old Question: How to Be Hot". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  9. ^ Miller, Alicia (2024-02-22). "The Origins and Detrimental Effects of the Looksmaxxing Trend". The Oxford Blue. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  10. ^ Zizaza, Nicky (2023-11-06). "What is bone smashing? The dangerous TikTok beauty trend surgeons are warning against - CBS Baltimore". www.cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on 2024-02-14. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  11. ^ Bellot, Carmen (2023-12-22). "Can TikTok Tips Really Create a More Defined Jawline?". Esquire. Archived from the original on 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
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