Most guys looking to improve their appearance get fed the same recycled nonsense. “Just shower bro.” “Be confident.” “Dress better.” Cool, but what does that actually mean?
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If you’re serious about learning how to look better as a guy, you need specifics. Not motivation, not platitudes, but actual changes that move the needle. The good news? Once you understand the fundamentals of male attractiveness and which actions create visible results, you can build a system that compounds over time.
This isn’t about becoming someone you’re not. It’s about maximizing what you’re working with through evidence-based improvements to your face, body, style, and overall presentation.
The Foundation: Body Composition Trumps Almost Everything
Before worrying about skincare or hairstyles, get your body fat percentage right. A 2017 study published in the British Journal of Psychology found that facial adiposity (fat) is the strongest predictor of perceived attractiveness in men, even more than skin condition or facial structure clarity.
Most guys carry too much facial fat, which obscures their bone structure and creates a soft, undefined look. Your target? 12-15% body fat for optimal facial aesthetics. At this range, you’ll have visible jaw definition, hollow cheeks naturally emerge, and your facial features gain contrast.
Getting there isn’t rocket science, but it requires consistency. Track your calories, maintain a 300-500 calorie deficit, and prioritize protein (0.8-1g per pound of body weight). You don’t need keto, carnivore, or whatever diet is trending. You need a sustained caloric deficit while preserving muscle mass.
For muscle building, getting a hybrid athlete physique balances aesthetics with functional fitness. Focus on compound movements that build proportional muscle. The ideal male physique has broad shoulders, defined arms, and a lean midsection. This V-taper creates visual contrast that significantly impacts how others perceive your attractiveness.
Fixing Your Face: The Softmaxxing Hierarchy
Softmaxxing gets mocked in some circles, but it’s the most accessible way to improve your looks without surgical intervention. Here’s what actually works, ranked by impact.
Debloat Your Face Immediately
Water retention and inflammation make your face look puffy and undefined. Most guys walk around with 5-10 pounds of excess water weight that could be eliminated in days.
Cut sodium to under 2,000mg daily. Your face will look noticeably sharper within 72 hours. Eliminate processed foods, which are sodium bombs. Increase potassium intake through bananas, sweet potatoes, and avocados to balance electrolytes.
Alcohol causes massive facial bloating. Even moderate drinking leads to water retention and inflammation. If you’re serious about facial aesthetics, limit alcohol to once weekly at most.
Foods that debloat work faster than you’d expect. Asparagus, cucumber, and dandelion tea have natural diuretic properties. Add these strategically before events where you want to look your best.
Skin Quality Is Non-Negotiable
Clear, even-toned skin dramatically improves attractiveness. A study in Evolution and Human Behavior found that skin condition affects perceived health and age more than facial structure.
Start simple. Morning: cleanser, vitamin C serum, moisturizer with SPF 30+. Night: cleanser, retinoid (0.025% tretinoin if you can get a prescription, adapalene 0.1% over the counter), moisturizer.
This basic routine addresses 80% of skin concerns. Tretinoin increases cell turnover, reduces acne, and builds collagen. Vitamin C brightens and protects against oxidative stress. SPF prevents photoaging, which ages you faster than anything else.
For guys dealing with specific issues, Korean skincare for men offers targeted solutions without the complexity. Don’t overcomplicate it with 10 products. Consistency with basics beats elaborate routines you’ll quit in two weeks.
Eyebrows Frame Your Entire Face
Untamed eyebrows make you look unkempt regardless of everything else. Well-groomed brows create structure and draw attention to your eyes.
Get them professionally shaped once, then maintain at home with tweezers. Remove the unibrow, clean up strays above and below, but keep them masculine. You’re not trying to get Instagram brows. The goal is neat, defined, and natural.
If your brows are thin or patchy, getting thicker eyebrows through minoxidil application works. Apply 5% minoxidil foam to brows once daily for 3-4 months. Research published in the Journal of Dermatology confirms minoxidil stimulates hair growth in eyebrows similar to scalp hair.
Fix Your Hair or Remove It
Bad hair tanks your looks. Good hair elevates them significantly.
If you’re experiencing recession or thinning in your 20s, address it now. Hair loss prevention is far more effective than trying to regrow lost hair. Finasteride (1mg daily) and minoxidil (5% twice daily) are proven treatments backed by decades of research.
Find a competent barber who understands face shapes. Your hairstyle should complement your facial structure. Round face? Add height on top. Long face? Go for volume on the sides with less height. Oval face? You can pull off most styles.
If your hairline is too far gone, shave it and grow a beard. The bald with beard combo works when executed confidently. A receding, balding look does not.
Build a Face That Looks Masculine and Defined
Beyond softmaxxing, certain techniques directly improve facial structure appearance.
Mewing: Overhyped But Not Useless
Mewing (proper tongue posture) won’t reshape your skull if you’re over 18, but it does improve facial appearance through better muscle tone and posture.
Keep your entire tongue pressed against the roof of your mouth, teeth lightly touching or slightly apart, lips sealed. This engages the jaw and neck muscles properly, reducing double chin appearance and improving jaw definition over time.
Don’t expect miracles. Mewing is a 1-2% improvement, not a transformation. But if you maintain proper oral posture anyway, you might as well benefit from the marginal gains.
Chewing for Masseter Development
Hypertrophying your masseter muscles (jaw muscles) creates width at the jaw angle, improving facial aesthetics. Research in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology confirms that regular chewing increases masseter muscle size.
Chew hard gum (Falim, mastic gum) for 30-60 minutes daily. You’ll see visible jaw width increases after 3-6 months of consistent practice. This works best for guys with naturally narrower faces.
Don’t overdo it. Excessive chewing can cause TMJ issues. Start with 15-20 minutes and gradually increase.
Strategic Facial Exercises
Most facial exercises are cope, but a few target real muscles. Chin tucks strengthen the platysma and reduce neck fat appearance. Do 3 sets of 10 second holds twice daily.
Jaw clenches (without gum) can be done throughout the day. These micro-workouts accumulate and genuinely increase masseter size.
Style: The Quickest Visual Upgrade
Your clothing choices communicate status, personality, and attention to detail before you say a word.
Fit Is Everything
An average guy in well-fitted clothes looks better than a good-looking guy in baggy, ill-fitting garbage. Prioritize fit above brand, price, or trends.
Shirts should fit in the shoulders (seam sits at shoulder edge), taper at the waist, and end at mid-zipper. Pants should sit at your natural waist, have minimal break at the shoe, and fit comfortably in the thighs without excess fabric.
Get a tailor. Seriously. Taking your off-the-rack clothes to a tailor for $15-30 in alterations makes a $40 shirt look like $150.
Build a Functional Wardrobe
You don’t need 50 pieces. You need versatile basics that work together. Start with:
- 3-4 well-fitted plain t-shirts (white, black, navy, gray)
- 2-3 button-up shirts (white, light blue, patterned)
- 2 pairs of dark denim jeans
- 1 pair of chinos (navy or khaki)
- White sneakers (Common Projects, Adidas Stan Smith, or similar)
- Brown leather boots or loafers
- Black Chelsea boots
This covers 90% of situations. Add seasonal pieces as needed, but nail the basics first. Softmaxxing tips extend to style choices that create immediate visual improvements without requiring permanent changes.
Colors That Actually Work
Certain colors objectively look better on most men. Navy, charcoal, olive, burgundy, and earth tones create masculine, put-together looks. Avoid loud patterns unless you know what you’re doing.
Match metals to your skin tone. Cooler skin tones (pink/red undertones) suit silver jewelry. Warmer skin tones (yellow/golden undertones) suit gold.
Hygiene Beyond the Obvious
Everyone knows to shower and brush their teeth. The guys who look noticeably better handle the details most skip.
Smell Matters More Than You Think
Scent creates powerful subconscious associations. Layer your fragrance game: quality body wash, matching deodorant, cologne as the finishing touch.
Apply cologne to pulse points (wrists, neck, behind ears) right after showering. 3-4 sprays maximum. You should smell good when someone gets close, not from across the room.
Oral Health Shows in Your Face
Straight, white teeth change your entire aesthetic. If your teeth are crooked, save for Invisalign. It’s one of the best ROI improvements you can make.
Whiten your teeth with custom trays from your dentist (more effective than strips). Maintain with whitening toothpaste. Floss daily. Bad breath kills attraction instantly, and gum disease ages your face.
Nail and Hand Care
Your hands are constantly visible. Keep nails trimmed short and filed smooth. Use hand lotion if your hands are dry or rough. Men’s hygiene essentials include these often-overlooked details that separate polished from sloppy.
The Mental Game: Posture and Presence
Your body language communicates as much as your appearance. Slouching, fidgeting, and weak eye contact undermine even great aesthetics.
Posture Correction Changes Everything
Stand tall with shoulders back, chest out slightly, chin parallel to the ground. This instantly makes you look taller, more confident, and more masculine.
Most guys have anterior pelvic tilt and rounded shoulders from sitting. Fix this with face pulls, band pull-aparts, and hip flexor stretches. Do these daily. Your posture affects how your face sits too. Forward head posture creates neck fat and double chin appearance.
Eye Contact Without Trying Too Hard
Maintain eye contact for 3-4 seconds before looking away naturally. Too little seems nervous, too much seems aggressive. Practice until it feels natural.
Putting It All Together: The Realistic Timeline
You’re not going to transform in two weeks. But you will see noticeable changes faster than you think when you stack improvements correctly.
Week 1-2: Debloating, basic skincare routine started, haircut, wardrobe audit
Month 1-2: Visible fat loss, skin clearing up, posture improvements
Month 3-6: Significant body recomposition, masseter development visible, tretinoin results showing
Month 6-12: Compounded improvements create obvious transformation
The guys who see the best results treat this as a system, not a sprint. You’re building habits that maintain your improved appearance long-term.
Final Thoughts on How to Look Better as a Guy
Improving your appearance isn’t superficial or vain. Looking better opens doors professionally, socially, and romantically. It’s one of the highest-ROI investments you can make in yourself.
Start with body composition. Nothing else matters if you’re carrying excess fat. Then address skin, hair, and grooming. Build a wardrobe that fits. These changes compound faster than you expect.
The difference between where you are and where you could be isn’t genetics or luck. It’s consistent execution on fundamentals that most guys ignore because they’re “too basic.” That’s exactly why they work.
If you’re ready for a complete transformation approach, check out the full looksmaxxing guide that covers everything from beginner to advanced strategies. But start with what’s in this article. Master the basics before worrying about optimization. That’s how you actually look better as a guy without wasting years on trial and error.