Most advice on male attractiveness is either cope (“just be confident bro”) or completely surface-level. The reality is that improving your attractiveness as a guy requires a systematic approach targeting facial aesthetics, body composition, grooming, and style. This isn’t about overhauling your genetics overnight, but maximizing what you’re working with through strategic softmaxxing.
Table of Contents
Let’s break down the hierarchy of what actually moves the needle, starting with what matters most.
Body Composition Comes First
Before obsessing over facial features or buying new clothes, get your body fat percentage in check. This single change affects everything from facial definition to how clothes fit.
Target 10-15% body fat. This range gives you visible facial angularity, defined jawline, and hollow cheeks without looking gaunt. Studies show that faces with lower body fat are consistently rated as more attractive across cultures, primarily because lower fat percentage signals youth and health.
Getting there isn’t complicated. You need a caloric deficit combined with resistance training to preserve muscle mass. Track your intake using any basic app, aim for 0.8-1g of protein per pound of bodyweight, and lift 3-4 times per week focusing on compound movements.
The facial benefits alone make this worth prioritizing. Dropping from 20% to 12% body fat will do more for your appearance than any skincare routine or haircut. Your cheekbones become visible, your jawline sharpens, and that bloated look disappears. Check out our guide on how to lose facial fat correctly for the specific approach.
Beyond facial aesthetics, having a decent physique changes your entire silhouette. Broad shoulders, defined arms, and a tapered waist create contrast that makes you stand out. You don’t need to be a bodybuilder, but looking like you actually lift puts you ahead of 80% of guys your age.
Fix Your Skin Before Anything Else
Clear, even-toned skin is non-negotiable. Acne, hyperpigmentation, and dull skin tank your attractiveness regardless of your other features.
Start with the basics: a gentle cleanser, tretinoin or retinol, moisturizer with SPF, and sunscreen. That’s it. Don’t overcomplicate this with 10-step routines unless you have specific skin concerns.
Tretinoin is the gold standard. It’s prescription (easily obtained through dermatology apps), increases cell turnover, reduces acne, and improves texture. Start with 0.025% three times per week, work up to nightly use. Expect some purging and dryness initially. This compound has decades of research backing its effectiveness for both acne and anti-aging.
Sunscreen prevents photoaging, which accounts for up to 80% of visible facial aging according to dermatology research. Use SPF 50+ daily, even when it’s cloudy. UV damage accumulates over time and destroys collagen, leading to wrinkles and uneven pigmentation.
For guys dealing with acne scars or hyperpigmentation, add niacinamide serum and consider professional treatments like chemical peels or microneedling. These actually work, unlike the endless parade of “miracle” products marketed to men.
If your skin needs serious help, Korean skincare routine for men covers a more comprehensive approach without the typical Western marketing BS.
Optimize Your Facial Hair Game
Facial hair can either enhance your features or completely throw off your proportions. Most guys get this wrong.
Work with your face shape, not against it. If you have a weak jaw, a well-maintained beard adds definition and forward growth. If you already have a strong jaw, clean-shaven or light stubble usually looks better.
The key is symmetry and maintenance. Uneven, scraggly facial hair looks worse than being clean-shaven. Define your cheek lines and neckline properly. The neckline should be about two fingers above your Adam’s apple, not on it.
For guys with patchy growth, either embrace the stubble look (2-3mm) or go clean-shaven until your coverage improves. Minoxidil works for beard growth if you’re committed to a 6-12 month protocol, but that’s a separate discussion.
Mustaches are tricky. They can look great if you have the facial structure and density to support them, but most guys under 25 should skip them entirely.
Hair Makes or Breaks Your Look
Your hairstyle needs to complement your face shape and work with your hair type. Generic advice doesn’t help here, so experiment until you find what works.
General principles that apply to most guys:
Get a proper haircut from someone who knows men’s hair. Not a barbershop that gives everyone the same fade, not a budget chain salon. Find someone who understands facial proportions and modern styling.
Keep the hair off your forehead if you want to look more mature and defined. Curtains and middle parts work for some face shapes, but slicked-back or textured styles with volume create better forward projection for most guys.
Use quality styling products. Matte clay or paste for texture, sea salt spray for volume on longer styles. Avoid anything that makes your hair look wet or crunchy.
Hair loss is a different beast entirely. If you’re thinning, address it immediately with finasteride and minoxidil. Early intervention matters. Waiting until you’re noticeably bald limits your options. We’ve covered hair loss prevention in your 20s in detail.
Build Your Style Foundation
Clothes won’t compensate for being out of shape or having poor grooming, but they amplify everything else when you get the basics right.
Fit is everything. Well-fitting basics beat expensive designer pieces that don’t fit properly. Clothes should follow your body’s lines without being skin-tight or baggy.
For shirts, the shoulder seam should hit right at your shoulder bone. Sleeves should end at your wrist bone. The body should skim your torso without excess fabric bunching.
For pants, they should fit comfortably at your natural waist without a belt holding them up. Taper from the knee down. Hem them to the right length (no break for a modern look, slight break for classic).
Build a basic wardrobe first:
- 3-4 quality plain t-shirts in neutral colors that actually fit
- 2 pairs of well-fitting jeans (dark wash, minimal distressing)
- 1-2 button-up shirts
- White sneakers or minimalist leather shoes
- One versatile jacket (denim or bomber)
Master the basics before experimenting with different aesthetics. A guy who nails simple, well-fitted clothes looks better than someone wearing trendy pieces that don’t work together.
Posture and Movement Quality
Overlooked but critical. Your posture affects how people perceive your confidence, health, and even your facial structure.
Forward head posture (the default position from phone use and desk work) makes your jaw look weaker and creates neck rolls. It also makes you look less confident and shorter.
Fix this through daily stretching and strengthening:
- Chin tucks (3 sets of 10 holds)
- Face pulls (3 sets of 15-20 reps)
- Wall angels (3 sets of 10)
- Thoracic extension over a foam roller
Proper posture involves ears over shoulders, shoulders back but relaxed, and neutral spine. This takes conscious effort until it becomes habit.
Walk with purpose. Don’t shuffle or look at the ground. Keep your head up, shoulders back, and move deliberately. Body language communicates before you even speak.
Eyebrow Maintenance (Yes, Actually)
Unkempt eyebrows make you look sloppy. Too thin or overly groomed looks feminine. The goal is cleaned up but still masculine.
Remove the unibrow. Use tweezers to pluck stray hairs between your brows. This alone makes a huge difference.
Clean up stragglers above and below the main brow line, but don’t reshape aggressively. You’re maintaining, not creating thin arches.
If your eyebrows are genuinely sparse, minoxidil works here too, or you can use a tinted brow gel for subtle definition. Most guys just need basic maintenance though.
For specific techniques, check how to get straight eyebrows for men or how to get thick and dark eyebrows.
The Mewing Question
Mewing (proper tongue posture) has become controversial, with hardcore proponents claiming it restructures your face and skeptics dismissing it entirely.
The reality sits in the middle. Proper oral posture (tongue on the roof of your mouth, breathing through your nose, maintaining good body posture) likely has subtle effects over long time periods, especially for younger guys whose facial structure is still developing.
Will it give you a model jawline if you’re 25? Probably not dramatic changes. Does it prevent facial recession and potentially provide minor improvements? Possibly, based on limited research and anecdotal evidence.
The bigger benefit is preventing mouth breathing, which definitely has negative effects on facial development and overall health. Nasal breathing improves sleep quality, reduces inflammation, and helps maintain proper facial muscle tone.
Practice it if you want, but don’t expect miracles. Focus on the proven methods first.
Teeth and Smile Matter More Than You Think
Straight, white teeth significantly impact attractiveness ratings. Crooked, yellow, or missing teeth tank your appearance.
Get orthodontic work if needed. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, it’s worth it. Invisalign works for most cases and is less visible than traditional braces.
For whitening, professional treatments work better than strips. You can also get custom trays from your dentist and use professional-grade gel at home.
Basic dental hygiene: brush twice daily, floss once daily, use mouthwash. Get cleanings every 6 months. This prevents the yellowing and decay that ages your appearance.
Your smile affects how people perceive you. Research shows that attractive smiles increase ratings of trustworthiness, success, and overall attractiveness. Don’t neglect this.
Stack Your Softmaxxing Efforts
Attractiveness isn’t one thing. It’s the combination of multiple factors working together.
A guy with clear skin, good hair, proper body composition, well-fitted clothes, and good posture will always outperform someone who only focuses on one area while neglecting the others.
Start with high-impact changes:
- Get to 10-15% body fat
- Fix your skin (tretinoin, sunscreen, cleanser)
- Get a proper haircut
- Buy clothes that actually fit
- Fix your posture
These five changes will put you ahead of most guys and provide the foundation for everything else.
From there, refine based on your specific situation. If you have weak facial definition, strategic facial exercises might help. If your style needs work, dive deeper into finding your aesthetic. If you’re serious about maximizing every aspect, explore the complete softmaxxing tips guide.
The Genetics Reality Check
Some things are fixed: your bone structure, eye color, height, and baseline facial features. Hardmaxxing (surgery) can change these, but that’s beyond most guys’ needs or budget.
Softmaxxing maximizes your genetic potential without surgery. For most guys, getting to 90% of their potential through diet, training, grooming, and style is enough to dramatically improve their attractiveness and dating outcomes.
Stop comparing yourself to models with top-tier genetics. Focus on being the best version of yourself. A guy who goes from average to top 20% through consistent effort will see massive improvements in how people respond to him.
The genetic blackpill is cope for guys who don’t want to put in work. Yes, some people have better starting points. That doesn’t mean you can’t make significant improvements from where you are now.
Supplements Worth Considering
Most supplements are overhyped garbage. A few actually help with aesthetics when combined with proper diet and training.
Vitamin D3 (5,000 IU daily if deficient, which most people are). Affects testosterone, mood, skin health, and immune function.
Omega-3s (2-3g EPA/DHA daily from fish oil or algae oil). Reduces inflammation, supports skin health, improves body composition.
Creatine monohydrate (5g daily). Improves training performance, adds muscle fullness, possibly supports cognitive function.
Collagen peptides (10-20g daily). Mixed evidence for skin benefits, but some research suggests improvements in skin elasticity and hydration after 8-12 weeks.
Beyond these, most “glow-up” supplements are marketing. Testosterone boosters don’t work unless you’re actually deficient. Fat burners are mostly caffeine. Focus on diet first.
How Long Until You See Results
Realistic timelines for improving your attractiveness as a guy:
Skin improvements: 4-8 weeks for basic routine, 3-6 months for significant texture and tone changes with tretinoin.
Body composition: 8-16 weeks to drop body fat percentage noticeably, 6-12 months to build substantial muscle mass.
Facial definition from fat loss: 4-12 weeks depending on starting point and how much you need to lose.
Hair transformation: Immediate with proper cut and styling, 3-6 months for growth and health improvements.
Style upgrade: Immediate once you get properly fitted clothes.
Posture correction: 4-8 weeks of consistent work to build new habits and strengthen supporting muscles.
Most guys see noticeable improvements within 2-3 months of consistent effort across multiple areas. Major transformations take 6-12 months. This isn’t overnight, but the results compound over time.
Stop Consuming, Start Implementing
You’ve probably read dozens of articles on this topic. Information isn’t your problem. Implementation is.
Pick three things from this guide and commit to them for 90 days. Track your progress. Take photos every two weeks. Measure your body fat percentage monthly.
Most guys never actually do the work. They read, research, plan, and optimize without executing. Don’t be that guy.
Improving your attractiveness as a guy comes down to consistent action on the fundamentals: body composition, skin quality, grooming, style, and posture. Master these, and you’ll be ahead of 80% of guys in your age bracket.
The gap between where you are now and where you could be in 6 months is massive. Close it.