A structured progression from zero-risk softmaxxing to transformative hardmaxxing — each level builds on the one before
Level 1
Softmaxxing
The Foundation
High-ROI, non-invasive changes that form your baseline. Softmaxxing accounts for roughly 80% of your total aesthetic improvement potential. Before considering anything permanent, you must optimize: skincare (tretinoin, SPF, exfoliation), hair (face-shape-matched cut, density protocols), body composition (sub-15% body fat for jaw visibility, sub-12% for elite definition), and style (color theory, fit, silhouette). These interventions carry zero medical risk and compound over time. A man who has fully softmaxxed is already in the top 20% of his peer group before touching anything structural.
Level 2
Bodymaxxing
The Frame
Your face sits on a canvas — the physique. Bodymaxxing targets the V-taper: broad shoulders (deltoid and lat development), narrow waist (sub-12% body fat, transverse abdominis training), and strong neck (neck curls and extensions to match head size to shoulder width). Posture correction — eliminating forward head posture and rounded shoulders — instantly improves perceived height and jawline definition by repositioning the hyoid bone. Masseter hypertrophy through resistance chewing widens the bigonial width. Bodymaxxing bridges soft and hard: it reshapes your silhouette without touching bone, yet the results read as structural.
Level 3
Hardmaxxing
The Ceiling
Permanent structural alteration for those who have exhausted softmaxxing and bodymaxxing. This tier includes orthodontic expansion (MSE/MARPE for palatal width and nasal airway improvement), sliding genioplasty (chin advancement for E-line projection), custom jaw implants (gonial angle and bigonial width enhancement), and orthognathic surgery (Le Fort/BSSO for significant skeletal discrepancies). Hardmaxxing should be approached with extreme diligence: consult multiple maxillofacial surgeons, study cephalometric norms, and understand the recovery burden. The best hardmaxxing result looks natural — nobody should know you had work done. They should only notice you look better.
Six intervention categories — from zero-risk skin optimization to surgical bone repositioning. Know what each tier offers before you commit.
The highest-ROI intervention in all of looksmaxxing. A clear, even-toned skin surface signals health and high mate value. Protocol: (1) Identify skin type — oily, dry, combination. (2) Morning routine: gentle cleanser, vitamin C serum, SPF 30+. (3) Evening routine: double cleanse, tretinoin (prescription) or retinol (OTC), moisturizer. (4) Weekly: chemical exfoliation (AHA/BHA). (5) Lifestyle: 3L+ water daily, sub-30g added sugar, adequate sleep. Acne scarring may require microneedling or laser — softmaxxing interventions that border on hardmaxx territory.
⏱ Results: 4–12 weeks for texture; 6+ months for anti-aging
Your hair frames your face — wrong cut = wrong proportions. Use MoggerMan's face shape detector to identify your geometry, then the hairstyle recommender for your optimal cut. Hairline recession protocol: (1) Finasteride/Dutasteride (DHT suppression — consult physician). (2) Minoxidil (topical growth stimulant). (3) Microneedling (1.5mm weekly for absorption and collagen induction). (4) Ketoconazole shampoo (anti-inflammatory). For beard: match density and shape to your lower third — a tapered beard can add 2-3mm of perceived chin projection. The 'stubble sweet spot' for most faces is 3–5mm — long enough to add jawline definition, short enough to maintain sharp edges.
⏱ Results: Hair: 6–12 months. Beard: immediate with grooming
Proper tongue posture — full tongue against palate, lips sealed, teeth in light contact — is the default human resting position that modern environments have disrupted. Consistent mewing: (1) Elevates the hyoid bone for immediate submental-cervical angle improvement. (2) May advance the maxilla 1-3mm over years through sutural remodeling in adults. (3) Prevents age-related facial recession. Combine with: chin tucks (10 reps, 3x daily) to strengthen deep neck flexors, wall angels for shoulder retraction, and conscious nasal breathing 24/7. Mouth tape during sleep prevents nocturnal mouth breathing. Mewing won't transform a receded chin into a Hunter jaw, but it optimizes what your bone structure allows.
⏱ Results: Immediate posture gains; 12–24 months for structural hints
The bridge between softmaxx and surgical hardmaxx. Orthodontic intervention addresses: malocclusion (overbite, underbite, crossbite), dental crowding, narrow palate (intermolar width below 38mm), and airway restriction. Modern approaches: MSE (Maxillary Skeletal Expansion) for adults — splits the mid-palatal suture for true skeletal expansion, not just dental tipping. This can increase cheekbone prominence by 1-3mm through maxillary widening. Invisalign or braces for alignment. Orthodontics before jaw surgery is standard protocol. Expect 12–24 months treatment time; costs range $3k–$8k for standard cases, $8k–$15k for MSE/surgical-assisted expansion.
⏱ Results: 12–24 months
💰 Range: $3,000 – $15,000
Structural bone repositioning for elite facial harmony when softmaxx ceiling is reached. Procedures ranked by impact: (1) Bimaxillary advancement (Le Fort I + BSSO) — for significant recession or sleep apnea; repositions entire midface and mandible forward. (2) Sliding genioplasty — advances chin bone without implants; more natural than chin implants for most cases. (3) Custom jaw implants — add gonial angle definition and bigonial width. (4) Infraorbital rim implants — address under-eye hollowing. (5) Rhinoplasty — balance nasal projection with new chin position. Recovery: 2-6 weeks off work. Full results: 6-12 months. Selection criteria: fail the E-line test, gonial angle above 135°, or clinically diagnosed recession. Never lead with surgery — lead with data.
⏱ Results: 6–12 months for final results
💰 Range: $8,000 – $50,000+
Body fat percentage is the single most controllable determinant of facial aesthetics. At 15% body fat, jaw definition begins to emerge. At 12%, the gonial angle and mandibular plane become visible. At 10%, cheekbone definition and infraorbital hollowing create 'the model look.' Protocol: (1) Caloric deficit of 300–500 kcal daily. (2) 1.6–2.2g protein per kg bodyweight to preserve muscle. (3) Heavy compound lifting 3-4x weekly to maintain metabolic rate. (4) 8,000–10,000 daily steps. (5) Sleep 7-8 hours — cortisol from sleep deprivation promotes facial water retention and submental fat storage. Facial leanness transforms your jawline score more than any single intervention. The 'face you have at 12% body fat' is your real face.
⏱ Results: 8–16 weeks for 5–8% body fat reduction
Optimizing the Golden Ratio features of the male face — zone by zone, point by point
Hunter Eyes vs. Prey Eyes
Canthal Tilt: Positive tilt (outer canthus above inner canthus) signals high prenatal testosterone. Neutral is acceptable. Negative tilt ('bug eyes') can be addressed with orbital rim implants or canthoplasty in severe cases.
Brow Ridge Prominence: Supraorbital ridge projection creates 'deep-set' Hunter eyes. Softmaxx: eyebrow grooming to create a lower, straighter brow line. Hardmaxx: custom supraorbital implants.
Orbital Fat: Under-eye hollowing (tear trough deformity) ages the face. Softmaxx: caffeine serums, adequate sleep, sodium management. Injectable: tear trough filler (temporary, 12–18 months). Hardmaxx: infraorbital rim implants or fat grafting.
Eyelid Exposure: Upper eyelid exposure should be minimal. Ptosis (drooping) can be corrected surgically if severe. Hooded eyes (low brow fat pad) are typically masculine and desirable — don't 'fix' what the looksmaxxing community actively pursues.
Compactness & Zygomatic Projection
Midface Ratio: Interpupillary distance to pupil-to-lip distance. A ratio near 1:1 signals a 'compact' midface — strongly associated with attractiveness. A long midface (ratio below 0.9) benefits from beard strategies that add horizontal width to the lower face.
Cheekbone (Zygomatic) Projection: Forward and lateral projection creates facial width that reads as masculine. Softmaxx: buccal fat reduction through overall leanness. Hardmaxx: custom malar/zygomatic implants or fat grafting to the lateral cheek.
Nasolabial Folds: Deep folds age the midface. Softmaxx: tretinoin, consistent SPF, hydration. Injectable: dermal filler (temporary). Hardmaxx: midface lift (rarely indicated for younger men).
Nose-to-Face Ratio: Nasal width should approximate intercanthal distance. A nose too wide or projected disrupts midface harmony. Rhinoplasty is the most common hardmaxx procedure — ensure it's balanced with chin projection before operating.
Jaw, Chin & Lip Architecture
Gonial Angle: The mandibular corner angle. Male ideal: 120°–130°. Lower = more horizontal, square jaw. Higher = steeper, softer jaw. Measure with MoggerMan's jawline analyzer for your exact angle.
Chin Projection (E-Line): Chin should approach the line from nose tip to chin tip. Behind the E-line by more than 4mm = recession. Genioplasty (bone advancement) or chin implant for correction. Beard contouring for optical improvement.
Bigonial Width: Distance between left and right Gonion. Wider = more masculine lower third. Masseter training can add 2-4mm. Custom jaw implants for significant width increase. Overly narrow bigonial width relative to bizygomatic width creates a 'weak jaw' look.
Lip-to-Chin Ratio: Upper lip should be 1/3 of total lip height, lower lip 2/3. Chin height (menton to lip line) should roughly equal midface height for ideal vertical thirds balance. Orthognathic surgery addresses vertical chin excess or deficiency.
Texture, Tone & Glow Factor
Skin Texture: Smooth texture signals health and youth. Tretinoin accelerates cellular turnover — the closest thing to a 'fountain of youth' in topical form. Glycolic acid peels (weekly) for surface smoothing. Microneedling (monthly) for collagen induction and scar remodeling.
Skin Tone Evenness: Hyperpigmentation, redness, and uneven tone distract from facial structure. Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) for brightening. Niacinamide for redness and pore refinement. IPL or BBL laser for persistent pigmentation (borderline hardmaxx).
The 'Glow': Well-hydrated, slightly reflective skin looks healthy. Achieve through: adequate water intake (3L+), omega-3 supplementation (2-3g daily), consistent moisturization, and avoiding alcohol and smoking — both of which destroy skin quality within hours.
Sun Protection: UV exposure is responsible for 80% of visible skin aging. SPF 30+ daily, reapplied every 2 hours of direct exposure. UV exposure also degrades collagen and worsens post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. No looksmaxxing protocol is complete without it.
Looksmaxxing is the systematic optimization of your physical presentation to approach your genetic ceiling. It is not vanity — it is biological signaling conducted with intention. Every feature you optimize sends a signal about your health, hormonal profile, and developmental stability. Clear skin signals immune competence and low systemic inflammation. A defined jaw signals adequate prenatal and pubertal testosterone exposure plus low childhood stress (cortisol disrupts mandibular growth). Broad shoulders relative to waist signal strength and metabolic health. When you looksmax, you are not 'cheating' nature — you are aligning your presentation with the signals that humans have been programmed to recognize as indicators of fitness for millions of years. The guide is the method; biology is the metric.
Roughly 80% of your total looksmaxxing potential comes from the first 20% of effort — the softmaxxing foundation. Consider the math: body fat reduction from 22% to 12% transforms your jawline, cheekbone definition, and overall facial shape. A proper skincare protocol clears acne, evens tone, and increases perceived age-appropriateness within 12 weeks. A face-shape-matched haircut instantly rebalances your proportions. These three interventions alone — costing under $200 total in products and requiring zero medical risk — move most men from the 40th to the 70th percentile of facial attractiveness. The remaining 30% potential — orthodontics, surgical intervention, extreme physique development — requires exponentially more time, money, and risk. Master the foundation before chasing the ceiling. The looksmaxxing community's biggest mistake is obsessing over canthoplasty before fixing their skin and body fat. Don't be that guy.
Surgical looksmaxxing exists on a spectrum from 'clearly indicated' to 'body dysmorphia territory.' The line is objective data. When your chin falls 6mm behind the E-line — that's a measurable dental-facial deformity with functional implications, not vanity. When your gonial angle exceeds 140° with significant mandibular plane steepness — that's vertical excess that orthognathic surgery was designed to address. But when a man with a gonial angle of 125° and E-line projection at 0mm is researching custom jaw implants because he doesn't look like a photoshopped Instagram model — that's where surgical intervention becomes dysmorphic pursuit. Rule: get measured first. Use the jawline analyzer, golden ratio calculator, and face shape detector. Gather your objective data points. If your metrics fall outside normal ranges, hardmaxxing may be appropriate. If they're within normal ranges but you're still dissatisfied, the intervention site may be psychological, not surgical.
The most sophisticated looksmaxxing protocol is worthless if executed inconsistently. Build a minimal-viable daily routine and defend it with discipline. Morning: ice water face wash (vasoconstriction reduces puffiness), vitamin C serum, SPF 30. Set tongue posture — full palate contact, lips sealed. Throughout the day: maintain nasal breathing (mouth breathing degrades facial development and increases cortisol), drink 3L+ water, and check posture every hour (ears over shoulders, shoulders over hips). Evening: double cleanse (oil cleanser first, water-based second), tretinoin or retinol (start at 0.025%, build to 0.1%), moisturizer, mouth tape if needed. Weekly: 3-4 heavy compound lifting sessions (deadlift, squat, overhead press for V-taper development), chemical exfoliation, grooming maintenance. Supplements worth considering: Vitamin D3 + K2 (bone metabolism), magnesium glycinate (sleep quality), omega-3 (skin inflammation), creatine monohydrate (muscle volumization and cognitive benefits). This routine, executed for 12 months, will transform your appearance more than any single surgical procedure ever could.
Consistency is the difference between results and excuses. Execute this daily protocol with discipline.
Ice water face wash — 30 seconds of cold exposure to reduce morning puffiness via vasoconstriction
Vitamin C serum (L-ascorbic acid 10-20%) — antioxidant protection and collagen synthesis support
SPF 30+ broad spectrum — non-negotiable; UV damage is cumulative and irreversible
Tongue posture check — full palate contact, lips sealed, nasal breathing only
High-protein breakfast (30-40g) — supports muscle protein synthesis and satiety for body composition goals
2L water consumed by 2pm — hydration affects skin turgor, energy, and facial water retention patterns
Posture reset — chin tucks (10 reps), shoulder retraction, stand against wall for 60 seconds
SPF reapplication if outdoors — UV exposure between 10am-4pm is most damaging
Avoid mouth breathing during focused work — unconscious mouth breathing often occurs during screen time
Double cleanse — oil-based cleanser first (removes SPF and sebum), water-based cleanser second
Tretinoin or retinol application — pea-sized amount, avoid eye area, start 2x weekly building to nightly
Moisturizer with ceramides and peptides — barrier support and collagen signaling during sleep
Magnesium glycinate 200-400mg — improves sleep quality and lowers cortisol
Mouth tape if prone to nocturnal mouth breathing — maintains nasal breathing and tongue posture during sleep
7-8 hours sleep target — growth hormone release during deep sleep supports muscle recovery and skin repair
Heavy compound lifting 3-4x — progressive overload on deadlift, squat, bench, overhead press, rows
Chemical exfoliation — AHA (glycolic acid) for surface texture; BHA (salicylic acid) for pore depth
Microneedling (optional, monthly) — 1.5mm depth for collagen induction, 0.5mm for product absorption
Grooming: haircut touch-up (every 2-3 weeks), beard shaping, eyebrow maintenance
Progress photos — same lighting, same angles, same time of day for objective tracking
Every tool you need for the full looksmaxxing journey — all free, all integrated