How to Be More Attractive

Fact: You don’t need to be genetically blessed to be considered attractive.

Sure, having good genes can give you a significant edge in matters of love and money (and every aspect of life, really).

But if you weren’t born with amazing genes, don’t sweat it.

There are plenty of ways to learn how to become more attractive and work with the hand you’ve been dealt.

Here are three things you should know to become more attractive:

• Attraction is subjective, so take these scientific studies with a grain of salt.
• Getting a haircut and dressing better can instantly make you more attractive.
• Practicing active listening is a valuable skill that can boost your attractiveness.

Figuring out how to be more attractive isn’t vain—it’s smart.

If you want to be more successful in life, here are a few ways to improve your appearance and attractiveness.

1. Get a Haircut

Getting a flattering haircut can dramatically boost your attractiveness.

The key is to take your hair type and face shape into consideration before you see your barber.

Once you find a hairstyle that flatters both your hair type and face shape, you’ll feel like a new person.

Working with a diminishing hairline?

Check out these hairstyles for a receding hairline and get your confidence back.

2. Have Great Skin

It’s no secret that clear, glowing skin is sexy.

But achieving blemish-free skin is often easier said than done, especially if you’re acne-prone.

If you want to have a clear complexion, you need to get on a simple skin care routine.

You also need to be consistent with your skin care routine.

Make it a daily habit and you’ll be rewarded with sexy, radiant skin.

3. Hang Out in a Group

Looking for a date?

Hang out with your friends and get them to be your wingmen.

According to a 2013 study published in Psychological Science, researchers found that both men and women were considered more attractive when they were rated in a group of other people than in isolation (see claim: “Taken together, these phenomena suggest that individual faces will seem more attractive when presented in a group because they will appear more similar to the average group face…”)

This is known as “the cheerleader effect,” a term coined by the character Barney on the popular TV show How I Met Your Mother.

Although the term itself came from a fictional TV show, the phenomenon itself is real.

4. Smell Good

Think that good looks are the end-all, be-all to sexual attraction? Think again.

Your natural scent can play a huge role in attraction.

How you smell is influenced by many things, one of which is diet.

If you want to be more attractive, try eating more fruits and veggies.

According to a 2017 study published in Evolution and Human Behavior, men who eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables are associated with a more pleasant body odor (see claim: “The skin spectrophotometry measure (CIELab b*), indicative of greater fruit and vegetable intake, was significantly associated with more pleasant smelling sweat…”)

5. Wear Red

Is your wardrobe filled with nothing but neutrals?

Try incorporating a little color—specifically, the color red.

Research has shown that wearing the color red can make men more attractive to women.

In a multicultural study from the University of Rochester, researchers found that men who wore red were perceived as being higher in status and more dominant, which women generally find attractive (see claim: “…we demonstrate that women perceive men to be more attractive and sexually desirable when seen on a red background…”)

6. Wear Fitted Clothes

Wearing a red shirt won’t magically make you more attractive if it doesn’t fit well.

Getting the perfect fit can be tricky, but it’s well worth your time and effort.

Want to rock a red shirt for your next date night? Ditch the baggy shirt and opt for a well-fitting polo.

It’s sexy, smooth and strikes the perfect balance between casual and professional.

Just make sure it fits your biceps nicely without cutting off blood flow.

7. Be a Good Listener

Being a good listener is super attractive. Probably because it seems to be a rare skill these days.

In any case, shutting up for a second and listening to what the other person has to say can make them all hot and bothered for you.

A 2014 study published in the International Journal of Listening found that participants who practiced active listening were considered more socially attractive than participants who gave short or simple acknowledgments (see claim: “…participants who received either active listening responses or advice were more satisfied with their conversation and perceived the confederate to be more socially attractive…”)

To hone your listening skills, keep an open mind and be curious.

Ask questions that show you’re engaged.

The Takeaway

You don’t need to be Ryan Gosling-level good looking to be considered attractive.

Putting effort into your appearance and being a good person can take you surprisingly far in life.

Follow these tips, continue to improve yourself and you can give yourself a major edge in the competition.

References

Walker, Drew, and Edward Vul. “Hierarchical Encoding Makes Individuals in a Group Seem More Attractive.” Psychological Science, vol. 25, no. 1, Jan. 2014, pp. 230–235.

Zuniga, Andrea, et al. “Diet Quality and the Attractiveness of Male Body Odor.” Evolution and Human Behavior, vol. 38, no. 1, Jan. 2017, pp. 136–43. ScienceDirect.

Elliot, Andrew J., et al. “Red, Rank, and Romance in Women Viewing Men.” Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, vol. 139, no. 3, 2010, pp. 399–417.

Jr, Harry Weger, et al. “The Relative Effectiveness of Active Listening in Initial Interactions.” International Journal of Listening, vol. 28, no. 1, Routledge, Jan. 2014, pp. 13–31. Taylor and Francis+NEJM.