How to Look Handsome: 15 Best Hacks for Boys & Men

Learn how to build confidence and care for your body

Co-authored by Elle Monus and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: April 28, 2025 Fact Checked

When it comes to looking handsome, figuring out your style and doing basic grooming are super important, but so is having the right attitude! Even if you don’t think you’re the best-looking guy, taking easy steps like wearing flattering clothes and finding a haircut that’s good for you can bring your looks to the next level. With the help of various life coaches and image consultants, we’ve written this article to help you look and feel more handsome every day.

Easiest Ways to Look More Handsome

Shower daily, brush your teeth twice a day, and regularly clean your nails.
Wash your face twice a day and follow up with moisturizer.
Keep your hair clean, styled, and cut in a way that complements your face.
Wear cologne so you always smell good.
Figure out your personal style and wear clothes that fit.
Get eight hours of sleep per night.
Exercise regularly.

1

Establish a sense of style.

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Your clothes say a lot about you and your attractiveness. Your style often affects how people perceive you. Wearing unflattering or poorly-sized clothing tends to send the message that you don't care about how you present yourself. Image consultant Kathi Burns says to look into the type of person you are. If you’re sporty, preppy, or classic, tailor your style to those interests.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Board Certified Professional Organizer

Expert Interview} Just make sure it all fits you properly.
- Image consultant Elle Monus says men tend to have fewer styling options than women, so details are what count.^{[2]
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  Elle Monus
  Image Consultant
  
  Expert Interview}
- Burns says to ask yourself where you see yourself in five years when figuring out your style. When you know what you want to do, tailor your clothing towards your career and life path.^{[3]
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  Kathi Burns, CPO®
  Board Certified Professional Organizer
  
  Expert Interview}
- Keep an eye out for men you consider well-dressed. When you're at a mall or walking down the street, take note of guys with good outfits. Ask yourself what you notice first and what you want to incorporate into your style.

2

Keep signature pieces of clothing in your closet.

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Signature pieces can help you stand out and look stylish. Take Steve Jobs, for example. His signature look was a black turtleneck, blue jeans, and New Balance running shoes. Jewelry, such as a trademark ring, necklace, or watch can be effective and useful too. A good pair of aviators or tinted shades are also effective, but only wear them outdoors.
- If you're short on cash, don't be afraid to check out thrift stores! If you're willing to dig a little, you can find awesome pieces for super low prices.
- If you have the money, hiring a personal shopper can be a good way to find signature pieces. They’ll help you pinpoint your style, pick out clothes, and give you shopping recommendations.
EXPERT TIP

Alena Le Blanc
Personal Stylist
Alena Le Blanc is the Personal Stylist and the Founder of Le Blanc Label. Based in San Francisco, California, Le Blanc Label is the leading personal stylist brand for sustainable style transformations. Alena and her team specialize in seasonal wardrobe refreshes, closet edits, styling for special events, travel, photoshoots, and general personal needs. Alena has been featured in podcasts including EMPOWERED BY WMN, I Am Fearless, and Mind Power Meets Mystic. Alena received her BFA in Fashion and Apparel Design from the Academy of Art University.

Alena Le Blanc
Personal Stylist

Cultivate a high-end look through minimalist shapes, neutral colors, and quality fabrics. Look for clothing or accessories crafted from luxurious natural materials. Opt for simple yet classic designs with earth tones and neutrals like black, white, beige, and navy. Make your style exude sophistication and class.

3

Speak clearly and enunciate your words.

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We all know how to talk, but speaking clearly and enunciating well enhances how you are perceived, as people can hear what you’re saying clearly. Besides, one of the first things a person notices when they meet you is your voice, so make a good first impression by speaking clearly.

4

Keep your hands and fingernails clean and neat.

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Wash your hands regularly and trim your fingernails. Master cosmetologist Shun Pittman says to do an at-home manicure to thoroughly clean your nails. Clean your hands in a bowl of warm, soapy water for 3 minutes, dip your nails in a bowl of warm olive oil for 5 minutes, then use an orange wood stick to clean under them. Use an emery board to shape your nail after drying it, then use a buffer to buff it out.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Shun Pittman
Master Cosmetologist

Expert Interview}
- Don’t bite your fingernails, or chew on your cuticles—you'll look nervous and anxious.
- Having clean hands will show that you take care of yourself, which is attractive to many people.

5

Find a haircut that’s good for you.

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Finding a haircut that frames and flatters your face helps you appear attractive and put together, as it highlights your facial features. To find the right haircut for you, figure out your face shape and choose cuts that look good with it. For example, longer haircuts work better for square-shaped faces than short cuts, so choose a medium-long cut if you have a square-shaped face.^{[5]
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6

Comb and style your hair.

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According to Monus, combing and styling your hair is a great way to look more attractive.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Elle Monus
Image Consultant

Expert Interview} With extremely rare (and often accidental) exceptions, walking out of the house with bedhead never looks good. Wash and brush your hair regularly. If you have the time and inclination, consider using a paste or gel to style your hair, but follow the "less is more" rule with styling products, and don't use too much.

7

Groom your body hair.

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Regularly trim your beard and nose hairs. If you want to rock a beard, that’s completely fine! Just make sure you take care of it, or else you won’t look handsome. Regularly trim it to keep it clean and wash it when it gets dirty. While you’re at it, trim your nose hairs and the back of your neck, too, as it will help you look cleaner and more put-together, which many people find attractive.^{[7]
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- Trim your brows when they get too bushy, too. If you aren’t comfortable trimming them yourself, go to a licensed esthetician to get them done.

8

Care for your skin.

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Build a daily skin routine so your skin looks clear and healthy. Bad skin is often associated with bad hygiene. Sometimes this isn’t the case, but if you’re someone who just splashes water on your face, a proper skin care routine can help you look a lot more attractive. Wash your face thoroughly one to two times a day, especially after any physical activity, and apply moisturizer when your skin is dry or itchy.^{[8]
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Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source} If you're prone to acne or other skin conditions, see a dermatologist to help you get your skin in shape.
- Exfoliate your lips to get rid of dead or dry skin.
- Avoid razor burn if at all possible.

9

Shower, brush your teeth, and wear cologne.

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Take showers and brush your teeth every day. Showers are a great way to start the day, and looking clean and smelling good doesn't hurt in the perception department, either! Bad breath can turn away someone who was otherwise into you, so brush your teeth twice a day. Use cologne so you smell good, too! Find a scent that matches your personality and use it after showering. Spray 1-2 spritzes of cologne on your wrists and neck from 6 inches away.^{[9]
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- Clean your ears when you’re showering! Dirty ears aren’t attractive!
- Use a tongue scraper to get rid of the gunk on your tongue before you brush your teeth.
- Monus says to avoid standard cologne and get a light and masculine scent that no one else has.^{[10]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Elle Monus
  Image Consultant
  
  Expert Interview} It can be a great conversation starter. But don't wear too much, or else people will get to talking, and it won't be nice.

10

Eat healthy.

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Eat healthy to keep your body fit and attractive. Eating healthy will help with things like keeping the same weight, avoiding cavities, having a good complexion, and being energetic. So, eat meals with foods that are good for you, like fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Make sure you get fiber, calcium, vitamin D, and potassium in your diet while limiting added sugars, sodium, and replacing saturated fats.^{[11]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

Go to source}
- According to certified holistic health coach Theresa Fitzpatrick, your body is always going to tell you what foods are right for you. Bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea can all be signs you’re eating something your body doesn’t approve.^{[12]
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  Theresa Fitzpatrick, LMSW
  Certified Holistic Health Coach
  
  Expert Interview}
- Fitzpatrick says, “Doing a detox is a great way to find out if you have any negative reactions to food you are eating.” Foods that can cause reactions include dairy products, eggs, soy, gluten, citrus fruits, sugar, and caffeine.^{[13]
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  Theresa Fitzpatrick, LMSW
  Certified Holistic Health Coach
  
  Expert Interview}
- Reader Poll: We asked 458 wikiHow readers for their go-to strategy for staying hydrated during the day, and 62% of them said, always having a bottle of water on hand. [Take Poll]
- Drinking plenty of water is part of every healthy diet, so don't forget your water bottle!

11

Sleep well.

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Get eight hours of sleep every night to improve your complexion and energy. If you don’t get enough sleep, it can make you look tired by giving you dark, puffy eye bags and increasing cortisol (the stress hormone), which is a common cause of acne and hair loss. So, make sure you get your full 8 hours to preserve your appearance.^{[14]
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- A lack of sleep can also make you feel sluggish and fatigued, which can make you look less attractive.

12

Exercise regularly.

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Build an exercise routine that keeps you active throughout the week. Exercising regularly not only helps with your appearance, confidence, and energy, but releases endorphins (basically feel-good chemicals) that make you feel good and, by extension, look more appealing to others.^{[15]
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Trustworthy Source

Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} To stay on track, build an exercise routine that gets you moving every day.
- Fitness trainer Laila Ajani says to balance strength training and cardio when setting an exercise routine. Dedicate 5-8 days to strength training and go for reps. On the other 3 days, go on jogs, hikes, or bike rides to get your heart rate up.^{[16]
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  Laila Ajani
  Fitness Trainer
  
  Expert Interview}
- To get in shape, Ajani says to start by picking up some dumbbells or barbells and finding help from online videos or a hired trainer. According to Ajani, dumbbells and barbells are available at almost any gym.^{[17]
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  Laila Ajani
  Fitness Trainer
  
  Expert Interview}
- If you’re a beginner, Ajani suggests trying some pulling and pushing exercises, core exercises, and hitting legs and lower body.^{[18]
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  Laila Ajani
  Fitness Trainer
  
  Expert Interview}

13

Build confidence.

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Be confident by making eye contact and staying true to yourself. Self-confidence is one of the biggest markers of confidence. Life coach Annie Lin says to build confidence and work to achieve it by breathing deeply and making eye contact, being curious about others, asking questions, actively listening, and having genuine conversations with people, especially when you attend social events.^{[19]
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Annie Lin, MBA
Life & Career Coach

Expert Interview} Just be aware that it can't be faked—it has to come from the inside.^{[20]
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- Lin also says it helps to be up to date on current events or have interesting stories to tell about yourself, like trips you’ve taken, books you’ve read, and things like that.^{[21]
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  Annie Lin, MBA
  Life & Career Coach
  
  Expert Interview}
- To be more confident and outgoing, Lin says to practice grounding your energy with daily meditation to calm your nervous system and listen deeply.
- Maintaining good eye contact will show confidence and self-assuredness on your end.^{[22]
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14

Practice good posture.

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Hunching over can cause back problems and make it look like you have no self-confidence, two things that can deal a major blow to your attractiveness. So practice good posture and make sure you with your back straight and head standing tall. Sit up straight too, for the same reasons.^{[23]
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15

Smile authentically.

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When you smile, it shows people that you’re happy, confident, and outgoing, which are three very attractive traits. It also keeps you from looking tired or angry.^{[24]
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Trustworthy Source

Association for Psychological Science
Nonprofit organization devoted promoting trustworthy research and education in the psychological sciences

Go to source} Don’t feel like you have to force a smile, just let your authentic smile come out when you’re happy or laughing. It’ll help make all the difference!

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A study in 2014 found that your mood affects your physical appearance. That means that being positive may cause people to find you more attractive.^{[25]
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Be the person you are and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

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Be yourself. Don't adopt style or personality traits that you don't feel comfortable with.

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