Looksmaxxing terms explained.

Looksmaxxing has its own slang. This plain-English glossary explains the most common terms: PSL, mogging, failo, halo, the tier names, softmaxxing and hardmaxxing, and the facial metrics people talk about, like canthal tilt and FWHR.

By Hexum · Updated November 3, 2026

General terms

Looksmaxxing

Improving your appearance on purpose, through skincare, grooming, leanness, posture, style and sometimes medical procedures.

Softmaxxing

Non-invasive improvements: skincare, haircuts, grooming, fitness, sleep and style.

Hardmaxxing

Medical or surgical changes. These are serious decisions to take up with a qualified professional.

Glow up

A visible improvement in appearance over time.

Ascending

Slang for improving your looks or moving up a tier.

Mogging

Slang for looking noticeably better than someone else in comparison.

Ratings and tiers

PSL

An informal 1 to 8 attractiveness rating scale from looksmaxxing forums, with about 4 usually described as average. It has no official definition. See our PSL calculator guide.

MTN, HTN, Chadlite, Chad

Informal tier names. MTN is mid-tier normie, HTN is high-tier normie, and Chadlite and Chad sit above them. The boundaries are subjective, and different communities use them differently. In Hexum you choose a goal tier during setup.

Halo and failo

A halo is a strength, a feature that looks good. A failo is a weakness, a feature that holds the look back.

Facial metrics

Canthal tilt

The angle of the line from the inner to the outer corner of the eye relative to horizontal. Positive means the outer corner is higher. See the canthal tilt guide.

Gonial angle

The angle at the corner of the lower jaw. See the gonial angle guide.

Facial thirds

The face divided into three vertical sections. See the facial thirds guide.

Facial symmetry

How closely the two halves of the face match. See the symmetry guide.

FWHR (facial width-to-height ratio)

The width of the face across the cheekbones divided by the height from the brow to the upper lip. It is a measurement used in some facial research.

Hunter eyes

An informal term, usually for deep-set eyes with a positive canthal tilt and little upper eyelid showing. Definitions vary.

Mewing

A tongue-posture technique popularized online in looksmaxxing communities. Hexum’s daily protocol includes a posture check, and you can rescan to see whether your jawline score changes.

Using these numbers sensibly

These terms describe measurements and opinions, not your worth. Use them to find what you can work on, such as skin, leanness or posture, and ignore the rest. Hexum scores 34 metrics from one photo and builds a daily protocol around your biggest gains.

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FAQ

Common questions

What does mogging mean?

Mogging is slang for looking noticeably better than someone else in comparison.

What does failo mean in looksmaxxing?

A failo is a feature regarded as a weakness that holds back someone's overall look. The opposite is a halo, a strength.

What is PSL?

PSL is an informal 1 to 8 attractiveness rating scale from looksmaxxing forums. About 4 is usually described as average, and there is no official standard.

What is the difference between softmaxxing and hardmaxxing?

Softmaxxing is non-invasive improvement such as skincare, grooming, fitness and style. Hardmaxxing means medical or surgical changes.

What is FWHR?

FWHR is facial width-to-height ratio: the width of the face across the cheekbones divided by the height from the brow to the upper lip.