Much of the research into what women find attractive in men has focused on their earning power or how afraid they are of commitment. Increasingly, however, effort has been directed toward determining what women find physically attractive in a man, as these traits may carry just as much, if not more, weight in the dating game.
Here we bring you a roundup of the physical traits that scientists have suggested women look for in a man, along with tips on how you can use this information to become irresistible.
1. Remove excess body hair
A study conducted in New Zealand and California that investigated women’s preferences regarding men’s physical traits found that when shown photographs of men with varying amounts of body hair, women gave higher ratings to those with less and less. Ratings for attractiveness tended to decrease as the amount of chest and abdominal hair increased. To look better topless before a big date, shave the night before, wax a couple of days earlier, or start investing in laser hair removal or thinking about other hair removal trends in general.
It Takes: 10 minutes (or more, if you’ve got a lot of hair).
2. Brood for short-term pairings
In one study, when women were asked to rank photographs of men in terms of carnal sexual attraction rather than for long-term-relationship potential, the women selected men who looked broody or proud as being more appealing than smiling men. The takeaway message here is that if you’re looking for a short-term fling or a one-night stand, being a little moody might make things easier.
Time It Takes: A few minutes of negative thinking can put you in a brooding frame of mind.
3. Smile for long-term relationships
Non-ovulating women seeking long-term relationships find feminized male faces attractive. Evolutionary psychologists postulate that a warmer, more inviting male face may suggest an increased tendency toward prosocial behavior (more likely to stick around for the long haul). Men in the market for a serious, committed relationship should therefore aim to demonstrate that they’re a nice guy. The quickest way to look like you’re able to look good in potential wedding photos, of course, is to smile.
Time It Takes: A nanosecond.
4. Wear shoes with half-inch heels
Although your female friends might tell you that personality is what really counts, research has revealed that women show a strong preference toward men who are taller than them. This finding doesn’t mean you have to be a pro basketball player to have lots of luck with the ladies, but it does suggest that you can waste less time finding a date by confining your search to women who are a couple of inches shorter than you. You can also give yourself more of a height advantage by slipping on a pair of loafers with a half-inch heel.
Time it takes: Five seconds (not counting the time it takes to buy shoes).
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More From AskMen:
How Women Perceive Attractiveness
Top 10: Ways to Become Irresistible to Women
Top 10: Ways to Make Women Chase You
Hitting Your Peak: Physical Attractiveness
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5. Stand up straight
Similar to the way women show a tendency toward taller men, they also look for men with superior posture. There may be several reasons why improving your posture could increase your chances with the opposite sex. Notably, straightening your spine obviously makes you seem taller, but it also might make you appear more confident, more dominant and more open to being approached.
Time It Takes: One second.
6. Create a masculine jaw
Women in the most fertile phase of their cycle appear to prefer men with chiseled jawlines. Scientists hypothesize that the high testosterone levels responsible for the appearance of masculine facial traits at puberty also suppress immune functioning, meaning that men with this facial feature may have strong immune systems and therefore be a good catch from a genetic perspective. Men with small chins can use facial hair to create the look of a more prominent jawline. More specifically, a beard that covers the chin area will add volume to a smaller face and make it seem very manly.
Time It Takes: A few weeks, depending on how fast your facial hair grows.
7. Use facial hair to promote symmetry
A huge body of research supports the notion that women find men with symmetrical faces more attractive. Scientists theorize that facial symmetry may be a signal to women that a man is healthy and therefore a good choice for a mate. To create a more symmetrical-looking mug, try playing around with the hair on your face. Men who favor a clean shave, for example, should take care not to leave patches of hair on their faces. Those with beards and mustaches can experiment with different looks to determine which styles help create more balance between the two halves of their face. Finally, don’t forget to tweeze your brows as grooming them is one of the quickest ways to significantly alter your appearance for the better.
Time It Takes: Ten minutes.
8. Use clothes to create a v-shape
In study after study, v-shaped bodies are deemed more attractive by women. The ideal v-shaped body has a waist-to-hip ratio of approximately 0.9-1.0 and a chest-to-waist ratio of around 1.33. While exercising should represent your primary strategy for achieving your ultimate body, you can also fake a better body with the right clothes. To give the impression of broader shoulders, invest in a couple of well-tailored blazers and live in them. If your focus is on slimming your torso, favor v-neck tops that skim over your body so it doesn’t fit too loosely or tightly.
Time It Takes: Five seconds.
9. Don’t put on too much cologne
The way you smell may play an important role in whether or not a given woman will be attracted to you. Some studies on the science of scent and attraction have suggested that women unconsciously use their sense of smell to determine how different genetically a man is from them (essentially, the more different your genetic material is, the more attracted to you she will be). The trick here is to let your natural smell come through as much as possible in order to attract a woman with whom you’ll have dynamite chemistry, so spritz on cologne with a light hand.
Time It Takes: A few seconds.
10. Exercise
If you consider yourself a player or you would like to become one, it’s time to start logging more time at the gym, as studies have shown that women looking for a short-term fling gravitate toward muscular males. Fortunately, as long as you’re willing to put in regular sweat sessions and eat properly, a cut body is an achievable goal for most guys. Do be careful, however, not to overdo it, as research has shown that women prefer toned men to ultramuscular guys.
Time It Takes: One hour or more per day.
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