The Rise of Bonesmashing: Inside the Extreme World of Looksmaxxing
When you’re a teenager, your parents might restrict access to videogames or car keys. For Braden Peters, known online as Clavicular, his mother took away his hammer – a desperate attempt to stop him from “bonesmashing,” repeatedly tapping his face to alter its shape. Now 20, Clavicular remains a prominent figure in the looksmaxxing community, and as this practice moves from online forums to broader public awareness, the controversial technique of bonesmashing is gaining attention.
What is Looksmaxxing?
Looksmaxxing is a predominantly male internet subculture focused on extreme aesthetic self-improvement. Originating in the early 2010s on forums with openly misogynistic roots like PUAHate, SlutHate, and Lookism, the ideology prioritizes physical appearance, believing it dictates success in dating, finances, and life generally. The practice gained significant traction in the 2020s, largely due to influencers like Clavicular who popularized its more extreme procedures.
Softmaxxing vs. Hardmaxxing
Looksmaxxing techniques fall into two main categories: softmaxxing and hardmaxxing. Softmaxxing encompasses relatively benign methods such as skincare routines, diet, exercise, and grooming. Hardmaxxing, however, involves more extreme interventions like surgery, steroid injections, and the use of peptides.
What is Bonesmashing?
Bonesmashing involves repeatedly tapping the chin, cheekbones, and jaw with a hammer (or sometimes a massage gun). The purported goal is to cause minor bone damage, which, as the face heals, will reshape it into a more desirable form – a squarer face, a stronger jawline, or a more pronounced chin. Proponents attribute its potential efficacy to Wolff’s law, a 19th-century discovery stating that bone adapts and strengthens in response to stress.
Is Bonesmashing Scientifically Sound?
Whereas the basic premise that repetitive mechanical load can influence bone density isn’t entirely unscientific, experts caution against its misapplication. Dr. Joshua Rosenberg, a facial plastic surgeon and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at Mount Sinai, explains that the concept is “wildly misunderstood and misapplied.” He notes that attempting to create “controlled” microfractures in facial bones is inherently flawed and unpredictable.
The Risks of Bonesmashing
Medical professionals warn of significant risks associated with bonesmashing. Dr. Ricardo Grillo of Brazil cautioned in a letter to the Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery about the potential for “severe maxillofacial injuries,” including cosmetic disfigurement, functional impairment, and long-term consequences. He emphasizes the risk of scar tissue formation, vascular and neurological damage, and facial asymmetries due to uncontrolled trauma. Dr. Rosenberg adds that forceful impacts could cause zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures, leading to cheek depression and asymmetry rather than enhancement.
The Prevalence of Bonesmashing
Determining the exact number of people practicing bonesmashing is difficult. However, evidence exists online in the form of YouTube tutorials, Instagram accounts documenting progress, and forum posts claiming positive results using the PSL scale – a looksmaxxing rating system. The practice is significant enough to have prompted concern from medical professionals, with at least two letters sent to the Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery warning about its spread on social media.
Who is Clavicular?
Braden Peters, born December 17, 2005, is the online persona Clavicular, an American streamer and influencer. He gained prominence on Kick and TikTok for his looksmaxxing content. Peters attended Seton Hall Preparatory School in New Jersey and reportedly began experimenting with testosterone supplements at age 14. He has also been involved in controversies, including a viral livestream clip showing him allegedly hitting a pedestrian with a Tesla Cybertruck and appearing with controversial figures like Andrew Tate and Nick Fuentes.