Whether you find a man attractive or not clearly depends on a variety of factors, including personality, charm, sense of humor, financial position, physical appearance and much more.
Just like our previous attractive women survey, however, we will only focus on physical appearance here.
Physical appearance will have different levels of importance for different people, but studies in social psychology show that it is an important factor in determining how we all make decisions.
Attractive people receive help more often, are more likely to make a sale, and automatically create a more positive impression.
Attractive Men Feature 1 – Face
Traditionally, a more manly face (facial hair, square jaw) is more attractive.
This makes a lot of sense from an evolutionary viewpoint, because a manly face indicates aggression, dominance, and strength.
A feminized face (clean shaven, less pronounced cheekbones) is associated with honesty, warmth, and cooperation – good traits for a long term partner, but not the macho hero or rogue that women dream about.
Eyes
Larger, rounder, eyes tend to give men a more youthful, submissive look.
Narrower eyes, give the appearance of a more mature, powerful, and dominant man.
In addition, rarer eye colors (blue, green) are usually deemed more attractive than more common colors (brown, black).
Face shape
A sharper, tapered face is more feminine, while a square-shaped face is more masculine.
In the past, there has been a general preference for men with squarer, more manly faces. However, more recently, men with sharper features and a more tapered face have set many a woman’s heart on fire. Some great examples include Legolas in Lord of the Rings, or Edward Cullen in Twilight.
Indeed, societal preferences may be shifting from the more extreme manly look to a more balanced or evenrefined elven look.
Facial hair
Growth of facial hair was traditionally a sign of the man reaching sexual maturity.
However, a 2008 study at Northumbria University found that women rated the most attractive male face as those with a stubble or light beard.
Even though women still associate dominance and aggression with facial hair, and appeasement and sexual immaturity with clean-shaven men; their preference is for a male that is clearly mature, but not too masculine.
Attractive Men Feature 2 – Physique
By physique I mean the man’s body type and how muscular he is.
Some people prefer a body builder’s physique where apparently a man can never be too large or too full of hard bulges.
Others prefer the lean look of a hard body, but with muscles of normal proportions.
Still, larger, softer men can provide you with a comfortable soft landing, or comfy pillow to lean on.
Attractive Men Feature 3 – Hair
“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” ~~[1 Corinthians 11:14-15]
Today, most men wear their hair short. Short hair is more the cultural norm for men, and more socially acceptable. As a result, it is also commonly viewed as being more attractive.
In the United States, longer hair is often associated with the hippie movement – a less structured way of life that is outside cultural norms.
However, male hair fashion has not always been so limited.
Some ancient cultures, such as the ancient Greeks viewed long-hair as a symbol of power and wealth. Slaves on the other hand had to shave their heads.
American Indians also widely wore their hair long before the influences of Western culture.
Similarly, men in China wore their hair in a long braid (queue) during the 17th century.
Attractive Men Feature 4 – Height
Height commonly reflects dominance and physical superiority. One can intimidate another just by standing over them, and looking down upon them. It is more difficult to appear intimidating when you must strain to look up on your challenger.
Physical dominance is no longer a necessary part of modern society but its effects lingers.
One thing is for sure when it comes to a man’s height –
Shorter men make much better dance partners!
Attractive Men Feature 5 – Body Hair
Finally, there is the question of body hair.
Some people like the Sean Connery look, where more hair means greater maturity and masculinity.
Others prefers a smoother body, so that they can easily admire each sexy curve on their man.
In fact, societal preferences today are probably shifting towards less body hair. More and more men are considering body hair removal techniques which have previously been the purview of women.
I prefer Asian men, so I go against the pattern, it seems!
I prefer my height which is 5″9′, thin, clean , no square jaw. Women are individuals and depends on culture. In the west, I’ve noticed more square jaw masculine men are more common especially USA, where men seem to want to outdo one another on the masculinity chart, and for men that “don’t add up” the male peers shun them, really immature and mean.
In other countries women describe men as ” beautiful , cute , gorgeous but in the USA people only want you to call men “handsome” I think because only women are supposed to be noticed, another culture thing. Oh well.
I like taller guys than me with a large broad, strong body type. I was always more attracted to dark haired men and married one, but now my ideal man if I was a singleton, would be probably very tall, masculine, blond, blue eyed and rugged. Just like the handsome Dutch actor Rutger Hauer in the eighties and nineties. I like the mysterious and rare euro Viking look! I’m very light blue eyed and natural dirty blonde myself, I’ve noticed that mainly dark haired women are attracted to men like the ones i find to be attractive, and I think I must just be weird or something lol! Not into a lot of younger blonds though to be fair. The American looking blonds like Brad Pitt or Ryan Gosling do nothing for me at all, and I prefer darker hair over the Gosling types.
Wow, Iam guy with piercing eyes and eyebrows with a square face and lean body with muscles of normal proportions. Glad to know I am attractive.