Four ways science says you can be more attractive

Personally, we’re not going to argue with science. It would just never work out. Science knows too many big words.

If you’re comfortable with yourself, with your mountain man beard, pet ferrets, and purposely high-pitched voice, then you stay exactly the way you are. But for everyone else that could use an edge, keep reading.

The science of sexiness tip #1: see red
We don’t know why this is, but red is undoubtedly the color of sex. Even our subconscious thinks it’s true. In just one of the many studies based on how attractive we all find the color red, women were shown pictures of men against a red background, and against a white background. They were far more likely to rate the men with the red backgrounds as more attractive than the men with the white backgrounds … even when they were the same men. So to up your appeal, work a little red into your wardrobe.

The science of sexiness tip #2: lower that voice
This probably isn’t shocking news to any of you, but women like men with deep voices. This is because a deep voice is indicative of a bigger and more masculine body. Before you go full Sylvester Stallone, keep in mind that women say they like a bit of breathiness with that deep voice. So manly, but not too aggressive. Think Tim Riggins, not Terminator.

The science of sexiness tip #3: get a dog
Maybe don’t get a dog solely for this reason, but indeed, women love men with dogs. In one study, men were found to be three times more likely to be given a woman’s phone number if they were walking a dog. In this particular study, one in every four women who were asked for their phone number by a man walking a dog handed it over.

The science of sexiness tip #4: stop smiling
Yep. Let go of every piece of advice your ex-girlfriend’s Cosmo mag gave you, because it turns out that women don’t like smiling men. A sociology study in British Columbia found that smiling men were less attractive to women than men who had a more brooding look. Yes, like Robert Pattinson in Twilight. Like Mr. Darcy in any version of Pride and Prejudice. Like Sylvester Stallone in … every movie he has ever made.

Women reportedly find smiling men less attractive because it makes them seem more feminine and less dominant. If you want to call that sexist, go ahead, but the same study also found that men found women who displayed confidence through their facial expressions to be undesirable.