Frequently Asked Questions

1.What is SoftMaxx?

SoftMaxx is an AI-powered face analysis web app at softmaxx.io. You upload a selfie, the AI scores your face on 11 facial categories from 0 to 10, and you get a personalized softmaxxing protocol on the paid tier. The free tier covers the front scan, score, and a basic protocol; Pro at $19.99/mo and Elite at $39.99/mo unlock the full coaching system.

2.What is softmaxxing?

Softmaxxing is the practice of improving your appearance through non-surgical, evidence-based interventions: skincare, hair, body composition, posture, dental hygiene, sleep, and grooming. It is the gentler, sustainable counterpart to looksmaxxing. The point is compound gains from small daily habits, not invasive procedures.

3.How is softmaxxing different from looksmaxxing?

Looksmaxxing is the umbrella term used on r/looksmaxxing and looksmaxxing.org for any appearance optimization, including aggressive interventions like bone smashing, mewing, and surgery. Softmaxxing is the non-invasive subset: skincare, fitness, grooming, posture, and habits. SoftMaxx focuses exclusively on the soft path because the data behind it is stronger and the risks are lower.

4.Who is SoftMaxx for?

SoftMaxx is built for men ages 16 to 35 who want an honest, research-grounded assessment of their face and a concrete plan to improve it. It is also useful for anyone curious about facial proportions, skincare protocols, or how AI evaluates faces. You must be 18 or older to use the app per our biometric handling policy.

5.Do I need to create an account to use SoftMaxx?

Yes, you create a free account to run a scan, which lets us keep your scan history and personalize the protocol. Account creation takes about 15 seconds and only requires an email. We do not require a phone number, social login, or payment info to use the free tier.

6.Is SoftMaxx free?

Yes, the free tier is genuinely free with no time limit and no credit card required. You get the front scan, your 11-category score, ratio measurements, and a basic protocol. Pro at $19.99/mo and Elite at $39.99/mo unlock side-profile scanning, the full protocol, the AI coach, rescans, and progress tracking.

7.What does SoftMaxx do that QOVES or FaceIQ don’t?

QOVES is a paid clinical-style consultation service; FaceIQ is a scoring app that gives a number without a roadmap. SoftMaxx combines instant AI scoring with a personalized softmaxxing protocol, an AI chat coach on Pro, and progress tracking on Elite. The free tier is genuinely free, not a trial that paywalls your score.

8.Is SoftMaxx mobile-friendly?

Yes, SoftMaxx is built mobile-first and runs in any modern browser on iOS or Android. You upload directly from your phone camera or photo library. There is no native app to install.

9.How does SoftMaxx score my face?

SoftMaxx uses 478-point facial landmark detection to extract geometric ratios from your photo, then runs the measurements and the image through a vision AI calibrated against peer-reviewed anthropometric research. The system scores 11 categories on a 0 to 10 scale and combines them into an overall score. The full breakdown is on our methodology page.

10.What does a 5/10 mean? Is the average really 5?

A 5 in SoftMaxx means population-average attractiveness for your category. Most people who scan score between 4 and 6, because that is what genuine average looks like. The reason other apps tell you you are an 8 is that they are calibrated for retention, not accuracy.

11.Why is my SoftMaxx score lower than scores I got from other apps?

Most face-rating apps inflate scores by 2 to 3 points to keep users happy and paying. SoftMaxx is calibrated against research-grade datasets and human-rater panels, so a 6 here is closer to a real 6 than the 8.5 you got from a free app. The harder number is the more useful one for actually improving.

12.How accurate is the score?

On the Pro tier, our scoring shows a mean absolute error of roughly 0.83 points when compared against averaged human-rater consensus on benchmark datasets. That is competitive with or better than peer-reviewed academic face-scoring models. No automated score is perfect; treat it as a calibrated signal, not a verdict.

13.What are the 11 categories you score?

The 11 categories are: facial harmony, skin quality, jawline definition, eye area, nose proportion, lip and mouth, facial thirds and ratios, symmetry, hair and hairline, masculinity or femininity expression, and overall presentation. Each gets a 0 to 10 sub-score with a short written note. The overall score is a weighted blend, not a simple average.

14.What facial measurements do you take?

We extract roughly 30 geometric ratios from the 478 facial landmarks: facial thirds, fifths, the golden phi ratio across multiple features, Ricketts E-line for lip projection, gonial angle for jaw definition, intercanthal and pupillary distances, and several symmetry indices. The full list lives on our methodology page. These are clinical, not cosmetic, measurements.

15.How long does a scan take?

A front scan typically completes in 15 to 30 seconds end to end. Landmark detection runs in your browser in under a second; the AI vision pass adds most of the remaining time. Slow connections can push the full scan past 45 seconds.

16.Why does my score change between scans of the same face?

Lighting, angle, expression, and camera focal length all affect what the AI sees. A scan in harsh overhead light at a 15-degree downward angle can score 0.5 to 1.0 points below the same face shot in soft light at eye level. For consistent tracking, replicate your conditions: same room, same time of day, neutral expression, camera at eye level.

17.Can I improve my score?

Yes, most users see a 1 to 2 point overall improvement within 90 days of consistent softmaxxing. The biggest movers are skin quality, hair, body composition, and grooming, all of which respond quickly to disciplined daily habits. Bone-structure scores are largely fixed but presentation around them is not.

18.What’s the projected score?

The projected score is a Pro feature that estimates your potential overall score after 90 days of fully executing your personalized protocol. It is calculated from category-level improvement ceilings: skin and hair have large headroom, bone structure has near zero. It is a target, not a promise, and it does not include any visual morph or simulation.

19.What do I get for free?

The free tier includes the front-facing scan, your overall score, all 11 category sub-scores, your ratio measurements, and a basic protocol with the top three things to focus on. You can rescan once to see your initial result, and you keep access to your account indefinitely.

20.What does Pro add that Free doesn’t have?

Pro at $19.99/mo unlocks the side-profile scan, the full personalized protocol across all 11 categories, AM and PM skincare routines with specific product recommendations, your projected 90-day score, an HD downloadable PDF report, the AI chat coach, 4 rescans per month, and persistent scan history. It is the core working tier for anyone serious about softmaxxing.

21.What does Elite add that Pro doesn’t have?

Elite at $39.99/mo adds persistent AI memory across all chats, photo upload inside the AI coach for visual feedback, 4 specialized coach personas (skin, hair, fitness, grooming), a weekly progress report, a mid-week scan delta to catch drift, a photo journal, and a trend dashboard for your score over time. Elite is for users who want a system that remembers them and tracks long-term progress.

22.Is Elite Annual worth it vs monthly Elite?

Elite Annual costs $150 per year compared to $479.88 if you paid $39.99/mo for 12 months, so you save about $330 or 69 percent. It is worth it if you plan to stay on Elite for at least 4 to 5 months. Most users who commit to a 90-day glow-up cycle then keep going for tracking find the annual plan pays for itself.

23.What are rescan credits and how do they work?

Rescan credits let you run additional scans beyond what your tier includes. Pro gets 4 rescans per month built in; if you need more you can buy a single rescan for $1.99, a 3-pack for $4.99, or a 5-pack for $7.99. Credits never expire and stack on top of your tier allowance.

24.Can I cancel my subscription anytime?

Yes, you can cancel Pro or Elite anytime from your account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period, and you keep paid access until then. There are no contracts, cancellation fees, or retention hoops.

25.Do you offer refunds?

Yes, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first subscription purchase. Email support@softmaxx.io within 30 days and we refund the charge, no questions asked. One-time SKUs like the HD PDF or single rescan packs are non-refundable once delivered.

26.Can I gift Pro to a friend?

Yes, you can gift one month of Pro to anyone for $19.99 as a one-time purchase. The recipient gets a redemption code by email and activates it on their own account with no auto-renewal. It is a useful nudge for a friend who keeps asking what they should do about their skin.

27.What happens to my photo after I scan?

Your photo is processed transiently for analysis and then deleted from our servers within seconds of the scan completing. We keep the derived measurements and the score, not the image. If you are on Elite and use the photo journal, only those explicitly saved photos persist, encrypted, and only you can view them.

28.Do you store my photo?

No, by default we do not store your scan photo. The image is held in memory long enough to run analysis, then destroyed. The only exception is the Elite photo journal, which only saves photos you explicitly add to it, encrypted at rest.

29.Are you BIPA-compliant?

Yes, SoftMaxx operates in compliance with the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act and equivalent state biometric laws. We do not retain biometric identifiers, we obtain consent before scanning, and we publish our retention policy on the privacy page. Biometric measurements derived from your scan are stored only to power your score history and are deletable on request.

30.Do you sell or share my data?

No, we do not sell your data, your photos, or your measurements to any third party, ever. We do not run third-party ad trackers on the scan flow. The only external service that briefly touches your image is the AI vision provider we use for analysis, which is contractually prohibited from training on or retaining your data.

31.Can I delete my data?

Yes, you can delete your entire account and all associated data from your account settings, or by emailing privacy@softmaxx.io. Deletion is permanent and processed within 30 days. We do not retain shadow copies once you delete.

32.What’s stored — the photo, the measurements, or both?

Only the derived measurements, the category scores, and the written analysis are stored by default. The raw photo is destroyed within seconds of the scan completing. The Elite photo journal is the one exception and stores only photos you explicitly add.

33.Is the analysis done on my device or your servers?

It is a hybrid. The 478-point facial landmark detection runs entirely in your browser and never leaves your device. The AI vision pass that interprets your image runs on a third-party AI server (OpenAI) under a no-training, no-retention contract, and your photo is deleted from our side after analysis. The methodology page details the data flow.

34.Why do I have to be 18+ to use SoftMaxx?

Because biometric scanning of minors carries additional legal and ethical obligations we do not meet, we restrict the service to adults. The 18-plus requirement is enforced at signup and reaffirmed in our terms. If you are under 18, please come back when you are older.

35.Where does your scoring methodology come from?

Our scoring is calibrated against peer-reviewed anthropometric research, including orthodontic and maxillofacial literature on facial thirds and fifths, phi ratios, Ricketts E-line, gonial angle, and cephalometric soft-tissue analysis. We also use averaged human-rater consensus from public attractiveness datasets to calibrate the final score. The full breakdown is on our methodology page.

36.What research backs the measurements?

The geometric ratios we measure come from established clinical frameworks used by orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons: Marquardt phi mask work, Ricketts soft-tissue analysis, the Powell aesthetic triangle, and standard cephalometric points. None of these are SoftMaxx inventions; they are clinical tools we apply with AI. Our methodology page links the categories of research.

37.How does the AI compare against human evaluators?

On benchmark datasets where human raters score the same faces, our Pro-tier scoring agrees with averaged human consensus within roughly 0.83 points on the 0 to 10 scale. That puts it in the same band as peer-reviewed academic face-scoring models. Any single human rater varies more from the consensus than the AI does.

38.What can the AI NOT tell me?

The AI cannot diagnose medical or dermatologic conditions, plan surgery, predict how a specific procedure will look on your face, or replace a clinical consultation for orthodontic or aesthetic work. It also cannot evaluate things outside the photo such as voice, scent, personality, or social context. It is a calibrated assessment of facial appearance from a still image, nothing more.

39.Why doesn’t SoftMaxx have a “before/after” preview?

We do not offer face-morph previews because they are misleading and ethically risky: AI-generated future-self images set unrealistic expectations and can cause body image harm, especially for younger users. Real progress comes from the protocol, not a generated preview. We show you the projected score number and the path, not a synthetic image.

40.Does SoftMaxx give medical or surgical advice?

No, SoftMaxx does not provide medical, dermatologic, orthodontic, or surgical advice. The protocol covers non-medical softmaxxing: over-the-counter skincare, fitness, sleep, grooming, and habits. For anything clinical, including prescription dermatology, orthodontics, or surgery, you need a licensed professional.

41.What’s in the personalized protocol?

The protocol is a category-by-category action plan derived from your specific scan: AM and PM skincare with named products, a hair and hairline plan, a grooming and facial hair plan, body composition guidance, posture and presentation cues, and sleep and habit interventions. Pro unlocks the full plan; the free tier shows the top three priorities. Every recommendation is tied to a sub-score you can move.

42.How does the AM/PM skincare recommendation work?

Based on your skin sub-score and what the AI sees (acne, texture, redness, oiliness, pigmentation), the Pro tier generates a morning and evening routine with specific over-the-counter products and the order to apply them. It accounts for skin sensitivity and starts conservative, then escalates. It is not medical advice; consult a dermatologist for prescription needs.

43.Are the recommended products affiliate links?

Some product links are affiliate links, which means SoftMaxx earns a small commission if you purchase, at no extra cost to you. Product selection is based on independent research and ingredient quality, not commission rate. We disclose affiliate relationships on the methodology page.

44.How often should I rescan to see progress?

Every 2 to 4 weeks is the right cadence for most users. Faster than that and scan noise (lighting, angle, expression) dominates over real change. Pro includes 4 rescans per month, and Elite adds a mid-week delta scan for users who want tighter tracking.

45.What is the 30-Day Glow-Up Challenge?

The 30-Day Glow-Up Challenge is a $29 one-time program that gives you a structured 30-day protocol with daily check-ins, a starting scan, a final scan, and a printable progress sheet. It works alongside the free or Pro tier and is designed for users who want a fixed start and end. It is the cheapest way to test whether softmaxxing works for you.

46.The scanner can’t detect my face — what should I do?

Most failed detections come from low light, heavy shadow, partial occlusion (hat, sunglasses, hair over the face), or extreme angles. Retake the photo in soft natural light, facing the camera straight on, with your full face visible from hairline to chin. If it still fails, email support@softmaxx.io with the scan ID.

47.My scan failed mid-upload. What now?

Refresh the page and try again; a failed upload does not consume a rescan credit. If it fails twice in a row, switch from cellular to Wi-Fi or vice versa, since most mid-upload failures are network related. Persistent failures should be reported to support@softmaxx.io with your account email.

48.Can I scan with glasses on?

No, you should remove glasses before scanning. Frames occlude the eye area landmarks and cause the eye, symmetry, and harmony scores to drop artificially. Clear contact lenses are fine.

49.Why does my side-profile scan need a paid tier?

The side profile unlocks several high-value measurements (Ricketts E-line, chin projection, gonial angle, nasolabial angle) that need a separate AI pass and a different scoring pipeline. Running and serving that costs us more, so it sits behind Pro at $19.99/mo or a one-time side-scan unlock at $4.99. The front scan stays free.

50.I think my score is wrong. Can I appeal it?

Yes, email support@softmaxx.io with your scan ID and the categories you think are off. We do not change scores arbitrarily, but if the photo conditions caused a clear miscalibration (bad lighting, weird angle, partial occlusion), we will grant a free rescan and review the case. We log appeals to keep improving the model.