A recent study by Elliptical Reviews has found that real beauty lies within, and that there’s something to be said for the age-old theory that natural is beautiful. 

 

The research focused on how people view body modifications such as tattoos, piercings and plastic surgery and the results might make you rethink ever going under the needle or knife in search of 'beauty'.

 

The study asked over 2,600 participants to rate positive and negative reactions to different pictures of the same person.

 

The image of the man was photoshopped with a tattoo sleeve, lip ring, facial tattoo, a man bun, and a nose ring.

 

Free stock photo of cold, fashion, man, couple

 

The female model was depicted with breast implants, a tattoo sleeve, lip fillers, a lip ring, an unusual hair colour, and a nose ring. Both cases also featured a picture of a male and female with no changes at all.

 

Interestingly, respondents rated the picture of the man with a man bun as more than 50 percent less attractive than a man without one.

 

The man with no modifications at all received noticeably higher ratings than any picture with a tattoo or piercing. The only modification that was relatively well-received was a tattoo sleeve - and we have David Beckham to thank for that, no doubt. 

 

The results were less extreme for women, and while the all-natural look won out in the end with participants, unsurprisingly, the woman with the breast implants was deemed as attractive as the picture of the woman with no modifications at all.

 

Man and Woman Couple Wearing Their Silver Couple Bond Ring

 

Conversely, the woman with the nose ring was only a third as attractive as the unmodified picture.

 

It is important to note that the study factored in the perception of different social groups when it comes to beauty.

 

Meaning, men who identified as preppy were most attracted to women with breast implants, whereas punks preferred alternative hair colours and piercings.

 

Free stock photo of landscape, sunset, couple, love

 

Alternative groups such as goths and punks were most receptive to the modifications in general, with those identifying themselves as Hipsters overwhelmingly preferring man buns.

 

The point here is that we're all beautiful, so never feel pressure to look a certain way. 

 

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