What is the 'boyfriend air' theory, you ask? Well, the phenomenon is proving to be quite the shared experience on TikTok, with users filming the before and after effects of spending time with their partners and no, it's NOT cute...
Now, we've come across our fair share of weird and wonderful trends on the app, from style aesthetics like the 'Tomato Girl' and Barbiecore to NSFW coded terms like the 'mascara' trend and 'speed bump' sex position—but this latest boyfriend-related occurrence truly trumps them all.
'Boyfriend air' is the newest entry to TikTok's growing vocabulary (joining the likes of 'side-eye') and it's understandably sparking quite a bit of discourse. So, allow us to clue you in on the viral and rather ick-worthy theory—but be warned, it might leave you looking at your partner in a whole new light...
What is 'boyfriend air'?
Don't be fooled into thinking it's just some cutesy dating trend, like the golden-retriever boyfriend term, that we're dealing with here. In fact, it couldn't be further from it as, from our TikTok sleuthing, we've deduced that the 'boyfriend air' meaning is basically where spending long periods of time with a partner (particularly male), can affect your physical appearance—and not in a good way.
As one TikToker explained: "I am so happy people are now talking about boyfriend air because I actually thought I was going crazy. I spent a lot of time at my boyfriend’s apartment in New York, and I remember taking a full-body shower every morning, waking up and thinking, ‘I feel so dirty.'"
Adding, "My hair was getting greasy like crazy. My skin was looking different, like… everything, my makeup wasn’t staying on right. I was like, ‘What is going on?'"
@taylordonoghuee ♬ original sound - Taylordonoghuee
The term also links to the whole 'school air' theory, which was seemingly coined by TikToker, @carlazombek—whose video has now racked up millions of views—and sees her share her skin before school and a few months in when she was dealing with breakouts. This was also clearly a shared experience as the hashtag now has over 100 million views.
Now, users are taking to the app to share evidence of this so-called 'boyfriend air' hypothesis at work, by showing their makeup looks and hair before seeing their boyfriends and after.
As you can see, their makeup has seemingly all but evaporated into thin air—or should we say the 'boyfriend air'. While their freshly washed and styled hair after just a few hours in their significant other's presence, already looks like day three hair!
@officialrosiegallardo ♬ original sound - a
@laramitr ♬ original sound - 222
The strange happening then begs the question, is it just an unexplained, icky aura around your beau that seems to melt away even the best non-comedogenic foundations—or is something else at play here?
While some seem to think it's down to the air itself contaminating their partner's apartments and bedrooms, there's also another meaning behind the term, with some TikTokers using it to describe their experience of almost "glowing down" or becoming less attractive or not caring about their appearance as much after entering a new relationship because they've gotten comfortable.
As one TikToker commented: "I think what boyfriend air really is, is the fact that we tend to lose focus on ourselves when we get into a relationship"—as opposed to the more instantaneously, physical effects some users are attributing to 'boyfriend air.'
@janette.xzeto ♬ Sneaky Snitch - Kevin MacLeod
Though this doesn't really explain how many TikTokers reported spending time perfecting their makeup for instance, only for it to seemingly dissolve in the presence of their partners...
So, is the 'boyfriend air' theory actually real?
Despite it being pretty common—some individuals have been quick to try and debunk the theory, claiming that if you're experiencing 'boyfriend air,' it's because your partner needs to step up their hygiene regimen...
As one video simply put it: "boyfriend air isn't a thing, your boyfriend just doesn't wash his bedding."
With another TikToker also supporting this possible explanation for the makeup melting and breakout sparking environment...
@madisonvschramm ♬ original sound - Madison Schramm
Others though are pretty adamant, it's a thing: "Two seconds with my boyfriend and suddenly I have no makeup on, my face is puffy and breaking out, I haven’t showered in weeks and my hair looks like a creature has been living in it"—with many girlfriends and significant others voicing how relieved they are that they're not alone in experiencing this unexplained event.
@eleeenab ♬ original sound - a
So, to try and get to the bottom of this whole gross debacle, we asked a skincare expert if there's really anything to this boyfriend air theory...
A skincare expert weighs in on the 'boyfriend air' theory
Skincare expert and founder of Bedew Skin, Rachael Robertson, has shed some light on why many might be encountering some adverse effects from being around their boyfriends and partners.
She says it can actually have a lot to do with the change in habit or coming into contact with someone else's skin or personal care products.
Robertson explains: "When we start dating and spending time with a new person our habits change. This may include our eating habits, drinking habits, and our schedule can change—which includes our skincare routine—that we have just spent so long getting consistent! We tend to fall asleep later, go out more and sleep over more which affects all these things.
"Also, our skin coming into contact with facial hair, new laundry detergent, aftershaves, and personal care products that we haven’t been exposed to previously when kissing/cuddling /sleeping. All of these things can cause flareups/breakouts or rashes and rub off makeup without us even realizing."
So, while this boyfriend air sitch doesn't always boil down to hygiene, it can definitely be a factor in some circumstances, as Robertson adds: "It also goes without saying they may not wash their sheets/pillowcases as much as you, which can be another culprit as you’re now laying in the dead skin, sweat and bacteria of two people! Lovely."
So, before you start fretting that your significant might condemn you to a life of ruined makeup and greasy hair 24/7—perhaps first quiz them on when the last time their sheets were washed and go from there...
Your 'Boyfriend Air' tool kit—to help you ward off the icky effects
As we've now sussed out, 'boyfriend air' can be the result of many things, from your face reacting to new products or ahem, friction from your partner's face and facial hair, to unwashed bedding and even your eating habits.
But just because we're now aware of some of the contributors, doesn't mean we can't try and ward them off! So, behold—we've put together a few essentials for looking after your skin, body and hair during your next sleepover...
Fingers crossed that a few of these beauty staples keep the dreaded 'boyfriend air' at bay!
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