In appearance, the Maya looked much like their ancestors, the Olmec, with mocha hued skin, dark eyes, and raven hair. Believing a flat, sloped forehead to be stylish and in order to more closely resemble the "Maize God", they would deform infant skulls by locking their heads into tight frames made from two large planks of wood. They would also hang a wax ball before a baby's eyes, in order to facilitate the desired cross-eyed look. Teeth would be filed into triangular points, and the resulting spaces inlaid with jade. Ears, lips, and noses were routinely pierced, with the choice of ornamentation relating to social standing. Male and female alike were tattooed. The hair of both sexes was almost always cut into bangs and braided.

Maya men grew to adulthood without facial hair, this the result of their mothers' repeated depilation techniques used during childhood. The common man usually wore an ex (loincloth), which was covered by an apron in front. For festivals, a musician might wear a brightly painted mask and special hip wrap, topped by a white headdress. His instruments would be decorated with feathers. Musicians would also accompany soldiers to war. While carrying spear and shield into battle, warriors, wearing sleeveless shirts made of tapir hide, would slay their enemy (and capture sacrifice victims), accompanied by bombastic music. But on ritual days, soldiers would don jaguar skins and cloaks of red and yellow. The well-dressed politically connected male would wear an elaborately decorated full-length kilt, a thick belt covered with symbolic ritual heads, a gem encrusted collar and cape, and quetzal feather headpiece. Your average, everyday Classic Maya women dressed simply, in flowing white full length cotton gowns, or shifts that were short in the front, but long in the rear.