How to Flirt

Turn your seductive ways up a notch.

DON’T Expect White Tablecloths - Do you have money for fancy restaurants and bottle service? No? So don’t expect that freshman who asked you out to drop a ton of cash on a date with you. In fact, be prepared to split the bill at the dive you hit up around the corner from campus, or better yet, plan a free date, like a walk in the park or an outdoor movie.  (Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)

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Love Connection - Whether you’re looking for a new man or just someone to liven up a dull day, flirting is an excellent way to get close to someone you’re interested in. Use these tips to make it worth your while. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel

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Be Nice - Not just to him — though that should go without saying — but even before you approach him, be warm and kind to other people whom you encounter. If you’re at a bar, give the bartender a hearty thank you when he hands you your drink. Tell the girl to your right just how much you love her hair. Not only will he see that you’re a sweet, approachable person, but being nice gives you a glow you can’t fake. (Photo: Sam Edwards/Getty Images)

Make Eye Contact - Looking someone directly in his eyes is a powerful tool for signaling your interest. In fact, studies show that we typically only make eye contact for a fraction of a second with people who fall outside our immediate circle, which just shows how intimate it is. It’s especially useful for connecting with someone who is at least a few feet away, say standing at a bar or across the room. Look in his eyes for one to three seconds. Then look away. Then look again and smile. With a little luck, he’ll be looking your way, too. (Photo: skynesher/Getty Images)

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Make Eye Contact - Looking someone directly in his eyes is a powerful tool for signaling your interest. In fact, studies show that we typically only make eye contact for a fraction of a second with people who fall outside our immediate circle, which just shows how intimate it is. It’s especially useful for connecting with someone who is at least a few feet away, say standing at a bar or across the room. Look in his eyes for one to three seconds. Then look away. Then look again and smile. With a little luck, he’ll be looking your way, too. (Photo: skynesher/Getty Images)

4. Tune In - It'll be a long trip, so you might as well crank up the tunes and just sit back and relax. Pump your favorite jams and party with your boo!(Photo: Hero Images/Getty Images)

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Pay Him a Compliment - Not sure what to say now that you have his attention? Everyone loves to hear something nice about themselves. Get him talking by telling him he looks great in that shirt, or how much you dig his beard. Then ask him a question about it: Where did he buy the shirt? How long has he been growing his beard? (Photo: Hero Images/Getty Images)

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Have Fun - Make enjoying yourself your number-one objective and you’ll connect organically. Even if you think he’s the one, you’ll get the most out of flirting by keeping it casual — not by trying to prove you’re girlfriend material right away. (Photo: AAGAMIA/GettyImages)

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DO Be Picky - You’re a gorgeous, brilliant woman, so chances are you’re going to get a lot of attention when you hit campus. Don’t give all your time to the first cutie who wanders over to you after class. You have options, exercise them.  (Photo: Jacobs Stock Photography/Getty Images)

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Ask and Listen - It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how often we talk ourselves out of great connections by failing to observe the rules of polite conversation. So ask him about himself; not the boring stuff like what he does for a living, but what he does for fun, or his favorite Michael Jackson song. And then give him a chance to respond and actually listen to the answers. With a little luck, he’ll ask you something interesting and you’ll be off and running. (Photo: Jacobs Stock Photography/Getty Images)

Consider Your Motive - It’s important to think about why you want to be in a relationship, because it will impact the type of union you create. Do you want to share your life with someone? Or are you looking for someone to rescue you from loneliness, or make you feel happy? Tying your emotions to someone else will always leave you feeling out of control and dependent. Until you learn to make your own joy, you’ll have trouble attracting someone who is happy with himself—which is crucial to creating a mutually beneficial love connection. (Photo: Joshua Hodge Photography/Getty Images)

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Touch Him - Research shows that touching ranks right up there with eye contact when it comes to showing that you’re interested. Start with a casual hand on the arm during a laugh. If he seems receptive (doesn’t pull away, or better yet, quickly follows with a touch to your arm), you can try touching his hand or straightening his tie. (Photo: Joshua Hodge Photography/Getty Images)

Sweetness Levels - Knowing what you like will help to make your wine exploring adventures much more enjoyable. When it comes to levels of sweetness, most wines can be produced from dry to sweet. Sweet wines have the most amounts of unfermented sugars and, unless fortified, contain less alcohol. Only a small amount of sugar resides in semi-sweet wines to complement the beverage’s acidity or aromatics. Dry wines lack sweetness because all of the grape sugars are fermented into alcohol during the winemaking process. (Photo: Dean Mitchell/Getty Images)

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Be Direct - Research shows that men respond best when you just tell them what you’re thinking or what you want. So don’t be afraid to tell him you think he’s cute, or that you want to buy him a drink. He’ll dig that you don’t expect him to read your mind. (Photo: Dean Mitchell/Getty Images)

His Ear - Folks are always quick to stick a tongue in there, but concentrating on the smooth skin behind it can be even sexier. Start by whispering in his ear; the combination of close proximity and warm air will draw him to you. Then run the tip of your tongue up the back edge of his ear, starting at the lobe. He won’t know what hit him.  (Photo: Janet Kimber/Getty Images)

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Invade His Personal Space - Test the waters by finding a reason to step into his bubble — like getting close inside a crowded train or leaning in to whisper something — then quickly back up. It signals that you want to move beyond stranger status, but you won’t look like a stalker. (Photo: Janet Kimber/Getty Images)

You're Flirting With Other People - Sometimes when we’re in good relationships, we don’t even look at anyone else. But if you’ve caught yourself on the prowl and flirting with someone who’s not your boo, you need to reevaluate your relationship. (Photo: Nisian Hughes/Getty Images)

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Tease Him a Little - Yes, we told you to be nice, but a little gentle teasing will keep him on his toes. If he says he works out seven days a week, give him a mild side-eye and tell him to prove it. If he’s two-stepping it on the dance floor, playfully challenge him to step it up. Fun times will abound. (Photo: Nisian Hughes/Getty Images)

Close Strong - Closed mouths don’t get fed, so don’t let all your excellent flirting techniques go to waste. While it would probably be ideal for him to ask you out then and there, if you’re genuinely interested and he’s been reciprocating your signals, don’t be afraid to ask for his number. Or put yours in his phone and make it clear that you’d like to get together soon. Either way, don’t walk away without encouraging next steps. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Close Strong - Closed mouths don’t get fed, so don’t let all your excellent flirting techniques go to waste. While it would probably be ideal for him to ask you out then and there, if you’re genuinely interested and he’s been reciprocating your signals, don’t be afraid to ask for his number. Or put yours in his phone and make it clear that you’d like to get together soon. Either way, don’t walk away without encouraging next steps. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)