Body Language Flirting
Figuring It Out: Body Language in Flirting
Whether you are sending or receiving the signals, it’s important to recognize what’s being through body language in flirting. Men and women tend to flirt in different ways and often an individual’s personality will affect their natural body language. Following these basic guidelines will help you learn how to flirt and how to recognize when someone is flirting with you.
Pay attention to how a person positions their body in relation to you. Women will often cross their legs with knees pointing towards you. Men will turn and face you with their chest displayed or might sit in a position to attract attention to their groin. The second position is less common and slightly more obvious. Be sure to note whether a man or woman changed to that position once they engaged you in conversation or caught your eye. This is classic body language in flirting; a posture change to indicate interest or catch your attention.
Watch their eyes. A common strategy of women, often eye contact is a dead giveaway for flirting. Catching a person’s eye before quickly looking away, only to make more direct eye contact shortly after is good flirting technique. Have a look of interest in your eyes or even seem slightly surprised or caught off guard. Draw out the second episode of eye contact a little longer, but again look away. Don’t stare or glare at someone you are attempting to flirt with. Don’t have a blank, angry or annoyed expression. Small smiles, either at them or just privately work well after you’ve made the first eye contact and looked away.
Hair often plays a role in flirting. Women tend to twirl it, flip it or stroke it, drawing attention to it. Often they appear distracted while doing so. A good sign is when a woman moves or touches her hair in a way that exposes her neck. Men can sometimes seem to be grooming themselves nervously while flirting, brushing or smoothing their hair. Also smoothing out their clothing, straightening their jacket, tie or hat and brushing off imaginary specks may be signs of flirting. Try to figure out the difference between nervous behaviors and flirting, although some can be interchangeable.
Men also have the tendency to overreact while flirting. He may get clumsy or tongue tied, getting your attention through sympathy (although often not on purpose). A man may also talk loudly or strut with purpose and aggression. Be careful not to mistake that as their usual behavior and simply watch quietly as they display themselves.
Body language in flirting usually involves putting your best face forward. If a woman is confident in her appearance (or simply knows that it draws favorable attention), she will shine that appearance in your direction. Leaning close to you with arms drawn forward, rubbing her legs together slightly or tossing her hair in your direction are all classic flirting moves. If she’s not as confident in her looks, she may default to another area such as speaking or acts of service. A women who picks up a nearby baby (with permission of course) and rocks it gently in your direction may confident of her mothering ability and sending you signals of that.
Men who are certain of their strength or masculinity will display that to a woman while flirting. Lifting heavy objects, offering to help and even flexing muscles are all a sign of flirting. If the man feels more positive about their intellect or another attribute they will show that off in words or with actions.
If you suspect that someone is flirting with you and you’re interested, try and flirt back a little. Their level of flirting will increase and you can be sure of the intention. If they back off or seem surprised, you may have misinterpreted things.
Flirting involves catching the attention of someone and keeping it. It is a way of communicating interest and can be fun and exciting to participate in and to receive. Flirting can be effective in new relationships as well as in established ones, so practice your techniques and put forth your best body language. In flirting you can say so much without saying a word.