Nothing makes a lasting impression like a kiss. A great kiss alone could score you several points but, if it’s terrible, you may not even make it to a second date. Here are seven tips to puckering up without tragic consequences.
Don’t Narrate
What makes a kiss magical is when it’s impromptu, whimsical, romantic and unexpected. You take away that electric moment as soon as you announce you’re going in for the kiss. If the chemistry is there, simply take charge or be ready to be swept off your feet. Don’t discuss a kiss before it happens — ever.
Don’t Brag About It
Tell us one fairy tale where the prince brags about how he is an amazing kisser to win over the princess. It’s just not romantic. Boasting about how you kiss not only sets you up with major expectations but it also indicates some major insecurities that could dictate the rest of your night out. Even if you’re a rockstar kisser and you know it, prove it with the actual kiss. But it never hurts to tell your date that they are an excellent kisser after a smooch.
Don’t Sabotage Yourself
Even before the kiss, you’ll have to woo your date to get to that point. Don’t be a terrible date. Ask questions, open doors, make eye contact and compliment. All these things ultimately pave the way for an effortless kiss at the end. Also, a surefire way to sabotage yourself: the hug. Absolutely do not give any indication you are giving a hug as it gives the wrong impression and takes away that romantic moment for a kiss!
Make the Kiss Feel Special
A kiss is meant to be intimate. Don’t ruin it by making it feel like an obligation, like a business transaction, or something calculated and cold. The last thing you want to do is make it feel like you’re doing your date a favor or you’re just checking something off a mental list. If you’re not ready to kiss, don’t. You’ll be happy you saved it for when you really meant it.
Avoid Going in Too Fast
Every date has a pace, and it’s generally measured by chemistry. You can destroy all of this by going in for a kiss way too early. Not only does this make a kiss uncomfortable for both parties, you just ruined your chance for a memorable kiss later in the date. Only go in for the kiss when it feels right for both of you, which definitely is not going to be five minutes after meeting.
Go Easy on the Tongue
Your tongue isn’t an instrument to examine the inside of your date’s mouth — go easy using it. If it helps, think about any romance flick you’ve seen where the best kiss is a French kiss, not an assault on someone’s mouth.
Clean Your Mouth
Remember first impressions? You don’t want to kiss your date with really stinky breath, which they’ll remember the next time around. At the end of the night, after dinner or sugary cocktails, always make sure you pop a mint, use a breath freshener strip, or chew some gum to help make sure your breath is as fresh and clean as can be.
