Flirting 101 for women

Women can aid their flirting by making sure that they look and feel their best, that they are approachable, and that they know how to handle men.

--LOOK YOUR BEST
If you are like most women, you feel your best when you look your best. Every time you get dressed and ready to go out, your goal should be to project the image of yourself that you want men to see. You want to be neat and pulled together; you want to look sweet and feminine; you want to look sexy and confident. You do not want to be sloppy and unkempt. If you feel like you don’t look good, you won’t hold your head up high – and if your head is down, then you will encounter far fewer opportunities to make eye contact with eligible bachelors. Don’t be afraid to let your hair down and show a little skin when you are trying to attract a potential date. I’m not saying that you should forget your morals and dress like a professional call girl, but you shouldn’t be afraid to use your feminine charms to get noticed. If you have long hair, let it flow – don’t tie it tightly back in a bun, or you will look cold and too serious to flirt with. Wear a shirt with a scoop neck or a v-neck. Turtlenecks and button-up shirts or blazers can make you look like you are interested in business and not pleasure. The colors that you wear can also help to get you noticed. Earth tones, black, gray, navy blue, and other dark colors will make you blend into your environment. Light colors like powder pink and pale yellow will make you look very feminine and sweet – and guys love that! You could also wear bright red – the lady in red always gets her fair share of attention, but if you decide to wear this bold color, be prepared to stand in the spotlight for the evening. You can also up your attraction factor with a delicate floral-scented perfume and some carefully-applied make-up.

--DON’T OVERDO IT
Guys generally don’t like girls that come on too strong. They want to feel in control of things. They also get scared off easily if you are too bold – they will think you are easy or desperate or they will be afraid that you would be an overbearing, clingy, needy girlfriend. There is nothing wrong with making the first move or even going so far as asking a guy out, but once you have made the move, push the ball back into his court and try to keep it there. It may be old-fashioned, but it is reality. Men like to “wear the pants” in the relationship. They want to court you, not the other way around. They want to look masculine and macho in your eyes, and if you come on way too strong, they will feel like you are trying to assume the dominant role in the relationship. If you like a guy, then smile at him and try to hold your eye contact for a few seconds. If he is into you, he should see this as his golden opportunity to make a move. If you get nervous when you are trying to flirt with a guy, just remember to smile a lot and giggle when he makes his awkward jokes to break the ice. Sometimes when women get nervous, they start talking like motor mouths, so if you have this problem, you have to be conscious of the tendency and avoid it at all costs.

--BUDDY SYSTEM
If you are new to the dating and flirting scene or even if you are an old pro, it is much more fun to hit the town with your partners in crime, your gal pals. If you travel in packs, you will eliminate the anxiety of having nobody to talk to while you are waiting for a handsome man to approach you. Your friends can also make up excuses to get you out of situations where some creep is throwing a bunch of cheesy lines your way. It is great to have your panel of judges by your side when you are hunting for the perfect guy. You probably feel more confident when you are surrounded by good friends than when you are on your own, so your flirting will come more easily. Plus, when men see a crowd of lovely ladies, they tend to migrate towards it as if a magnetic current was pulling them.

--PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Remember: if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! Your flirting past does not determine your flirting future. Some women carry their adolescent insecurities into their adult lives, and this makes flirting with men seem very daunting and intimidating. Walk with confidence, keep your head high, and be open to getting approached – your flirting success is on the horizon!