Ah, it’s good to be out there in the dating world.
Time to get ready.
After all, you want to make sure to catch the ladies’ eye with your…
Hm.
What do women look for first when they see a guy?
The best way to find out is to go to the source, and it turns out women have a lot of answers!
These are some of the things every guy should keep in mind if they want to make a good first
impression.
Hair
Your hair says a lot about you, and not just about your genetics.
It’s one of the earliest previews of your personality.
Do you have a nice, clean, buzz cut?
You might be a military man.
Is it slicked-back and carefully coiffed?
You’re a guy who has everything put together.
Are you rocking out a classic mullet?
Well, you’re likely a good-time guy!
This may not always be accurate, but if you’re looking to catch the eye of that girl at the
bar, you might want to think about what signal your hair is sending out.
And make sure that whatever your style, you gave it a comb that day.
But it’s not the only thing that can give away some things about your personality.
Facial Expression
If you want to approach someone, you’d better make sure you’re approachable.
You only get one chance to make a first impression, and for many people, that’ll start with
the first look you give them.
You might just be thinking about that parking ticket you got, but if you approach someone
with a scowl, they’re probably not going to be excited about talking with you.
So no matter what the day is like, make sure you’ve got a natural smile on your face
before you make that all-important first move.
But once you smile, be careful.
Teeth
As soon as you open your mouth to talk, smile, or drink, you’re giving another first impression
- of your dental health.
If you’ve been neglecting your mouthwash, you might just give off a wave of bad breath
that will kill the conversation right from the start.
On the same note, yellow teeth or obvious cavities can give a bad first impression.
So before you get back into that dating pool, now might be the time to break out that mouthwash
and floss to whip your teeth into shape after all that time at home!
But your mouth and face aren’t the only way you give a first impression.
Body Language
You remember when you were shopping with your mom and she met a friend, and you couldn’t
wait to get out of there?
You tapped your foot, crossed your arms, and hoped she would notice.
You wanting to get out of there was a good signal to send then - but not when you’re
looking to make a connection.
Even if your chance meeting is talking way too long about nothing in particular, make
sure you seem interested.
Avoid crossing your arms or looking toward the exit so it seems like you’re excited
to continue the conversation.
But sometimes, you make your first impression before you even meet.
Posture
Imagine you see someone attractive and exciting...but you can’t even see them yet.
All you can see is their posture in silhouette from around the corner.
What would make you want to turn that corner and actually meet them?
For women, they’re looking for confidence, and one of the best ways to convey that confidence
is by standing up straight and sticking your shoulders back.
Even if it’s been a hard day at work, avoid leaning over or looking tired.
Turns out mom might have been on to something when she told you to stand up straight!
And as you get closer, you make another first impression.
Scent
This one should be self-explanatory - no one wants to stink as soon as they walk up to
meet a new person!
So, yeah, make sure you’ve taken a shower and put on that deodorant before you head
out the door.
But there’s more to scent than just body odor.
If you’re looking to go out and meet new people, every little thing matters.
Think carefully about what you eat - it might be a good idea to hold off on that double
order of garlic bread.
And use cologne carefully - not only can it be a strong smell, but it can trigger allergies,
and nothing kills a conversation like a sneezing fit.
And now, it’s time to get into the accessories.
Clothes
Ah, fashion.
Maybe you’re the type to spend hours searching for the perfect outfit - or maybe you have
five of the same T-shirt for going out.
Make sure that before you throw yourself back into the dating pool, you’ve got the right
gear.
This doesn’t mean you have to dress fancy - especially if you’re going out for a night
of dancing or something casual - but make sure your clothing send a good message.
Torn jeans and that ratty old band t-shirt from high school - maybe not so much.
And leave that political gear at home unless you want to cut down the dating pool by half!
But to make the right first impression, you’ve also got to look a little...lower.
Shoes
Unless you’re going to meet girls at some kind of nature retreat, the odds are you’ll
have to follow the standard rule “No shirt, no shoes, no service”.
As soon as someone looks down for a second, they’ll catch a look at your shoes - and
may get a strong opinion of you.
This doesn’t mean you have to spring for a fancy new pair, but make sure you’re not
wearing a pair of beaten old workboots.
And before you step in, make sure they’re shined and cleaned of any dirt before you
step on that dance floor.
Speaking of looking up or down...some factors may be out of your control.
Height
There’s some disadvantages to being tall - like banging your head on the top of the
doorway!
But when it comes to dating, it might be easier.
Many girls talk about how they’re more likely to talk to a guy if he’s tall and imposing.
But if you’re less...genetically blessed, that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck.
It just means that a guy who’s shorter might have to make up that first impression in another
way.
And there’s many ways to do that, but it all comes down to one word.
Confidence
Do you want to win someone over with your first impression?
Act like you already have.
There’s no one way to do this, and a lot of guys on the internet will have bad advice
for you.
No, you shouldn’t make a negative comment about her appearance to show your confidence
- that’s just going to get you a drink in the face.
But make sure to put a little swagger in your step before you make that first impression,
approach with confidence, and have your first words planned before you open your mouth.
You’re a catch - act like it!
But sometimes, you make that first impression before you ever talk to someone.
How You Treat Others
You never know who’s watching, so when you’re trying to make a good first impression, you
should probably assume you’re being watched at all time.
Did you just yell at that waitress when she screwed up your drink order?
Did you sneer with disgust at the homeless guy outside asking for a dollar?
There’s a decent chance someone else saw you, and they may already have a bad first
impression of you before you even say hello.
How can you avoid this and ensure a clean - or positive - slate?
Don’t be a jerk!
But when you do get to make that first impression in person, don’t fall into some common mistakes.
Sense of Humor
It’s a great way to break the ice by making a joke, but not everyone has the same sense
of humor.
You want to give your love connection the impression you’re a funny guy, but not a
clown.
Avoid self-deprecating humor - that could just get awkward.
Try not to repeat any jokes that you’ve heard a lot - the odds are she’s heard it
to.
And for pete’s sake, leave all of Uncle Jimmy’s jokes that he says aren’t politically
correct anymore at home - there’s a reason he keeps getting thrown out of family dinners.
But make sure your response to her jokes doesn’t send the wrong signal either.
Laugh
It seems simple, right?
You hear something funny, you laugh!
But how do you laugh, exactly - and what message does it send?
If you barely laugh or seem overly controlled - like an old English Count chortling at the
newspaper comics - you might seem to stuffy.
On the other hand, if you roar with laughter at the slightest joke, you might seem a bit
too larger than life.
And if you don’t find something funny, don’t force it - a fake laugh is usually worse than
no laugh at all, and can send the entire conversation south.
But what you don’t do can be as significant in a conversation.
Eye Contact
If you’re not interested, she won’t be interested either.
And what’s the clearest way to send the signal that you’re not invested in the conversation?
Let your eyes wander elsewhere.
Whether it’s to the drink menu, or to your watch or phone, or to that blonde at the end
of the bar, your wandering eyes could easily bring a premature end to the conversation.
So keep them firmly fixed on the object of your affection, as if she’s the most interesting
thing in the room.
Because if she’s not - what are you doing here?
And your grandma might help you with this next one.
Manners
We’ve already been over “Don’t be a jerk”, but there are a lot of ways to make
a bad first impression when it comes to manners.
You should probably keep the foul language to a minimum - more so if you’re attending
a Church social, but maybe less so if you’re meeting at a biker bar!
And if she’s talking, try not to interrupt or bring everything about the conversation
back to your interests - even if you do think you’re pretty interesting.
This should be common sense stuff - but you’d be surprised by how many guys miss this basic
spot check.
And there’s another way to make a first impression.
Hands
This is another area where some basic hygiene makes a difference - make sure that your nails
aren’t too long and that there’s no gunk under them before you go out on the town.
But even if your hands are in decent shape, how you use them matters.
A handshake is a pretty good way to introduce yourself, but make sure your handshake is
appropriate.
Put a little confidence into it, but don’t go overboard - nothing ruins a first impression
like crushing her fingers.
And if you’re prone to sweaty hands when nervous, give them a good wipe on a napkin
before saying hello.
But today, your first impression might happen before you ever meet someone.
Your Social Media Presence
There are other ways to meet someone besides sidling up to them at the bar.
If you’ve matched with someone on a dating site and are meeting them in person, there’s
a good chance that they’ve already gained a first impression of you.
Does your Facebook have lots of pictures of you looking fit and active?
Good!
Is your Twitter just five thousand tweets of you yelling at the producer of your favorite
show because they killed off a character?
You might have blown that first impression before you set foot in the door.
But is there one thing a woman notices about a guy before anything else?
Put It All Together
In a word, no...and yes.
Your first impression is something intangible - your vibe.
Do you look happy to be there?
Do you look like you put effort into being ready to meet her?
Do you look like a guy who cares about how he looks, or is this just another casual day
at the bar?
No matter whether she looks at your shoes, your hair, your smile, or your Twitter, the
best way to make a good impression is to act like whatever you’re doing, someone’s
watching.
So roll the dice and get back out there!
For more on how to avoid social faux pas, check out “Watch Out!
These Are the 10 Habits That Instantly Annoy Other People” or watch “Dating Experts
Reveal Worst Things You Can Say On a Date” for more instant-date enders.