How to Read Women’s Body Language for Flirting: 15 Cues (2024)

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Co-authored bySarah Schewitz, PsyDand Hunter Rising

Last Updated: November 22, 2022Fact Checked

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   She quickly glances in your direction. When a woman enters a room, she might dart her eyes to quickly check everyone out. Try to notice if she ever sneaks a peek in your direction. It could be a sign she’s interested if she catches your eye.^[1]

   • If a woman looks at you from over her shoulder, she's being more seductive and playful toward you with her body language.^[2]
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   She holds eye contact with you. While she might glance from time to time to check you out, a longer stare is a better signal that you’ve captured her attention. When you see her peering your way, match her gaze to see how she reacts. If she holds eye contact for a few seconds before looking away, it’s a really good cue that she wants to get to know you better.^[3]

   • If you’re sitting close enough to see her pupils, check if they’re dilated. When a woman has dilated eyes, it’s a surefire sign she’s attracted to you.^[4]

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   She does a head toss or hair flip. When you’re checking her out, see if the woman tilts her face up and tosses her head back. Alternatively, she may run her fingers through her hair and flip it to the side of her head. Either way, there’s a good chance that she’s trying to get your attention with her exaggerated movements.^[5]

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   She exposes her neck or inner wrist. A woman may push her hair behind her ear to show you her neck, or turn her hands toward you so you can see the insides of her wrists. Both of these moves are sensual signals that she’s vulnerable and wants you to come chat with her.^[6]

   • A woman might do this from across the room or when she's having a conversation with you. If she brushes her hair away from her ear when you’re talking, it may just mean she’s trying to hear you better.
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   She fidgets with her hair or outfit. A woman may “preen” herself once you’ve seen her to make sure she’s looking her best. She may smooth out her clothes, adjust her jewelry, or fix her hair to signal that she knows you’re watching and wants you to check her out more.^[7]

   • She may also fidget with the things around her, like tracing around the rim of her glass or picking at a napkin.
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   She smiles at you. She might start off with a small, coy smile from across the room when you make eye contact with each other. If you keep catching each other’s eye, she may switch to a bigger flirtatious smile to signal that she’s really interested and excited by thought of chatting with you.^[8]

   • A half smile without showing teeth might mean that a woman is just being friendly. Watch her other body language to see if she’s really interested in you.
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   She moves closer to you. You see the woman from across the room and then the next time you see her, she’s a few steps closer. That’s a great sign that she’s trying to talk to you and wants to get your attention. See if she keeps moving in your direction, and try to strike up a conversation with her if she keeps approaching you.^[9]

   See Also

   How to Get a Female Friend to Make the First Move: 12 StepsFrom Flushed Skin To Eye Contact: 27 Signs That Someone's Attracted To You6 Most Obvious Body Language Signs That Women Give Out If They Are Interested In Someone10 Subtle Signs A Woman May Be Flirting, From Body Language Experts

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   She has an open and relaxed posture. When a woman keeps her arms at her sides and turns toward you, she’s telling you that she feels at ease and comfortable around you. Notice if her shoulders look relaxed or if she seems tense, which could mean that she’s starting to feel uncomfortable.^[10]

   • If you’re in a place playing music, she may sway along to the music so you notice her body.
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   She leans in closer to you. A woman who’s flirting with you will try to get closer to show that she’s paying attention and interested in what you have to say. She’ll lean her upper body forward while you’re chatting to signal her interest to you.^[11]

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   She mirrors your movements. When a woman is attracted to you, she’ll copy some of your hand movements and your gestures. Compare your body language to hers or try doing some expressive hand movements to see if she matches your energy.^[12]

   • Mirroring movements can also happen between good friends, so be careful not to get confused feelings if you and your best friend do the same thing.
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   She quickly blinks her eyes. While holding eye contact is a good sign a woman is into you, it’s another good sign if she blinks a lot when she’s talking to you. She may not even recognize that she’s doing it, but it could be a signal that she’s got butterflies in her stomach and she’s excited to chat with you.^[13]

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   She nods her head when you talk. If you’re holding a conversation, women will nod along and urge you to keep talking so they can learn more about you. She wants you to know that she’s flirting and interested in what you have to say, so she’ll give you all of her attention.^[14]

   • If she laughs at your jokes, it’s a really good sign that she’s flirting with you.
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   She touches her hair or body. Check if the woman rubs at her neck, thighs, or face when you’re checking her out or chatting with her. It could be a sign that she has the desire to be touched and she's inviting you to break the touch barrier.^[15]

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   She licks or bites her lips. If a woman licks or bites her lips, she might be teasing and letting you know she’s thinking about kissing you. She might not want you to make a big move right away, but she wants to let you know that she likes you and may be interested once she gets to know you more.^[16]

   • Some people lightly lick their lips right before they talk, so it may not mean that a woman is into you.
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   She makes physical contact with you. A woman may “accidentally” brush her hand against your arm or your leg, or she may put her hand on your shoulder when she’s chatting with you. When she breaks the touch barrier, she’s letting you know that she feels really comfortable around you and that she’s feeling fun and flirty.^[17]

   • Try lightly touching her back to let her know that you’re interested in her too.

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   She looks somewhere else when you catch her gaze. If you check out a woman and she immediately darts her eyes away from you, she doesn’t want to engage in a conversation. She might look toward one of her friends, an exit, or down towards her feet to signal that she’d rather be left alone for now.^[18]

   • If she turns away as you start to approach her, then the woman would rather not chat.
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   She stops smiling or frowns. When a woman quickly changes her expression when she sees you or as she’s talking, she’s probably not interested in anything at the moment. It could mean she’s uncomfortable or just doesn’t want to chat right now.^[19]

   • If you said something that made her upset, apologize for what you said right away to try saving the conversation.
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   She crosses her arms. When a woman crosses her arms in front of her chest, her body language says she’s closed off toward conversations. She probably doesn’t want to engage with anyone, so it’s best if you just leave her be.^[20]

   • She may also turn her body away from you to signal that she’s not interested.
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   She pulls away when you make physical contact. If you try getting closer and she backs away, she doesn’t want to be touched right now. She may lean backward or step further away as you get into her personal space to let you know that she’s uncomfortable and needs some room.^[21]

   • If a woman asks you for more space, show her respect and listen to her so she feels more comfortable.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

• If a woman you're interested in tries to look away when you make eye contact but keeps glancing back at you, it's a sign she's attracted but maybe a little shy. You may notice this happen when the girl you're with tries to pretend she's looking at something else but can't resist sneaking peeks at you. It's a good sign if she lights up when she catches you looking back.
• You may notice that sometimes a woman who crosses her arms could still be interested. Pay attention to her facial expression — if she's grinning or smiling as she crosses her arms, she could just be feeling nervous or shy rather than closed off. Focus on reading her whole body language rather than just one gesture.
• As a girl myself, I know we sometimes flirt by looking away when you catch us staring. We want you to know we're interested but get shy about holding eye contact. If you like her too, flirt back subtly without going overboard. And if you're not interested, let her down easy.
• If a girl finds excuses to be near you, like sitting right next to you when there's plenty of space, it shows she wants to get closer. Try glancing her way to see if she's sneaking looks at you. It could mean she hopes you'll make the first move.
• Your scent and hygiene can make a big impression. Keep yourself clean with a subtle, pleasant fragrance like sandalwood. Women notice when a guy smells amazing, so it can give you an edge. Just don't overdo cologne.

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