How to Air Kiss

There are times when you're greeting people with whom you are on good enough terms to call for something more than just a handshake or hug, but it's just not appropriate or comfortable to plant a kiss directly on their cheek. In these cases, giving them an air kiss, where you brush cheeks and kiss the air near their cheek, is a good display of social decorum. Made popular by celebrities, who must often mingle and make nice with people they barely know, it's most common on formal social occasions and among friendly, well-mannered acquaintances.

1. Know when to air kiss. Consider both the occasion and the nature of your relationship with each person you greet. Typically, a formal event (such as weddings, formal parties, and official ceremonies) that brings together people who are on good terms, but who otherwise don't see each other, is the common setting for air kisses. Less formal occasions (family get-togethers, neighborhood barbecue, and casual lunches) may warrant the traditional hug and lips-on-cheek kiss, especially if you see the person you're greeting on a regular basis.
2. Observe how other people are greeting each other. This will give you the opportunity to gauge the formality of the occasion and confirm your judgment about whether this is an appropriate time to air kiss. For example, if you're approaching an entrance and the host is at the door greeting people, see how they are behaving. If your cousin, who's in front of you, gets an air kiss, and you're no closer to the host than your cousin is, then you're probably going to be expected to give an air kiss.
3.

Read their body language. As you approach, reach out with your hand, whether to touch or grasp their upper arm, elbow, or hand(s). If they recoil or tighten up in any way, it might be wise to consider defaulting to just a loose hug. If they seem relaxed and return your contact, an air kiss is probably in order. And if they embrace you affectionately or touch your face, prepare to kiss and be kissed, traditional style.
4.

Lean in for an air kiss. Aim to bring your lips near their right cheek (unless it's customary in your culture to start with the left). Remain observant, though, that they're going for your right cheek, because if they go for your left cheek and you go for their right (or vice versa) there may be an awkward halt as you both realize your faces are about to crash together. As you're going in for the kiss, it's not uncommon to brush cheeks gently.
5.

Kiss the air next to their cheek. Purse your lips together and kiss the air just to the side of their face. Depending what's customary for the cultural context of the event, it may be appropriate to switch sides and repeat, going in for an air kiss on the opposite cheek.


Tips:

* For an extravagant, boisterous touch, exclaim a person's name with a smile as you approach. Since the air kiss is all about showing affection without actually giving it, this is another way to reinforce a positive interaction without physical contact.
* Women sometimes make a discreet kissing sound (like "muah!") when they air kiss; it's generally seen as a friendly and feminine gesture to further embellish the greeting.
* In some cultures, it is customary to give two, three, or even four air kisses upon greeting or leaving someone at a social occasion. It's always best to concede to observation, however, because local etiquette can sometimes vary greatly from the cultural context.

o In Spain, it's generally two kisses, starting with the right cheek.
o In the Netherlands, three kisses are expected.
* When in doubt, shake hands.


Warnings:

* Giving the wrong kind of kiss can have negative social implications.

o If you give someone an air kiss when they feel comfortable enough to give you a peck right on the cheek, they may feel insulted at your subtle lack of intimacy.
o If you give an actual kiss when all they expected was an air kiss like the one they give you, you might feel embarrassed, or your kiss might be misinterpreted as something more.
o When visiting a country unfamiliar to you, beware of the cultural traditions. In Central Europe it's common to kiss on greeting someone; in Australia it is almost never done.

How to Give Someone a Hickey

A hickey is a discoloration of the skin—a bruise, really—caused by prolonged suction of the mouth against the skin. Hickeys are a rite of passage, a mark of love or possession that advertises the hickey wearer’s relationship with the hickey giver. This article explains how to give a hickey to your boyfriend or girlfriend.
Steps

1. Get the person's permission. Just because you want to leave your mark of love on your boyfriend or girlfriend doesn't mean he or she wants to wear an ugly bruise. Ask first, even if your partner has been kissing you, and stop if he or she wants you to (hickeys can cause the receiver discomfort).
2. Choose the right spot. You can give someone a hickey just about anywhere. The most common place is on the throat, because the capillaries (tiny blood vessels) that are broken during a hickey are pretty close to the surface and because you don’t need to remove any clothing to give a hickey on the neck. These are also the most easily visible, and while visibility is usually intended, you may want to give or receive a hickey elsewhere where it is more easily covered.
3. Place your lips against the skin, leaving your mouth open slightly in the middle. Your lips should be parted as though you are saying the letter “O.”
4. Suck on the skin. Make a good seal with your lips against the skin, and suck the skin as though you’re trying to suck it into your mouth. Continue applying suction for at least 30 seconds, possibly more. The suction will break the capillaries beneath the skin and cause the characteristic bruising that is a hickey.


Tips

* Wait a few minutes for the hickey to appear. It will probably get darker or bigger in the hours after you give it.
* If you can't seem to give a hickey, try sucking on the skin for more time, and make sure you have a good seal between the mouth and skin so that your suction is most powerful.
* It may help to start with your tongue against their skin, inside your mouth, then pull it back as you suck
* If your partner doesn't want a hickey to be noticeable, ask if you can give one to him or her in a less conspicuous spot. The belly is good, not only because it won't be seen by others, but also because it provides a flat surface against which you can easily create good suction.


Warnings

* Receiving a hickey can be painful. If you don’t like the way it feels, pull away and tell the person to stop. If someone asks you to stop giving a hickey, respect his or her wishes.
* Don’t bite. Suction is all that is required to give a hickey. If you use your teeth you run the risk of breaking the skin and causing infection. Even if it doesn't break the skin, it will hurt a lot in the days to come.

How to Kiss Passionately

There are kisses for just about every emotion and occasion--the greeting kiss on the cheek, the maternal kiss on the forehead, an affectionate kiss on the lips, the kiss of death--but on those certain occasions when you want to communicate passion and, maybe, lust, not just any kiss will do. You need a fiercely passionate kiss. If done incorrectly, these kisses can turn out being gross or sloppy, but when performed with skill and feeling, there is no greater expression of love. Here's how to get it right.
Steps

1. Make sure your breath is fresh and clean. Naturally you practice good dental hygiene, but if you have any doubts about your breath, take a breath mint shortly before the kiss. Make sure to finish the mint before you lock lips.
2. Approach the kiss with confidence. Once you've chosen the right moment to kiss someone, there's no turning back, especially if it's your first time kissing that particular person. Be decisive and confident. If the person doesn't want the kiss, he or she will let you know, but until then act as though you're a pro.
3.Angle your heads so that you don't bump noses.

Angle your heads so that you don't bump noses.
Lean in and turn your head slightly. Leaning in signals that you want to kiss the person, and turning your head prevents crushing your nose against the other person's.
4. Start slowly. Don't try to thrust your tongue in your partner's mouth right away. Simply press your lips against theirs. Close your eyes as you do so to heighten the intimacy and to avoid looking at the pores on your partner's nose.
5. Open your lips slightly. Once the kiss is accepted, try opening your lips slightly. If the other person follows suit, try slightly varying the openness of your lips (both more and less open) throughout the kiss. You may wish to explore the person's lips and tongue a bit with the tip of your tongue. There are no rules; just try to make your motions smooth.
6. Consider the French Kiss. As the kiss progresses, you may want to try French kissing, in which you insert your tongue deep into your partner's mouth and let it dance with your partner's tongue.
7.

Try some necking. If things are going well, consider spicing it up a bit by moving your head down to kiss and lightly nibble your partner's neck.
8. Keep your arms busy. You seldom, maybe never, see a great kiss in which the participants just let their arms dangle at their sides. At the very least, embrace your partner and gently pull him or her to you. You can also run your hands through your partner's hair; or caress his or her back, sides, or other parts of the body. Where you put your hands should be determined by the status of your relationship, your desires, and your partner's signals, whether spoken or communicated non-verbally.


Tips

* Avoid breath-killing foods, such as garlic and onions, if you plan on kissing someone.
* Some people, especially those who have been in a relationship for a while, find that keeping one's eyes open during a kiss can produce an intense experience of closeness for both partners.
* Try not to bump teeth or bite the person during the kiss. If this happens incidentally, however, don't worry about it.
* If you want to show a mark of your affection, consider giving or receiving a hickey or love bite. A hickey is a red or purple mark caused by sucking on the skin. Some people like them, but they can be painful, and they don't go away quickly, so be sure to discuss this with your partner before trying to give him or her one.


Warnings

* If your attempt to steal a kiss is rebuffed, respect the person's wishes, and back off immediately. If at any point your partner seems uncomfortable with anything you're doing, stop doing it.
* If you feel uncomfortable with anything your partner is doing, or if you don't want to kiss someone, let that person know. Be polite, but be firm. If politeness doesn't work, just be firm.

How to Hint for a Kiss

How to hint that you would like to be kissed.
Steps

1. Start by looking down. Then, without words, hold your boyfriend's gaze for a few seconds with a demure smile. Then, look away.
2. Put your arms around his neck, like you're trying to hug him.
3. Gently tickle the back of his neck while looking into his eyes.
4. Snuggle your face into his neck, barely kiss his cheek.
5. Slowly move your lips towards him, kiss him.
6. Be kissed.
7. Move away slowly.


Tips

* When leaving the kiss go slowly, or it will be unromantic.
* Biting your bottom lip is also another way.
* Pretend to shake like your cold to get your boyfriend closer, and if asks if you're cold just say you're nervous. Guys like that.


Warnings

* Don't be too heart-broken if and when you aren't kissed. It happens, but don't force yourself into a kiss that your partner doesn't want.