Kissing is a skill, but not a hard one to pick up. It is important, however, because you need to be able to make a good first impression on a girl if you want to see her again. Part of making a good first impression is knowing how to kiss her if the moment comes. Nothing is more awkward than kissing someone who is bad at it, has bad breath, or uses their teeth. Ouch! So, let’s go over some pointers to try and help you nail the situation when it arrives, and maybe lock up a second date and possibly more.

The first kiss with a girl tells her more about you than the two hours you just spent talking. In part, we kiss so we can find compatibility. If the setting is right, all that’s left is a little tact on your part. Try to make it happen in an isolated location, so that it isn’t weird for either of you. The kiss will be much more powerful for both of you when you’re by yourselves.

You need to be confident, but relaxed. If you’re too nervous, she will be able to tell, and it won’t be romantic in the least. Look for the best time to kiss her. Ideally, you should be alone and staring into each others eyes. When the stare goes on for long enough, it is usually pretty clear that a kiss is following. But don’t forget to look deep into her eyes. This is crucial, since a woman’s eyes tell it all, which comes back to why eye contact is so important. Learn how to look someone in the eyes with confidence, excitement, and the slightest bit of longing.

Once the stare goes on, you know she wants a kiss and you feel ready, lean in slowly, place your hand gently on her cheek (if that seems like your style), and you’re ready. But wait! Is your breath fresh? Before you even left the house earlier you should have brushed your teeth thoroughly and used mouth wash. Make sure not to use mouth wash with alcohol in it, as alcohol dries up your mouth and can cause bad breath after a couple hours. If you ate something recently, chew some gum or even bring a tiny portable toothbrush with you for the date. You certainly don’t want to have bad breath, because even the best kisser in the world can’t make up for that. Make sure your lips aren’t chapped or too dry. You may even want to lick your lips occasionally while you’re out. Just make sure not to be too wet, or it’ll be gross for both of you (but mostly her).

When you kiss her, make it romantic. Some people like to ask the girl, but it is usually not as romantic that way. Show control and look like you know what you’re doing for success. Try not to give her too much of your spit, or you’ll gross her out. Like I said before, you can hold her cheek to make it more romantic. Know when to stop kissing her, though, so you can look like you’re totally in control. It’s really hard to want to stop, but you don’t want to give her too much and make it so you don’t get any more in the future. Along the same lines, don’t go too far. You don’t want to rush anything or make her feel uncomfortable.

When you first kiss, hold your bodies against each other for more intimacy. While you’re doing that, tilt your head to one side slightly and move your tongue to the rhythm of hers. Don’t use to much tongue, but let her know that you have one and you aren’t afraid to use it. Make circular motions with your tongue against hers for synchronicity and a sense of bonding. Remember to close your eyes while you lean in to kiss, because nobody likes to open their eyes during kissing to see someone staring at them.

You’ll very quickly pick up on what type of kisser she is from the beginning. After a second, you’ll be able to match her rhythm almost perfectly. If she’s a passionate, wild kisser, you’ll be able to do some lip biting and faster tongue movements to match her. If she moves slow and subtly, you won’t have to do much to match her. Just remember to copy your partner’s style, but hold yourself with relaxed composure to look in charge. If done well, this can be a magical moment for the both of you.