A smile is the absolute best way to look approachable, and can attract someone without you having to say a word. Sometimes we try so hard to appear confident that we inadvertently wind up looking aloof and standoffish. Make sure you’re having fun – when you look like you’re having a great time, people are more likely to want to talk to you. Remember when you were twelve and you waited until Mom was in a good mood to tell her about the mantelpiece figurine you broke? Well, if you think about it, this is the same concept: if you look like you’re in a good mood, your target will feel more confident that he or she can talk to you without getting a negative response.
Be playful.
This goes right along with approachable. A big part of flirtation is being playful. In fact, it’s one of the first things we learn about flirting as children – does tagging someone to give them your “cooties” ring a bell? Be spontaneous, and don’t be so afraid of looking goofy that you clam up. Being goofy is not such a bad thing, provided you aren’t constantly silly. If you’re in a club, for example, and an old MC Hammer song comes on, breaking into a few seconds of the Hammer-dance or dramatically declaring “Can’t touch this!” can garner a laugh from your flirting partner. Laughing will make both of you feel more comfortable and at ease with each other, and it lets the other person know that you’re fun and that it’s okay to relax and let their guard down.
Dish out a compliment or two.
Who doesn’t love to be sincerely complimented? Sincerely is the key word there. Since you’re flirting with the person, there’s obviously something that you find attractive about them – so point it out! But make sure that you really mean what you say, otherwise it’s just a shallowly disguised pick-up line. A word of advice for the guys: if it’s her body you’re attracted to, find something else to compliment her on – her beautiful long eyelashes, for example. “Nice butt” might be something to save for later. To make the compliment especially seductive, you can’t go wrong by whispering it directly into their ear.