Let me know if you’ve ever found yourself in this situation: you’ve been on a few dates with someone, had a great time, shared some laughs, and finally, at the end of one of your dates, you share your first kiss. But uh-oh, they’re a bad kisser.
It happens more often than you think, and it’s an uncomfortable position to be in, especially if you really like that person and want to see them again.
The last thing you want to do is hurt their feelings by straight up telling them they’re a bad kisser or refusing to kiss them.
Sometimes, you should come right out and tell your date about your issues with kissing them. For instance, if you dread kissing them because you can tell they haven’t brushed their teeth in a long time, they may not fix that issue unless they’re told directly.
But if their kissing technique is awkward or not flowing naturally, chances are they’re nervous or a little inexperienced. And that’s okay because that’s something you can work through!
Here are a few ways to help your date or partner up their kissing game without blatantly hurting their feelings.
Practice, practice, practice
One of the best ways to improve kissing skills and get into a rhythm is to keep on kissing. It may sound strange, especially if you’re not enjoying the kissing, but sometimes kissing is one of those things you have to do more than once to get the hang of it.
Plus, the more you kiss your partner, the more comfortable you get with them, which dissolves those nerves that could be getting in the way of a great kiss.
Give them some guidance.
While you don’t necessarily want to come right out and say, “You’re a bad kisser; try harder,” to your partner, you can still verbally give them some tips. For instance, you can tell them, “I like it when you kiss me like this,” anytime it’s going well, or “Let’s try doing this” when you think something could be better.
Show, don’t tell. If you want your partner to kiss you a certain way, show them how to do it by kissing them that way. It’s a kind and fun way to teach them how to be better without insulting their current kisser status.
Initiate the kiss
It’s difficult when the bad kisser initiates all your kisses and dominates the situation. Instead, be confident and take the lead yourself next time so you can guide the kiss in the direction you want it to go. If your kisses have been too hard and intense, take control and initiate a nice, slow kiss next time so your partner can get a sense of what you want.
Don’t forget to take breaks
People always talk about how romantic an “endless kiss” is. But when dating a not-so-great kisser, you don’t want it to be endless. Make-out sessions need to have breaks. Otherwise, you’ll end up getting uncomfortable, and it can get a little gross. Plus, you don’t want to risk your partner getting tired out, especially if they’re on the road to getting better at kissing!
Think about the long run
If your partner or date isn’t listening to you, willing to compromise, or thinks they’re an excellent kisser and refuses to change their ways, perhaps it’s time to kick them to the curb.
It can be a real turn-off when someone isn’t willing to communicate with you and help you get what you need. So if their kissing game is so consistently bad to the point where it makes you not like them anymore, don’t be afraid to break things off.
Remember, you deserve good kisses! A good kiss is one of the simplest ways to show someone affection and how much you care about them. Hang in there, and good luck!
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