How to kiss *really* well

You might think that now you're an adult you don't need to know how to kiss. But as simple as kissing may seem, if you've spent some of your adult life dating around, you'll know some people still get it VERY wrong. Who hasn't been on a great Tinder date only to have the night ruined by a tongue-happy person who essentially chokes you? It's off-putting to say the least...

Sex and relationships expert for Lovehoney, Annabelle Knight, explains how to get the basics down and make sure you're a really good kisser - and how to French kiss like a pro.

How to kiss

1. Start slow

Begin with a few gentle kisses. Going too fast right out the gate can be a turn off. Don’t worry about the tongue at first. This is all about light kisses to each other’s lips. Move slowly to build anticipation.

2. Keep the drool to a minimum

Make sure you are not building up too much saliva. If you’ve got too much spit in your mouth, swallow it to avoid a messy mistake.

3. Don’t forget to breathe

Breathing through your nose is the best option. If your nose is blocked, you’ll have to take a break for a few seconds, perhaps by gently biting your partner on the neck or ear lobe.

4. Be hands on

Don’t let your hands just lie still at your sides. Try putting your hands around the back of your partner or over their shoulders. Turn it up a little as you get more intimate by pulling them closer.

5. Try the tongue

When things are getting going, try using the tongue. You can mix things up not just by touching tongues but also by running your tongue lightly along your partner’s lips.

6. Vary your routine

Like anything to do with sex, variety makes for more fun. Don’t always kiss the same way: vary your routine to keep things fun and interesting. Move from the lips to kiss other erogenous zones in the body - neck, ears and further down! When your partner can't predict what is going to happen next, their anticipation will go through the roof.

7. Nibble away

Try gently biting on your partner’s lips when they’re between yours. Graze your teeth lightly over their lower lip applying light pressure with your teeth.

8. Keep up the eye contact

This reinforces intimacy and is another fun way to take a break from kissing without spoiling the mood. Just remember, gazing into each other’s eyes while your lips are locked can be extremely sexy for some, but a little creepy for others, so save the staring
for the intimate moments between lip-to-lip contact.

9. And keep it fresh

We’ve saved this one for last so as not to kill the passion, but make sure that your breath is fresh before you get going, particularly if you’ve just had a coffee which can impact on your breath. Quickly clean your teeth, suck on a mint or apply some scented lip balm beforehand.