Guys, Stay Alert: 12 Dating Tricks Women Learn From Glossy Mags (14 Photos)

Here is a guide for men on how to avoid taking the bait—and a gentle reminder for women on why you shouldn't blindly trust magazine advice.

One of my recent dates was a complete disaster. Throughout dinner, my date aggressively stroked the stem of her wine glass. I started getting worried for her—was she breaking out in hives or something? Then, in the taxi, she leaned in and started whispering into my ear with intense passion. Once again, I got scared—this time for my ear. Don't get me wrong, I'm not easily spooked. It's just that the whole thing felt painfully unnatural. Here was a genuinely sweet girl trying so desperately and clumsily to charm me that it backfired completely. It made me sad, mostly because I knew exactly where this came from. Part of my job involves keeping tabs on women's magazines.





And I realized that the passionate whispering, dramatic lip-biting, and obsessive hair-twirling are almost always straight out of those publications. The kind featured under headlines like "15 Foolproof Ways to Seduce Any Man." Women actually believe these articles and put the advice into practice. Alas. After that date, I decided to do both men and women a favor. First, to teach men how to spot a girl who's taken "man-hunting" tips a bit too far. And second, to show women that in real life, these tricks can end up looking pretty ridiculous.



Trick 1. Laugh at all his jokes! (Still from *Bridget Jones's Diary*)

For Men: If a girl giggles uncontrollably for five straight minutes at a tired dad joke (something along the lines of "just eat the money"), she's probably laying it on thick. Even if she happens to be in a great mood and you actually have decent comedic timing, non-stop laughter should raise a red flag. Is your date genuinely doing okay?

For Women: It’s best to laugh only when something is actually funny. There's a reason for that old saying about laughing for no reason. We love your laugh—it brightens our mood, boosts our confidence, and breaks the ice. It’s super important! Just don't overdo it.





Trick 2. "Flirt" with your eyes! (Still from *Sin City: A Dame to Kill For*)

For Men: Women's magazines often break eye-contact seduction down into an exact routine. First, stare intently into his eyes for a few seconds. Then, quickly glance away. Finally, look back at him through your eyelashes. Granted, some women pull this off enticingly. But other times, it feels like you're sitting across from a self-taught hypnotist. You end up feeling like a deer in the headlights. It's not sexy—it's alarming. Mags also tell women how to get a "sultry look" by relaxing their upper eyelids. Again, some pull it off naturally. For others, it looks like a medical emergency. "Lift up my eyelids!" Yikes...

For Women: Ladies, you usually establish thrilling eye contact naturally without any prescribed routine. But the moment you start following a rigid "look forward, look away, look down, look forward" pattern, your gaze loses its main appeal: authenticity. The eyes are the window to the soul, and we want to see genuine interest—not an instruction manual.



Trick 3. Drop something and pick it up seductively. (Still from *Heartbreakers*)

For Men: Women typically use this trick to show off their legs. Granted, it's almost impossible to tell if she dropped her keys by accident or on purpose. Either way, she might pick them up so gracefully that you'll be genuinely impressed by her poise.

For Women: Of course, if you drop something by accident, picking it up gracefully is great. But dramatically arching your back and whipping your hair around is overkill. It’s more likely to make a guy feel awkward than captivated.



Trick 4. Slowly caress the stem of your glass. (Still from *Sex and the City 2*)

For Men: If a girl keeps running her fingers up and down her wine glass stem, she’s trying to trigger romantic associations in your mind. Used subtly and at the right moment, it might work. But more often than not, it just looks tacky.

For Women: Again, please don't overdo it. Otherwise, you risk coming across as trashy, which is probably not the vibe you're going for.



Trick 5. Share his interests. (Still from *Pretty Woman*)

For Men: Sometimes a sweet girl asks to join us at a sports bar and pretends to be deeply invested in a Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich match, when in reality she doesn't even know what a penalty kick is. It's an attempt to share our interests, and you can't blame her for trying. Be gentle when she stares blankly at a basic sports question—she’s just trying to impress you. It’s better to simply explain that having different hobbies is completely fine.

For Women: Honestly, not many guys find it attractive when a girl screams at the TV screen in a sports bar just to fit in. If you genuinely love football, hockey, or fishing, that’s great! But you don't *have* to share all his interests. Men's hobbies are okay to stay men's hobbies. We actually like that we're different!



Trick 6. Eat something sensually in front of him. (Still from *Julie & Julia*)

For Men: According to women's magazines, this is another sure-fire way to play on our suggestive side. That's where all the advice about eating bananas, lollipops, or ice cream "sensually" comes from.

For Women: There's an old joke: "To avoid looking easy on a first date, she ate her banana with a knife and fork." That’s extreme, of course, but trying too hard to eat sensually can backfire completely and look downright crude. On the flip side, eating fast and messily isn't great either. Moderation is key...



Trick 7. Be unpredictable and mysterious! (Still from *Love Me If You Dare*)

For Men: If a girl schedules a date and cancels five minutes beforehand without an explanation, it doesn't always mean she hates you or had a real emergency. Often, girls do this to make us sweat and add an aura of mystery. Go ahead and invite her out again, but let her know you value your time. The same goes for girls who act secretive about their plans. Magazines have convinced women they need to be a "mystery," and if they don't have one, they'll invent it.

For Women: Sure, it’s great when a woman is full of pleasant surprises, but playing mind games isn't the way to go. Here’s a secret: to men, women are already an enigma by default! You don't need to force it. Fake drama isn't romantic.



Trick 8. Play with your hair and expose your neck. (Still from *Malèna*)

For Men: Women love twirling their hair or fixing their hairstyle. Some do it playfully, others are genuinely touching up, and some just don't know what to do with their hands. In any case, it's often a sign of flirting. Magazines also tell women to show off their neck, claiming it’s the most vulnerable part of the body and signals subconscious trust.

For Women: These tricks are pretty harmless—if done in moderation. Otherwise, a guy might wonder why you're constantly fussing with your hair.



Trick 9. Lower your voice and speak breathily. (Still from *Basic Instinct*)

For Men: Women have somehow been led to believe that men are turned on by a raspy, sultry voice, complete with sighing and warm ear-whispering. So when a girl deliberately drops her tone or lets out soft sighs, know that she’s genuinely trying to charm you.

For Women: Truth is, men like all kinds of voices—both deep and high-pitched. What matters far more is good communication and avoiding cussing or poor grammar. In an intimate setting, your voice will naturally become softer and sexier anyway. There's no need to fake it—a forced voice sounds jarring and puts guys off.



Trick 10. Mention on the phone that you're taking a bath. (Still from *Some Like It Hot*)

For Men: We've all been there—trying to reach a girl for hours, only to hear she was "in the shower." Most of the time it’s true, but it's also a classic magazine tip. Women are told that if their crush calls while they're home, dropping an intimate detail will heat up his imagination—like mentioning she's soaking in a bubble bath, applying body lotion, or putting on stockings.

For Women: It’s a fairly harmless trick, but why start a relationship with lies—even innocent ones?



Trick 11. Ask him for help, then shower him with praise. (Still from *Overboard*)

For Men: By now you've realized the "fairer sex" isn't as helpless as they pretend to be. After all, how do millions of single women open pickle jars? Exactly. But as soon as a guy enters the picture, a magazine-reading girl suddenly forgets how to do basic household tasks. And honestly, that's fine! It's the easiest way for a guy to get his hero moment. Opened a jar? You saved her from starvation! Changed a lightbulb? Here’s your medal. It works, and it's mutually beneficial—provided it doesn't get ridiculous.

For Women: Men genuinely like helping women, and we love praise. That's a fact. But sometimes the request feels forced and the enthusiasm fake. And remember: guys hate insincerity.



Trick 12. "Mirror" his body language! (Still from *Silver Linings Playbook*)

For Men: Many magazines tell women that the best way to win a man over is to become his mirror—subtly copying his posture, gestures, and speech patterns. So if by the end of a first date you feel like you're totally on the same wavelength, it might not be a deep soul connection. She might just be mirroring you. Psychologists know we love people who remind us of ourselves, and clever girls take full advantage of that.

For Women: Some pull this off subtly, while for others it feels like mockery. But even if it works, there's a deeper problem: wouldn't it bother you that he fell for his own reflection rather than the real you (remember Narcissus)? You can't mimic someone forever, so a relationship built on this trick is bound to hit a wall. Isn't it better to just be yourself?



A Final Request: The One Thing That Really Matters. (Still from *The Best of Me*)

At the end of the day, men aren't against a little flirting and seduction. We actually love it—as long as it feels natural, tasteful, and genuine. So, ladies, don't blindly follow advice from glossy mags or online blogs. Every woman has a flirt inside her, but it’s much better when it comes naturally rather than from a step-by-step guide. Authenticity, sincere interest, and self-confidence are the ultimate seduction tools for both sexes. Wishing everyone real, sweet, and breathtaking love!