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Secrets and Tips of a Self-Professed Online Dating Expert

Date One - Unforgettable or Regrettable?

by Amie ◊ January 11, 2008

Published in Dating

1 comments – join the discussion!

Just as I was about to get out of my car it started to rain; the sneaky kind of west coast rain that soaks you in seconds even though it feels like a mist. My umbrella was still propped up beside my front door at home and I was parked far enough away that I could have called a cab when my worst fear was realized. I was going to have flat hair.

I thought I was done. Having fine, thin hair was stressful enough let alone I was making my grand entrance sporting a full implosion. As it turned out he was a gracious enough guy to still comment on how hot I looked. Hey...beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Who am I to deny him that?

Without taking into account natural disasters here are a few tried and true tips to help you deal with some of those annoying pre-date jitters.

If you want to make unforgettable first impression, take care to be clean, pressed and polished.
Choose a casual and dinner "date" outfit ahead of time that can take you from coffee to cocktails. You never know! It should be comfortable while making you feel good and
will impress without the worry of a wardrobe malfunction . Don't be afraid of colour. It says fun, carefree and confident...so make a splash!

Guys...check for misplaced nose, ear and brow hairs. Manscaping starts at the top and women love it.
A nice pair of polished shoes and simple layering of your shirts will leave a visual imprint.

Ladies... less is best for make-up and exposure of your fabulous body parts.
Ask any man who has dated before and he will tell you he leans more toward the natural look.

Easy does it for cleavage and leg. A little of one or the other sends a better message.

Go light or without when it comes to colognes and perfumes. Let your natural pheromones do the talking.

Teeth whitening products make you look young and vibrant and say "good hygiene" They are easy to use and provide a powerful impact so check for coffee and wine stains ahead of time.

Try adding an extra 15 minutes to your travel time to avoid feeling anxious and apologetic.

Arriving early will give you the opportunity to take a deep breathe and focus on the positive.

Oh, and turn your phone off. Your date is the VIP , not your work or your friends calling to see if he or she is hot. The respect will be well received.

Think of a few questions to ask your date ahead of time. Find out what floats their boat and take it from there.
If I am feeling nervous I share that with my date. It helps cut the tension and most admitted they were a bit anxious as well.
Really listening to the other person and using eye contact shows that you are interested and develops trust. You will be surprised what your date will tell you about themselves in a short period of time...if you let them. Keep it light and involve yourself in the conversation while steering clear of those dreaded ex-stories, sex topics and bodily function tales.

If you don't feel comfortable with the direction of the conversation don't go there and say so. Trust your gut!
Discover what you have in common and be interested in what you don't have and the conversation should flow easily. There will always be something positive for you to take away from the experience.

So take heart. Even if you think you didn't pull it all together you still may have made a connection.
Just be yourself, be real and have fun.