How to Read a Woman's Body Language

A woman's body language is one, but certainly not the only, way you can determine if she is interested in you. Look for any of these telltale signs:

-- She crosses her legs toward you.

We (both men and women) point our feet toward what we "want" at some level. This is why, in a doctor's office waiting room or final exam lecture hall, you will notice the majority of people have their legs pointing toward the nearest exit. If you are talking to an attractive woman and she recrosses her legs toward you at some point during the conversation, this can be a good indicator of interest.

-- Open body language.

Are her arms down or are they crossed? Crossed arms often means "I'm not yet convinced" or "I'm not believing what you're saying." If you encounter closed body language like closed arms, ask yourself what could have gone wrong -- did you start talking about something controversial? Did you accidentally offend her? Backstep and figure out what you've done wrong: the arms will uncross when you are on more sure ground.

-- Frequent hair tossing and/or playing with hair.

This is a "preening" gesture -- many animals clean feathers or hair to "show off" to a potential mate. We are no different. If she is constantly playing with her hair, twirling it between her fingers while you are talking, this could be another good sign. I also highly recommend you learn the "kiss test" discussed in David DeAngelo's e-book and use it as often as possible.

-- Frequent touching.

Is she touching your arm and shoulders during conversation? Does she grab your hand at any point to emphasize something she is saying? We don't touch those who we dislike. (When was the last time you grabbed a drunk homeless person's hand?) We tend to make physical contact with those we find "agreeable" on some level -- whether it be professional, social, or sexual is not always immediately clear.

-- Repeated use of your name in conversation.

While this is not strictly speaking "body language", it is a subtle cue that a woman is interested in you. If she says things like "Oh, James, you're hilarious" and "James Smith, you are something else" and so on this is a form of psychological "claiming" -- she likes using your name because it makes her feel closer to you. We frequently "claim" people we like. As an example, if you remember your time in middle school or high school when a teacher would dote on a particularly favorite student, he or she would use the student's name a lot.

If she never uses your name in conversation, it doesn't necessarily mean she dislikes you, but frequent name use is a well-known indicator of interest. If she uses your full name, especially in a sarcastic or flirty way, this is another good sign.