Should Guys Use Emojis When Texting Girls? The Do's and Don'ts of Flirting with Emojis

Co-authored by Cher Gopman and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: August 15, 2022 References

You’re staring at your phone, your finger hovering over the keypad. Should you text this girl an emoji? Will she think it’s flirty, or could it be a turn-off? We’re here to put your mind at ease and help you send the perfect text! We’ve answered all the most common questions you have about guys using emojis when texting girls.

Question 1 of 6:

Do girls hate when guys use emojis?

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No, girls are totally okay with guys using emojis. Girls generally use emojis more often than guys because they like using them.^{[1]
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Research source} But girls aren’t the only ones using emojis. Anyone can use them, and they may actually help you flirt more easily.^{[2]
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- When in doubt, follow her lead. If she’s using emojis, go ahead and type them into your texts. However, you might avoid emojis if she doesn’t use them often.
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Girls sometimes don't like emojis that are sexually suggestive. According to experts, girls typically don’t like receiving these kinds of texts too early in a relationship. Play it safe by avoiding emojis like the 🍆 or 🍑 that are often associated with sex until you get to know a girl better. Wait until you’re sure she’ll like it.^{[3]
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- The 🍆 represents a penis in text speak, and a 🍑 represents a butt.
- In addition to the 🍆 and 🍑 emojis, avoid combinations like 💦+👅, 👉+👌, 👉+🍩, or 🌭+🌮. All of these combinations are used to represent sex acts.
- Similarly, the 😈 emoji and 💦 emoji are a bad choice since they’re typically interpreted as “naughty.”^{[4]
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Question 2 of 6:

Is it flirting to send emojis?

Not always, but emojis are a great way to flirt. Friends send each other emojis all the time, so they don’t necessarily mean you’re flirting. However, some emojis do signify flirting. A strategically placed 😉 or 😍 emoji can tell someone you’re into them.^{[5]
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- To flirt, text something like, “I liked your outfit today 😍,” or “We should study together sometime 😉.”
- The 😉 is used just like in real life—you're winking at the person you're talking to. The 😍 shows that you love something.

Question 3 of 6:

What emojis should you use when texting a girl?

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Send face emojis to convey your tone or mood. Texts are easy to misinterpret because you don’t get to hear the person’s tone. Fortunately, emojis can make the tone clearer.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Cher Gopman
Dating Coach
Expert Interview. 17 May 2019.} Include a face emoji in your text to show how you’re feeling.^{[7]
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- For example, you might use a 😉 to show that you’re flirting or a 😀 to show that you’re happy.
- You could text, “I wish we could hang out tonight! 😉” or “How’s it going? 😀”
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Send hearts and flowers to flirt. Emojis are a great way to flirt! Add a little romance to your text with a 🌹 or ❤️. Sprinkle these emojis into a conversation so you aren’t coming on too strong.^{[8]
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- For example, you might send just 1 or 2 flirty emojis a day to get a girls’ attention. Don’t send her a string of them because she might get creeped out.
- You might text her, “You always brighten up my day! ❤️” or “Thinking of you! 🌹”
- The ❤️ means love or intense like. You could also use the 💕 to show you like a girl. The 🌹 also means love or affection.
- For another option, use the 💋.

Question 4 of 6:

Can using emojis help you get a date?

Yes, emojis may help your dating life! Experts say people who use emojis actually go on more dates, so emojis can definitely help you impress your crush. Go ahead and send emojis if you feel comfortable doing so. They might just help you make a love connection.^{[9]
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Question 5 of 6:

When should you not use emojis?

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Avoid emojis when sending an opening message on a dating app. It’s really tricky to get emojis right in an opening message. Unfortunately, women get a ton of messages through dating apps, so they often have a hard time figuring out which guys to message back. In some cases, they may perceive an emoji as low effort or too suggestive. Get the conversation going before you start including emojis.^{[10]
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Research source} Try:
- “Hi, I see we’re both avid readers. What are you reading right now?”
- “Cool piano pic! How long have you been playing?
- “Your dog is almost as cute as you! Does he know any tricks?”
- “Serious question: Does pepperoni belong on a charcuterie plate?”
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Don’t use emojis to replace words in a conversation. Keeping a conversation going can be hard, and we’ve all been tempted to use emojis instead of typing out a response. However, this is easily misinterpreted as disinterest or lack of attention. Use emojis to enhance what you’re saying not as a full response.^{[11]
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- For instance, let’s say your girl texted you, “I can’t wait to see you at the game tonight!” Don’t just text back a thumbs up. Instead, text, “Can’t wait to see you, too! 😀”
- Similarly, she might have texted, “What did you think about my new top?” Don’t just send a heart eyes emoji. Instead, say, “You looked amazing! 😍”

Question 6 of 6:

Do straight guys use emojis?

Yes, but they tend to use emojis less often. In general, guys are less likely to use emojis, but that’s not because there’s a rule about it. Many guys just don’t feel the need to use them. It’s totally up to you whether or not you like them.^{[12]
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- You might use emojis more often when texting girls than when texting guys. That’s totally okay.

Expert Q&A

Question

What are the disadvantage of emojis?

Cher Gopman
Dating Coach
Cher Gopman is the Founder of NYC Wingwoman LLC, a date coaching service based in New York City. 'NYC Wingwoman' offers matchmaking, wingwoman services, 1-on-1 Coaching, and intensive weekend bootcamps. Cher is a Certified Life Coach, a former psychiatric nurse, and her work has been featured on Inside Edition, Fox, ABC, VH1, and The New York Post.

Cher Gopman

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

Emojis can make you come across as eager if you send too many at once. Still, they're perfectly fine to use in moderation.