Like any skill, becoming a good kisser takes practice. However, if you're not involved with a relationship, you may not get as many opportunities to practice your kissing as you would like. Although intuition plays a big part in giving the perfect kiss, the tips and strategies listed here will help answer the question of how to become a good kisser.

• In many cultures, kissing is a popular way for people to show and demonstrate their affection for one another. The types of kisses you give usually depend on your relationship with the recipient—for example, you wouldn't kiss your grandmother the same way you would your husband or wife. While there are no hard and fast rules for kissing, there are several strategies you can employ that may just blow your partner away.

Although some of the best kisses are completely spontaneous, there is often a preliminary indication that you may be sharing a romantic moment with your partner. You can make sure you're prepared for the possibility by:

1. Making sure your mouth is clean: Always brush your teeth before a date and if your date involves eating, try to avoid garlic, onions or other foods that could give you bad breath. Bring along some gum or mints and have one if the moment for a kiss seems to be nearing
2. Making sure your lips are soft and smooth by applying lip balm or chap stick
3. Ensuring your mouth is moist. A dry mouth can ruin a kiss, so if you're suffering from a dry mouth, try to drink some water
4. Men should also make sure that any facial hair they have is neat and trimmed. A bushy mustache can tickle or irritate your partner and ruin what could have been a great kiss

• Whether you're considering leaning in for that first kiss, or are locked in a passionate embrace, it's vital that you pay attention to the signals your kissing partner is sending you. Although you could simply come out and ask, "Can I kiss you?" or "Did you like that?" some people may be bashful about speaking about such intimate matters. A good way to gauge what your partner is thinking or feeling is to pay close attention to his or her body language. Some things that may show that he or she is not that into the kiss include:

1. Pulling away from you or the kiss
2. Keeping his or her head turned away from you
3. Stiffening up when you touch him or her

• On the other hand, if your partner is doing the following, it likely demonstrates that he or she is into the kiss:

1. Looking at your lips
2. Turning his or her head towards yours and tilting it
3. Licking his or her lips
4. Looking deeply into your eyes
5. Touching you and moving closer to you

• Once you've decided to move in for the kiss, do so slowly—you don't want to bump into your partner or chip his or her teeth. As you move in for the kiss, gaze into your partner's eyes and shift your glance to his or her lips, then back up to the eyes. Tilt your head in the opposite direction of your partner's and start slowly, by lightly grazing his or her lips with your own. Again, it's important to read your partner's body language. If he or she is puckered up and pulls away after the initial contact, you may have to be satisfied with a peck.

• Some other things you can do during the kiss to make it more fulfilling and romantic include:

1. Stroking your partner's hair
2. Caressing your partner's neck, shoulders or back
3. Lightly cupping your partner's chin or face
4. Holding his or her hand
5. Moaning slightly
6. Pulling away, gazing into your partner's eyes, then resuming the kiss
7. Taking a break from mouth-to-mouth contact to kiss your partner's face, neck or earlobes
8. Letting out an expressive moan or contented sigh

• The most important thing is to stay relaxed. Although you may be nervous, if your body or lips are tense, your partner may take this as a signal that you are not enjoying the kiss. Allow yourself to get lost in the moment and enjoy it.

• Since everyone has different preferences when it comes to kissing, the best thing you can do to become a good kisser is to be receptive to what you're partner is telling you with his or her body language. Pay attention to the signals your partner is sending you and adjust your kissing technique accordingly. The more you practice kissing with a specific partner, the better your romantic moments will become.

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