How to kiss: Different kissing types and tips

Kissing in Kamasutra

In the ancient text Kamasutra, which talks about human sexual behaviour, there are over 250 references to kissing covering all aspects like the different types of kisses, when to kiss and how to kiss. The text introduces you to more than 30 kinds of kisses explained in great detail by Vatsyayana and emphasises the importance of kissing during sex. It underlines the fact that by uniting all of our senses, we can experience great emotions.

''A kiss is a lovely trick to stop speech when words become superfluous''. It is a gesture that communicates your emotions without having to say them! Kissing is not just a concept but an art and can be as creative as you want it to be!

Here's your guide to kissing:

French kiss

One of the most passionate ways to kiss, a French kiss tops the list of kisses! An intimate and erotic move, it is surely to set your partner's mood for some romance. Start by tilting in and locking your partner's lips with yours. Remember to go with the flow, rushing through this divine moment can ruin the feel of it. Slowly extend your tongue and reach out for your partner's tongue. Just feel the moment and you'd nail your 'perfect kiss'!

Single lip kiss

Sweet and romantic, single lip kisses are the best way to tell your partner 'I love you'. Start by leaning closer and reaching out for one of their lips. Start sucking the lip gently in a romantic manner. DON'T BITE. Biting during a single lip kiss to show your wild side is a big NO! Just sandwich one of their lips between yours and keep sucking to send a strong romantic message!

Lizzy kiss

Have you ever seen how a lizard sticks out its tongue? This is a similar type of kiss wherein both the partners stick out their tongues and kiss each other without the use of their lips. For some, it might be a little dirty but for those who share high level of intimacy, it can prove to be really amorous!

Ice kiss

Want to try an interesting way to kiss your partner? Try this ice-kiss that is sure to send chills down your and your partner's spine! Just hold a cube of ice between your lips and start kissing your partner. Kiss them passionately till the ice melts completely in your mouth. Try this variation of kissing that would give your partner goose bumps.

Nibble kiss

Wish to arouse your man with just a kiss? Nibble kisses are cute and at the same time very sensual. Just grab your partner's lower lip and bite it gently. Do not be too harsh as it would cause pain and ruin your intimate moment. It makes your make-out session a lot more thrilling and would set the base for a lot extra!

Lip trace kiss

As playful and flirty as it can get, a lip trace kiss is the sweetest of all! Trace your partner's lips with your tongue gently kissing them in between. It would definitely add spice to your 'moment' and leave your partner craving for a lot more.

The run and jump kiss

This is the kiss that happens when you’re ridiculously happy about something and you see your partner, or you’re probably seeing your partner after a very long time and you just want to throw your arms around his neck and smother him with affection. You give caution to the wind and run up to him, and jump as he picks you up and kisses you crazy.

The we’re-not-just-friends-anymore kiss

This kiss happens when you’re finally admitting to yourself that you can’t be just friends with that guy you’ve been crushing on since forever. And if the feeling is mutual, it makes way for an earth-shattering kiss that will consume you both and leave you shaking.

The expectant kiss

Have you been on a date with someone really amazing and at the end of the date, you find yourself hoping that he kisses you? The anticipation and the suspense are killing you, but you just can’t make the first move. And then, just when you give up hope, he grabs your arm, pulls you close and places a soft yet firm kiss on your mouth.

The make-up kiss

This kiss is an explosion of all the passion and pent-up anger that had been building up during the fight. All you can do is hold each other’s faces in a death grip and smush your faces together for a devouring kiss. And then, as the anger fades, you start making up, possibly in bed.

The rainy day kiss

This kiss happens when you’re out with your SO and it starts raining. Instead of running off to find shelter, you both just stand there getting drenched, hugging each other close in the cold, while your lips just sort of come together effortlessly.

Different types of kisses and what they mean

On the forehead: This is to soothe frayed nerves and boost your confidence.

On the cheek: This may not involve any physical attraction but still can transmit affection, love and support.

On the collarbone: A very suggestive and seductive gesture, it means one is ready to get intimate,

On the ears: Most of the times this is a passionate kiss involving all the energy of play and mischief.

On the hands: Besides love, this tender gesture denotes admiration or thanking someone.

On the lips: Definitely implies passion, and also sends messages of love and wanting to date.

Kiss and a tight hug: This is a full body contact which suggests that both the partners are ready to go to the next level.

Why you should express yourself with a kiss

We kiss the ones we love, and love the ones we kiss! That's why kissing is the easiest way to tell your partner how you feel about them. The sweet old, unhurried peck not only makes you feel good, but it has a surprising number of health benefits too. How's that for an incentive to lock lips? So, go ahead and express yourself in the easiest language of love ever invented.

Helps you bond better

It goes without saying that kissing someone you love encourages better bonding. It takes intimacy a notch higher and there are scientific reasons for its good effects. Oxytocin, or the 'love' hormone, gets released in both men and women, which helps strengthen the bond resulting in a lasting relationship. In fact, the more you kiss and the longer you kiss ensures commitment. Just the fact that you can kiss passionately says your bond is still strong, because faking passion is tough. Think of it as a sign of how healthy your relationship is.

Improves sexual compatibility

Kissing is a part of foreplay and a very powerful one at that. Think about the most erotic experience you had and how it began. Nine times out of ten, it's the kiss that starts it all. Being kissed by someone you love, boosts self-esteem and makes you feel confident in taking the next step, either in life or just between the sheets. For those who just started dating, the first kiss can be a measure to determine how attracted you are to that person. So better get it right, because kissing can actually be a compass to avoid bad dates and heart aches.

Boosts happiness quotient

Ever notice why a good kiss leaves you all dreamy-eyed and smiling? That is because it releases endorphins which are the feel good, calming chemicals that make you happy and boost your immunity. Not just that, there have been studies which say that kissing helps to curb depression better than any psychologist's treatment or anti-depressants. You will not find any free happiness boost like this. This means smooching literally is a win-win situation.

Tones Your Facial Muscles

Experts say that a passionate, long lasting kiss involves 34 facial muscles and up to 112 postural muscles in the rest of the body. This pleasurable exercise keeps the muscles tight and toned and increases blood circulation. Putting all that energy in kissing also leads to exercising your neck and jawline which helps you look younger by preventing early wrinkles and thereby delaying ageing.

Good for the heart

Kissing releases adrenaline which, according to experts, promotes heart health. The heart pumps more blood leading to lower levels of blood pressure. The improved blood circulation maintains the condition of your heart. Pumping up adrenaline boosts cardiovascular health according to health care professionals.

Burns calories

There's good news for those wanting to burn calories... you can enjoy an intense kiss and burn around 10-15 calories. Regular kissing is also known to boost your metabolism which in turn helps you burn more calories in the long run. So, even if it is not going to replace your workout session, a smooch may burn up to six calories a minute.

Helps with dental hygiene

Want to maintain your pearly whites? Remember, kissing is one of the most natural ways of cleaning your teeth since a wet kiss helps to break down the oral plaque and prevents cavities by the creation of saliva and keeping bacteria away. So, go ahead and sparkle your teeth with some intense and passionate kisses.

Keeps stress at bay

When you have had a tiring day, go home and kiss your partner. It will make you feel good because kissing is a stress reliever which helps lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels. Cortisol has a negative effect on the immune system, endocrine system and brain health. So if you can lower stress and reduce those negative effects by simply stealing a kiss, do it as often as you can! And it need not be a passionate lip lock every time. Even a peck on the cheek or a kiss on the forehead is enough to help you relax and hopefully make that headache disappear.

Facts about kissing

Kisses that make your foot pop to the ones that leave you breathless and flushed in bed—it's really difficult to understand how anyone would dread kissing! Yes, the fear of kissing or philemaphobia is real. However, for fans of lip-locking, this list presents some eye-popping facts.

We start young:

As young as in the womb. Scientists believe that the instinct to lean right while kissing originates due to the natural tilt of the head to the right in the womb. Didn't we say kissing is quite a natural phenomenon?

Kissing = happy teeth:

Want to avoid the dentist? Kiss more often! The saliva flow during kissing helps clean your teeth cavities and protects tooth enamel. Or so a study in Applied and Environmental Biology says. We pick kissing over going to the dentist any day!

Facial workout:

Around 146 muscles sweat themselves out gleefully every single time you kiss! A team of British researchers from the Rayne Institute in University College, London, arrived at this magical number (112 postural muscles, 34 facial muscles) after studying kissing couples.

Kissing isn't universal:

This fact came as quite a shocker for us too! The inhabitants of Mangaia Island in the Pacific Ocean have never engaged in a lip-lock, while people in Sudan believe kissing will cause them to lose their soul. Not unless you kiss a dementor you won't!

PS: Dementor = a soul-sucking-via-kiss dark creature made famous by the Harry Potter series.

Memory to take to the grave:

We all remember our first kiss. It may not have been the greatest, but you will remember it distinctly. According to a study conducted by John Bohannon of Butler University, 500 people remembered their first kiss in greater detail as compared to other important life experiences, including the first time they lost their virginity.

The magic number:

A British study determined that it takes 15 kisses for women and 16 for men to find their true love. Oh well, now we know why our dating history is the way it is.

Happy high:

You don't need any substance to get high if you kiss. Every time you kiss, you produce a substance 200 times more potent than morphine. Mind is blown!

Bollywood and Kissing

Hindi films have always have had kissing scenes, right from the black and white ones to the latest releases. Lip-locks were very much there in the '20s and '30s but somewhere they lost the charm to the clip which showed two flowers meeting to show love. Later though, movies incorporated kissing scenes again.

The serial kisser tag is with Emraan Hashmi who recently mentioned at an event, in a light mood, that he might even write a book on how to kiss and call it 'Emraansutra'! But here is tracking the more iconic smooches...

The first kiss ever in a Hindi film was in the 1933 movie 'Karma' and it wasn't just a peck. Actress Devika Rani locked lips on screen for almost four minutes with her husband-actor Himanshu Rai.

After the Cinematograph Act banned kissing on screen, there were no such scenes for a while. Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia's kiss from Raj Kapoor's 'Bobby' marked the return of the kiss to films. This was followed by similar scenes in many of his other films like 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' and 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili'.

Showing on screen romance with a steaming kissing scene, became a norm in Hindi films with the most remembered ones being 'Saagar' (with Rishi-Dimple locking lips again), 'Jaanbaaz' (Anil Kapoor-Dimple), 'Dayavan' (Vinod Khanna-Madhuri Dixit), '1942 - A Love Story' (Anil Kapoor-Manisha Koirala) amongst others.

Apart from Emraan, the recent lot of actors who have been known for their kissing prowess on screen have been Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Sushant Singh Rajput.

Among the new films, the recent kisses to remember are Aditya Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor's 'Aashiqui 2', Aditya and Katrina Kaif's passionate lip lock for 'Fitoor', Pulkit Samrat and Yami Gautam in the scenic Himachal Pradesh for 'Sanam Re' and Yami with Varun Dhawan in 'Badlapur'.

Three kissing styles you must master

What's the big deal about kissing, you ask? Well, certain situations call for slight variations in your puckering delivery. Here's how you can have him spellbound with these four customised kisses that will ensure a longer innings in bed, or even a quickie, if you are running late for work.

Have-him-at-hello kiss:

It has been a while since you last saw your partner. Maybe one of you was on a business trip or your crazy work schedules haven't provided you with the time to truly be with each other. The next time you meet, here's how to direct all the pent-up love towards him.

How to kiss

Let your gaze linger on him for just a second longer to get his heartbeat racing and press you body up against him. Then, keeping your tongue firmly in cheek, smooch him hard and tight and whisper a husky, 'Hi, babe. I've missed you.' That's a hello he will be craving to hear every minute.

Superhero kiss:

Remember when Spiderman (Tobey Maguire) kissed Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) hanging upside down? No, we aren't suggesting that you should climb down some pipes and risk your life for an award-winning kiss. But there is no harm in channelling the inner superhero in you. This kiss is meant for those lazy weekends at home when he is simply relaxing on the couch. 

How to kiss

Walk up to him from behind, let your finger-grazing-his-neck action get his attention, and before he turns all the way around, gently grab his face and reverse-lip kiss him. Don't be surprised if his energy levels shoot up suddenly.

Hot, movie-like make-out kiss:

Admit it, you have always wondered how movie stars don't end up slobbering all over each other during one of those passionate tongue kiss moments. How can it be so perfect?! This is for those days when you know you want to devour him whole and want to show him just what you mean.

How to kiss

Take his hand and place it on your waist, while your hand roams freely up his body. Then lean back ever so slowly so that the already generated adrenaline rush causes him to pull you closer. Then, take the lead and gently part your lips in invitation. Your man will take the hint and you may have to come up for air after five... or 10 minutes?

Kisses you must avoid at all costs

Kissing is awesome, we all know that. It has multiple benefits—it relieves pain, burns calories, tones facial muscles, lowers blood pressure, releases happy hormones and so much more. But there are certain types of kisses that can only make you go ‘yuck!’ We’ve rounded up five; check them out, and um, avoid them maybe?

The slobbery kiss

A slobbery kiss can be cute… if it’s from your pet. But when it comes to kissing your partner, how about you keep your saliva in check? It's really not sexy to have someone lick your entire face when all you asked for was a smooch.

Too-much-tongue kiss

Some tongue action is hot, but when someone is shoving their tongue down your throat, you can’t help but gag. ‘Tonguing’ is a subtle art that you can’t go overboard with. Keep the strokes light and infrequent. There's no need to go to war with your tongue, just because you can.

Bad breath kiss

This kind of kiss is so disgusting it makes us want to throw up even writing about it. All we can say is if you know your breath stinks, do pop a mint before leaning in for a kiss.

Too-much-biting kiss

Soft nibbles on the lower lip are one thing, but eating someone’s lips for dinner is not a cool thing to do. The idea of biting the lips while kissing is to get your partner excited for things to come, not bruise him up.

The close-mouthed kiss

A close-mouthed kiss can be a complete turn-off. Not only does it convey anger and indifference, but it can also be presumed to be a sign of disgust. Now, you don’t want your partner to think you’re disgusted of him, right? And if you are, it’s always better to talk about it.