Buzz
Holding hands is a fantastic way for a girl to show you that she likes you and is enjoying the moment. You might feel a little nervous when you try holding her hand for the first time, especially if you're unsure whether she wants to hold yours. We've compiled a list of signs to help you understand if the girl you're into wants to hold your hand, so you'll know what to do next time you two are out together.
Steps
She places her hand close to yours.
You might be sitting together talking, and her hand is almost touching yours (but not quite). If this happens, it's a good sign that she wants you to hold her hand. You can test this out by gently touching her hand—if she doesn't pull it away, it's likely she’s hoping for you to hold her hand. She may also place her hand next to yours when sitting at a table or on a bench.
She lets her hand brush against yours.
If you feel her hand lightly brushing against yours, she might be hinting that she wants you to hold it. Imagine you’re walking next to each other, and she inches closer to gently touch your hand. In this case, reach out and take her hand to see how she responds. If she really wants to hold hands, she’ll be happy that you took the initiative to do so. If you're unsure, gently touch your hand to hers. If she doesn’t pull away, she probably wants you to hold her hand.
She touches your arm or shoulder.
Breaking the touch barrier is a good sign. If you're talking and she frequently taps your shoulder or touches your arm, it means she’s comfortable with physical contact. Next time, you can try holding her hand or lightly tapping her arm in return. Breaking the touch barrier is also a clear sign that she might be flirting, and of course, that’s a positive sign!
She clings to your arm.
A girl might cling to your arm as you walk together. This gesture is quite close to holding hands, so she may not mind taking the next step. If you'd like to hold her hand, just pull her hand into yours and clasp it as you walk.
- This is another way to break the touch barrier, but with a slightly bolder approach.
She isn't bothered when your hand brushes against hers.
She doesn't pull her hand away when yours accidentally touches hers. If you're walking side by side and your hands happen to touch, she may even step a bit closer. Or, if you're sitting and chatting and your hand unintentionally rests on hers, she might smile or even blush.
- If she immediately pulls her hand back when you touch it, she might not be ready for you to hold her hand. No worries, just give her some more time.
She allows her hand to linger slightly when you both high-five.
She might test the waters to see if you want to hold hands. When you're celebrating something and give each other a high-five, she might keep her hand on yours a few seconds longer than usual, signaling that she might be open to holding hands.
- If she's feeling bolder, she may not pull her hand away after the high-five, allowing you two to hold hands right then.
She holds your hand and leads you somewhere.
This is an indirect way for her to hold your hand. If a girl pulls you by the hand to see something, she probably wants you to hold her hand. When you reach a particular spot, you can take her hand to show her that you like her.
- She might say something like 'Oh my god, have you seen this before? Let me show you!' before pulling your hand.
She flirts with you.
Flirting is a good sign that she would be willing to hold your hand. When a girl 'flirts', she compliments you, laughs extra hard at your jokes, or often gazes into your eyes. She might also lean closer to you or walk closer than the usual social distance.
- Flirting is not a guaranteed sign that someone wants to hold hands, but it's definitely a step in the right direction.
She often smiles at you.
She may communicate with you through eye contact and gaze into your eyes. When a girl smiles at you, it means she is really happy to be with you. Although it's not a guaranteed sign that she wants to hold your hand, it’s still a signal that she likes you or has feelings for you.
- She might even catch your gaze from across the room or glance at you and smile.
She speaks in a sing-song voice.
A high-pitched voice is often a sign that someone likes you. Women tend to speak in a more melodic tone when they like someone, even if they don’t realize it. If you notice her voice becomes sing-songy when chatting, she might be ready to hold your hand.
- In contrast, men tend to speak in a lower voice when they like someone.
She mimics your body language.
If you lean in, she will likely lean in too. If you cross your legs, she may do the same. People tend to do this unconsciously when they like someone, because our brains tell us that mimicking behavior will make the other person like us more. If you notice her repeating your movements, it’s likely she wants to hold your hand.
- She might also copy your posture or try to match your walking pace.
Advice
- If you're uncertain whether she wants to hold your hand, you could simply ask, "May I hold your hand?"
