Sure, the winky face works magic, but we have other options!
Flirting can feel stressful, especially over text. Without in-person social cues, you’ve got to tread carefully to avoid coming on too strong, right? But since we fully support sending that bold message (as long as it’s not to your ex), let us share a secret weapon to help you strike the perfect balance between “I’m interested in you” and “Let’s move in together.” Say hello to the flirty emoji.
A strategically used flirty emoji can work wonders in the talking stage. It can spice up an otherwise innocent message, tone down one that might be too bold, or leave your crush wondering (and consulting the group chat) what your emoji means. And that’s exactly where you want them!
Knowing which emoji to use—and when—is crucial. While the classic flirty emojis, like the wink, are well-known, they only go so far these days. Luckily, there’s a whole variety of other emojis that deserve a spot in your flirtatious texts. From sexy and cute to downright quirky (our personal favorite), we’ve compiled a list of 35 flirty emojis you can easily access. But before we dive in, here’s a quick guide on how to use them effectively, according to experts.
Know Your Audience: Before jumping into emoji flirting, take a moment to research your audience. This means getting a feel for your crush’s overall texting style. But if you're planning to dial things up with more suggestive emojis, it requires a bit more thought. Most straightforwardly and healthily, this involves asking your crush or partner about how they identify and what they find attractive.
You should generally tailor your emoji choices to your audience. This means being mindful of emojis that depict body parts and how you or your partner may identify with them,” explains Lee Hatcher, a therapist at the Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center in New York.
It’s essential to understand your crush’s overall vibe. Could you pay attention to their cues? “Gather more information about the person you’re flirting with to learn about their preferences and customize your messages accordingly,” suggests sex educator Carly S. “Flirting isn’t one-size-fits-all. What one person finds adorable, another might see as totally cringe-worthy.”
While we always recommend obtaining consent before sexting, it may not be as necessary for a bit of emoji flirting. Using emojis and texts effectively can be a great way to gauge someone's interest. However, if you suspect that the person may be uninterested or could feel uncomfortable, simply ask them!
Don’t Come on Too Strong: You want to avoid coming on too strong,” Lee advises. “Less is more, as it allows for greater room for imagination.
When it comes to emoji flirting, like with anything else, it’s best to start small and gradually increase the intensity.
One of the biggest mistakes we can make at the start of a relationship is coming on too strong without receiving a green light, says sex therapist Holly Richmond, PhD. Flirty or sexy banter is fantastic, but executing it well requires a level of attunement.
When approached delicately, flirting creates anticipation. “Flirting’s essence lies in imagination and building tension. It’s designed to inspire the other person, making them feel wanted and deeply desired,” Richmond explains.
Riff Off Your Texting Partner: If the text exchange feels one-sided, it might be best to find someone else to flirt with. But if things are flowing well, let their texts and emojis guide your responses. “Stay playful and creative, match the conversation’s tone, and use emojis to convey affection and humor,” advises sex therapist Denise Renye, PhD.
Treat the conversation like a game of tennis. Instead of just slamming texts their way, volley the ball—or in this case, emoji—back to show you genuinely appreciated their last message.
Have Fun: Keep in mind that you’re not campaigning for office or trying to secure a bank loan. While the stakes may feel high, especially in new relationships, it’s ultimately just flirting. The worst that can happen is they don’t respond. Flirting is meant to be fun!
Got it? Good. Now go ahead and explore this expertly curated list of 35 flirty emojis.
Heart Eyes 😍: Sure, the heart eyes emoji might seem a bit over-the-top or overused, but let’s be real—no one really uses it with complete sincerity, right? This lovestruck emoji has a playful, tongue-in-cheek vibe, making it perfect for expressing, “Omg, you’re so hot and I have a crush on you,” without having to say it.
Ghost 👻: While this spooky emoji naturally gets its spotlight around Halloween, it’s perfect year-round. When used right, it can even have a flirty edge. With its wink and playful tongue, it’s like a more mysterious, cheeky twist on the classic wink emoji.
Fluttery heart smiley 🥰: This little emoji is pure cuteness. If you want to show your crush that they’re the cutest thing ever and you adore them, this is the one to use.
The Eyes 👀: It’s true—your eyes can say so much. I like using the eyes emoji when I’m feeling bold, especially when I’m reacting to someone’s thirst trap selfie on Instagram. The exact meaning of this emoji is up for interpretation, but it carries a subtle, flirtatious vibe that I’m here for.
The Purple, Devil-y Smiley Face 😈: Nothing says “I’m flirting with you” quite like this mischievous emoji. Even if your message isn’t overtly suggestive, adding one of these instantly hints that you’re feeling a bit naughty. If your crush wasn’t already thinking of you that way, they definitely will now.
This Blushy Kissy Face 😚: This emoji has lower stakes than the classic kissy face with a heart (😘). It’s casual and cool, like getting a quick peck on the cheek as she heads off to do her own fabulous thing that you know nothing about. In other words, this is the perfect vibe to send if you’re moving toward verified kiss emoji status with someone but aren’t quite ready to dive into full-on heart-kissy territory, you know? You get it.
The Pleading, I'm-begging-for-you emoji 🥺: If you’ve come across the “I’m baby” memes, you know that playing innocent can be a subtle yet effective flirting tactic. The pleading face emoji is one of my favorites because you can attach it to any sentence and achieve the same impact. Your co-texter will look at you (or their phone screen) as if you’re the most adorable person on the planet—which you are.
The Smirk 😏: While the smiling face with horns emoji conveys that you’re a little mischievous, the smirking face emoji is perfect for gauging the other person's playful side. I like to use this emoji when there’s a sense of friendly competition or when I’m challenging someone to do something. Just be ready for the flirting to intensify after you hit send!
These Stars ✨: This little emoji adds a touch of mystique to anything you want to say. The stars don’t signify anything specific, but they bring a sparkle—a little “Who Is SHE?”—to an otherwise ordinary conversation. If you want to add some witchy vibes that will keep them intrigued, toss one of these at the end of your next message—any message!
The Wink and Tongue Combo 😜: We’ve discussed the winky face emoji, but the winking face with tongue? That takes it to a whole new level. Flirting is all about knowing when to be subtle and when to amp it up a bit. While the winky face is a guaranteed way to signal that you’re flirting, adding a tongue introduces an extra layer of fun and flirtation to your texts.
This Other Tongue Guy 😛: This is the official Golden Retriever Boyfriend emoji, a title I just created! Unlike his winkier counterpart (see above), he has no ulterior motive or agenda; he’s just genuinely happy to be here—so excited to see you that his tongue is wagging. Use this emoji when you want a cuter, less intense alternative to the winking tongue emoji.
The Sorta Subtle, but Flirty Hug 🤗: Sometimes, the most effective way to flirt is by being subtle. While winky faces and tongue emojis are fun, if you want to hone your flirting skills, use the hugging smiley face to convey your message. Smileys can certainly be employed in a purely platonic way, but when you incorporate them into sentences that can be interpreted as flirty, it adds an element of excitement as your crush tries to figure out whether you’re genuinely flirting or not. We love to see that!
This Sun ☀️: Okay, you might be wondering: “What’s flirty about the sun?” And you’re correct—the answer is absolutely nothing. However, when you’re in the early stages of a flirtationship and have just started sending good morning texts, the sun emoji becomes your new best friend. If you want to avoid coming across as too invested but still want to add a little something to your morning greeting without going overboard, Mr. Sunshine is the way to go.
Your Moon Emoji of Choice (🌛, 🌜, 🌕, etc): Consider everything I just mentioned about the sun emoji and good morning texts, but apply it to the moon emoji and goodnight texts.
The Peach Booty 🍑: Whether you’re referencing your own booty or your crush’s, the peach emoji serves as a playful way to introduce topics about bodies and sex without coming across as creepy. It can elevate your flirting to the next level. Just make sure to gauge whether it’s appropriate to go there, of course. Nothing derails a good flirting session faster than bringing up sexual topics when they’re unwelcome.
The girth-y eggplant 🍆: This emoji is perfect for when your flirting starts to take a sexual turn. Who knew vegetables could be so enticing?
This Lady 💁♀️: She’s sassy! That’s her entire vibe! (Technically, according to Apple, she’s the Information Desk Woman emoji, but no one uses her that way, so it seems irrelevant.) If you want to add a touch of playfully bratty energy to your next text to your crush (which we encourage), this emoji will convey the right message.
This Love Letter 💌: This love letter emoji is adorable and sadly underrated. More people should be using it, especially in flirty texts to their crushes. It’s obscure enough to make them think, “Wait, what?” but cute enough for them to understand your intention.
The Lipstick Kiss 💋: In the realm of kissy emojis, the lipstick m: ark kiss is undoubtedly one of the most tragically underused. It exudes glamorous, Marilyn Monroe vibes—suggesting a kiss without actually sending a standard kiss emoji. This emoji delivers drama, mystique, and sexiness, all with a hint of hard-to-get charm. In other words, it’s a 10/10 flirty emoji with no notes needed.
This Heart with an Arrow Through it 💘: This heart emoji translates—if not quite literally, then close enough—to: “I’m smitten with you.” Which might seem like a lot! BUT! It’s underused enough that it doesn’t come across as Too Much, you know? It feels fun, playful, and sweet, which is exactly what flirting is all about, baby.
This not-so-innocent Angel 😇: We adore her. This emoji exudes, “What? Who, me?” Bats eyelashes.
These Classic Double Hearts 💕: Of all the heart emojis, this one is arguably the safest choice. If you want to send a low-stakes heart to a crush, this is the one—the starter heart, if you will. They’ll understand your message, but it doesn’t carry the same weight or risk as some of the more overtly romantic heart emoji options.
Your (or their) Zodiac Emoji (♓️, ♈️, ♏️, etc.): Sending someone your zodiac emoji (or theirs) conveys one of two things: You want them to understand you on a deep, cosmic level, and/or you have already entered your birthdays into an astrological compatibility calculator and may or may not be checking their horoscope daily to see if today is the day they finally realize they’re in love with you. Do I need to say more?
The Hawt Emoji 🥵: A significant aspect of flirting involves boosting the person you're chatting with. While compliments like “beautiful,” “handsome,” and “sexy” can make an impact, certain emojis can do the trick as well—especially this one. The hot face emoji serves a couple of purposes: it can warn your friends that it's scorching outside, but it can also inform your crush just how hot you think they are.
The Shower 🚿: “My favorite lesser-known flirty emoji is the shower emoji,” Lee says. “It perfectly suggests that things are heating up enough that you need to cool off or that the conversation has entered dirtier territory.” The shower emoji serves as a subtle yet effective way to respond to a particularly steamy message.
The upside-down smiley face 🙃: The upside-down smiley face conveys a playful, “Who, me?” It’s an excellent way to enhance a text, acknowledging your silliness or adding a flirty twist to an otherwise serious conversation. Attach that emoji to a message like, “I don’t have plans Friday,” and suddenly, your regrettably wide-open weekend becomes a not-so-subtle hint that you would love your crush to ask you out.
The Droplets 💦: The water droplets emoji carries a delightfully risqué vibe, so use it with caution. Essentially, you'll want to pull this one out only after confirming that sexting is on the table and you're prepared to transition from flirty emojis to the more explicit realm of horny emojis.
This Exploding Head🤯: Another excellent choice to reply to a steamy sext, this emoji conveys, “My pretty little head has exploded from how hot you look without your shirt on.” Less aggressively suggestive than the droplets, it’s ideal to send if you're interested in someone but not quite ready for them to realize just how much it affects you.
The Cat Heart Eyes 😻:Not only does the cat heart eyes emoji provide a cute, slightly whimsical alternative to the classic heart eyes, but choosing a kitty over a standard face subtly hints at a more suggestive meaning. Which, well, speaks for itself.
The Skull 💀: The skull emoji provides a goth twist on the exploding head emoji. It conveys, “I am deceased over what you just sent me, and I also look amazing in black lingerie.”
The Dead Eyes 😵: Consider the dead eyes emoji as a cuter variation of the skull emoji. Plus, it somewhat resembles a head gesture. So, interpret that information as you wish.
The Lip-Bite 👄: The lips emoji serves as a sultry upgrade to the kissy face. With a slight opening of her lips, she exudes a bratty vibe, but in a way that says, “I have five thousand other things to do, so this better be worth my time.”
The Rose 🌹: The rose emoji presents a classy choice, acting as the text equivalent of gifting flowers or, even better, hinting that they should bring you some. It doesn’t feel overly aggressive, but incorporating the rose into a standard message infuses a sense of romance and intrigue.
The Mermaid 🧜♀️: Incorporating the mermaid emoji into your flirty texts reminds the fortunate recipient that you are a magical and ethereal being. They should be whisking you away on vacations to tropical paradises! Your hair looks flawless! And they’re lucky just to be chatting with you. Slay!
