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Lesbian Dating Advice – Don’t Make These Common Mistakes

Looking for some lesbian dating advice to help solidify your dating game? You’ve come to the right place. In this article, I share all the tips and tricks I’ve collated over the 10+ years I’ve spent dating other women.

If you are new to the lesbian dating pool, you may have found yourself treading in deep waters. Well, guess what, you’re not alone. Contrary to popular belief, just because we both have vulvas, there’s no magic formula that makes dating any easier. 

Don’t get me wrong. Two women together can be like alchemy when you get the formula right. But unless you’re extremely lucky, you’re unlikely to find that on your first lesbian date. Actually, scrap that. I think you NEED to have your fair share of terrible dates. That way, you will appreciate them when they are good.

Lesbian Dating Tips

What I’m trying to say is, I’ve been in your shoes. I know what it’s like to have a thirst for the lesbian culture but be petrified by it at the same time. I know how it feels to question if your hair looks gay enough. To wonder if the lesbian community will accept you.

I know what it’s like to ask the lesbian gods how the hell you’re ever going to find a date when the only lesbian you know is your Mums middle-aged friend. Who yes, you may have made out with once! Cringe.

But guess what. You needn’t make this whole lesbian dating thing into an Einstein equation. With the right lesbian dating advice, you will (in time) have this whole girl-on-girl dating malarkey down to a tee. 

So let’s get to it. Here’s my fool-proof guide to lesbian dating.

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Lesbian Dating Advice – A Fool Proof Guide

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Things I Wish I’d Known Before Lesbian Dating

OK, so I’m kicking off this list with some lesbian dating tips that would have come in handy BEFORE I started dating women. Things like how to meet other lesbians is a great place to start. But I’ll also let you in on some of the unspoken secrets of the lesbian underworld so that you’re at least somewhat prepared for what’s to come next. It might sound scary, but it’s also a lot of fun… I pinky-promise.

1. Familiarise Yourself With Lesbian Labels

Before sacrificing myself to the precarious world of lesbian dating, I had no idea the significance of lesbian labels and terms. OK, so I’d heard the terms’ butch’ and ‘femme’ thrown around; who hasn’t? But I was completely unaware of the beautiful mishmash of women that made up the lesbian realm.

Many lesbians rely on their lesbian ‘type’ to identify and define themselves, and that’s perfectly OK. But it’s important to remember that not everybody conforms to stereotypes, and we shouldn’t assume anything about a person purely based on looks or status. 

That said, familiarising yourself with the various lesbian labels and terms you might come across on the dating scene is a wise idea. It will, at the very least, prepare you for any conversations you might have in the future. Or it could even end up helping you with the type of lesbian you a) want to be or b) want to date.  

2. Don’t Get Obsessed Over Lesbian Labels

While it’s a good idea to understand lesbian labels and terms, it’s more important not to become fixated on them. I know from experience how obsessing over labels can lead to feelings of isolation. I once believed that I had to look, dress, and act a certain way if I wanted to be a valid member of the community. Take advice from your lesbian big sister and don’t make the same mistake.

Sexuality, gender, identity – it is all fluid. So regardless of where you sit on the spectrum, know that you are valid. And never feel you have to change who you are in order to “fit in”.

lesbian dating advice
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3. Meeting Other Lesbians

My friend, I’ve been there. When you first come out of the closet, other lesbians can seem as elusive as fairies and unicorns. Although you know in your heart of hearts that they exist, finding them seems like an impossible task. 

If you feel safe doing so, I suggest coming out to as many people as you can. Because with each person you tell, there is the possibility that they know somebody who bats for the same team. At best, you find a date. Or even better, you find a wing partner. Always a bonus when it comes to lesbian dating.

Then, of course, there is the ever-growing selection of lesbian dating apps. Having met Natalie on a well-known dating app, I’m a huge advocate for meeting people online. Sure, I had to kiss a few frogs before meeting my Princess Charming (and yep, there were a few crazies in there, too), but your chances of meeting someone go up around a gazillion percent if you are open to online dating. I’m just saying!

You just have to be careful about the increasing romance scams and cyberstalking happening in the virtual dating world, so make sure you know the different ways to keep yourself protected at all times.

PinkCupid dating app for queer women

PinkCupid is a safe and inclusive space where you can connect with thousands of lesbian singles to find their match from all over the world.
You can create your profile for free and join a community of like-minded women looking for friendship, love and more.

Lesbian Couple Goals sex tips

4. Prepare for Your First Time

Yes, I’m talking about $ex. It might seem premature since you’re yet even to date another woman, but there’s no harm in getting to know the basics. Again, many newbie lesbians (myself included) assume that because they are jumping into bed with another woman, it automatically grants them $exual goddess status. When, unfortunately, that’s not the case!

Honestly, your first lesbian $exual encounter is likely to be messy and awkward. But if you take some time to prepare, I promise it will all run a lot more smoothly.

Things I Wish I’d Known While Lesbian Dating

OK, now that we’ve covered the basics of preparing yourself for the lesbian dating scene, let’s talk about the actual dating part. In this section, I hope to empower you to get out there and have a lot of fun while being smart, confident, and, most importantly, yourself.  

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Make the First Move

When you’re lucky enough to find a hot person you’d like to date, don’t be afraid to ask them out. I know it’s daunting, particularly if you don’t know if the feeling is mutual. But there’s no lesbian in the history of lesbians who doesn’t appreciate someone with confidence.

Think of it this way. If this person has caught your attention, they’ve likely caught somebody else’s attention as well. You don’t want to lose out to some other b*tch, just because you didn’t have the bazookas to ask them out.

Making the first move is especially easy when you meet somebody online. The chances are you’re not going to bump into them at any point randomly, so in this case, what do you have to lose?

Lesbian Picnic Date

6. Plan a Memorable First Date

One thing I’ve always been good at is planning great dates. Considering I sometimes talk too much and tell some pretty awful Dad jokes, I’ve come to realise this is a fortunate quality to have.  

Planning a memorable first date is a sure-fire way to impress your date. Not only will you earn serious brownie points for effort, but it’s likely to break the ice and make the conversation less awkward. Preferably, you’ve already learned a bit about your date’s likes and dislikes, but if not, it’s still possible to plan a date they will never forget.  

Instead of your standard drinks in a bar, why not plan a romantic picnic somewhere beautiful? Rather than your average meal at a restaurant, take a local food walking tour. If your date is adventurous, plan a hike or go rock climbing. There are so many ways to make your first date more exciting and memorable. You just need to think outside of the box.

lesbian first date ideas

7. Grooming and Style

While looks and appearance are not everything, personally, I feel at my most confident when I’m well-groomed. For me, that mostly means that my hair is on point, I’ve shaved my bits, and I’ve picked out an outfit that’s stylish yet comfortable. Not much effort is involved, but these three things help me to feel at my best.

The truth is, when we feel good in ourselves, it reflects through our energy and persona. We feel more confident and outgoing. We worry less about what others are thinking about us. And consequently, we help put those around us at ease as well.

In the name of getting laid, do whatever it is YOU need to do to help you feel at your best. Go for a spray tan, wear $exy lingerie, neck half a bottle of wine, you know, that kind of thing.

Lesbian Dating Advice

8. Be a Gentle’lady’

Probably the most appealing quality on a first date is somebody who is respectful and attentive. Ask your date lots of questions about herself and actually pay attention. Be fully present in the moment and not on your phone or in your own head.  

Also, don’t be afraid to say you’re enjoying the date or to give them lots of compliments. Some might say not to give away too much too soon but screw that. Nobody plays hard to get these days unless they are an a*sehole. Do not be an a*sehole!  

If you really want to make an impression, foot the bill. It may seem like an old-school, heteronormative thing to do, but it’s a nice gesture, and your date will appreciate it. I’m sure they will return the favour next time. If there’s to be a next time, that is.

Finally, be honest! If you don’t feel like the date went well, tell them you don’t think you’re compatible. Don’t promise you’re going to call, and then don’t. It’s a f*ck boi thing to do, and trust me; nobody likes a f*ck boi since Shane cheated on Carmen, OK?

9. Have a Back-Up Plan of Things to Talk About

OK, so your creative date idea, charming wit, and dashing good looks haven’t roused the interest and spark you’d hoped for. The long awkward silences are sending your anxiety through the roof, and you secretly wish you’d planned some kind of fake emergency call with your best friend.

Listen, we’ve all been there. But even the dates that seem hopeless can often be saved from the depths of desperation. Perhaps your date is shy or nervous, and they are sitting hoping you’re going to take the lead. 

This is where having a physical or mental note of possible talking topics comes in super handy. When we are anxious, our minds go blank. But, of course, there are a gazillion things we can ask and talk about during a date. Preparing this in advance could be your saving grace.

Cute wlw date ideas

10. $ex on the First Date is OK

Unfortunately, we live in a chauvinistic society, whereby slut-shaming has been drilled into all women since we were teens. But guess what lesbos, that sh*t doesn’t exist amongst the lesbian culture. So if you hit it off and want to tear each other’s clothes off, there is zero shame in having $ex on the first date.

If you’ve followed my advice so far, you should already be well prepared for your first time lesbian encounter!  Be prepared with a new ad*ult toy or accessory.

Common Lesbian Dating Mistakes

Since I’ve taught you all the things, you SHOULD do while lesbian dating, now I’m going to share some of the things you absolutely shouldn’t do. I’m pretty sure most baby lesbians have made one or more of these datings mistakes in the past. But now I’m giving you the heads up, hopefully, you won’t have to.  

11. Falling for every lesbian you meet

When you first start to realise you are attracted to girls, it can be tempting to latch on to each and every lesbian you meet. It doesn’t matter how old they are, how you’ve come to know them, or even if you’re attracted to them. Just the fact that they too are gay has you lusting over them like they’re Megan Fox.

Young and confused, I made my way through a string of older women in my late teens. I’m not saying it wasn’t fun, but looking back, most of those flings were highly inappropriate. Things got awkward, people got hurt, and it made my introduction into the lesbian world far from ideal. So much so, I went back in the closet, only to reappear a few years later.

I know you’re keen to have your first lesbian encounter, but trust me, there is no need to rush. Your time will come little sister, I promise.

lesbian dating advice

12. Falling for a girl with a boyfriend

Oh, the classic rookie mistake where only one person ends up in tears. Yep, I’m afraid that would be you, sweetheart. I made the mistake of falling in love with a bisexual girl with a boyfriend in my early 20s. I was engaged to a man at the time, and said girl dragged me recklessly back out of the closet I’d been hiding in.

It wasn’t pretty. My relationship fell apart while she made it very clear she wasn’t ever leaving her boyfriend. I was left broken-hearted, alone, and with a broken closet I could never get back into. It was a painful learning curve for me. And while it all worked out for the best in the end, I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. If she has a boyfriend (or any partner for that matter), my advice is to steer clear.

13. Having a threesome with your friend & their partner

I’m sure I don’t have to explain the dangers of this one. Take it from me; it’s a horrible idea. Just, no.

lesbian dating

14. The “Urge to Merge”

We’ve all heard the U-Haul jokes. It might appear to be a stereotype; however, the urge to merge in lesbian relationships is real. There is a theory behind this – Oxytocin. Oxytocin, otherwise known as the love hormone, is a hormone women produce when falling in love, having $ex, or breastfeeding. It feels so amazing that we easily get addicted, hence why lesbian relationships tend to move very fast.

I’m not really one to talk here, but try to resist the urge to merge with every fit girl or person that you meet. When the magic of newfound love wears off, and you realise you’re not compatible after all, it’s far easier to end things if you haven’t already started morphing into one person. For the record, Natalie and I moved in together after 6-months. That’s like three years in lesbian terms.

15. Playing hard to get

“Treat them mean, keep them keen”, might be some weird gameplay that works in heterosexual relationships, but I’m afraid that sh*t doesn’t wash with lesbians. If you act all elusive and casual, the chances are they will think you’re a f*ck boi. And you know how we feel about f*ck bois.

lesbian ldr

16. Thinking you need to change to “fit in”

Finding your belonging amongst the lesbian underworld can be daunting. Suddenly you’re met with a plethora of lesbians in all shapes, sizes, and styles who all seem so self-assured and experienced. 

In my baby lesbian days, I remember feeling like I had to change parts of myself if I wanted to be desirable. I tried so hard to mould myself into boxes that I just didn’t fit into. What I later came to realise is that actually, I was just trying to find myself. I’d lived a lie for so long that I needed to undo everything I thought I should be in order to become everything that I am.

So yes, it might be that you do need to change. But don’t do it for anybody else. Don’t think you have to dress, look, and act a certain way in order to fit in. Just work on finding you, the real you, and everything else will fall into place.

Do You Have Any Lesbian Dating Advice?

Thank you for reading! We hope you found this lesbian dating advice helpful. If you have any questions for us or anything you’d like to add to the article, don’t hesitate to leave a comment in the section below.

Happy Dating!

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Rae

Saturday 26th of August 2023

Thank you for writing this! After reading this I feel more prepared and confident to put myself out there and meet some girls. It's scary and confusing because there's no manual on how to be a lesbian! But this is probably the closest thing to it.