Whether you are new to dating and are just starting to date others, or if you have dated a few partners in the past, you have likely heard of a hickey by now.
A hickey is commonly referred to as a mark that is left after sucking or kissing a certain part of another person’s body.
Guys will typically want to give a girl they are interested in a hickey to show their affection as well as to show off the dominance they may have or desire over you in front of others.
Because hickeys leave a mark, a guy who gives you a hickey may be trying to send a deeper message.
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What are hickeys?
Hickeys are spots that are left over after kissing or sucking on a particular part of the body.
In most cases, hickeys form due to the pressure caused by sucking and suckling motions on a specific area.
This suckling and suckling motion can lead to broken blood vessels, which results in a spot on the body (typically on the neck) appearing bruised.
Are hickeys painful?
Hickeys are not initially painful, although they can be if an individual who is giving someone a hickey is too rough or is sucking on a highly sensitive area of skin.
Hickeys are more likely to feel painful a few days to even a week after they initially appear, as the blood vessels attempt to repair and heal themselves.
What do hickeys look like?
Hickeys typically appear as round or circular bruises that are not raised.
While hickeys typically appear round, they can take on a variety of shapes depending on how large they are, where they are located, and how they were formed and created.
Where are hickeys most commonly found?
Hickeys can be created and found just about anywhere on the body.
However, hickeys are most commonly found in areas such as the neck, as well as other sensitive areas.
Areas such as the thighs and neck are much more susceptible to hickeys and broken blood vessels as these areas are highly sensitive.
What color is a hickey?
A hickey will change colors over time, from the initial process of receiving one to it being fully healed.
When an individual first receives a hickey, it is not uncommon for the hickey to appear reddish or purple in color, depending on the intensity and severity of the hickey.
The hickey’s colors will change throughout the progression of its development as well as its progression into healing.
Hickeys will typically have a range of colors from brown and light yellow to purples and reds, depending on what stage of healing the hickey is in.
Are hickeys safe?
Yes, for the most part, hickeys are entirely harmless.
The only time a hickey may become harmful or risky to an individual’s health is if the sucking or biting on another individual’s skin results in the breaking of the skin itself.
If the skin breaks while it is being bitten or sucked on, there is an increased chance of developing an infection if the wound is not tended to and managed properly in a timely manner.
Are hickeys painful?
For some, hickeys may feel painful and uncomfortable. For others, hickeys may feel good or pleasurable.
The way a hickey will feel for someone will depend on their own preferences when kissing and getting intimate with a partner as well as their own personal pain threshold.
Those who enjoy getting a bit rough with their partner in a romantic and consensual way may feel more comfortable with giving and receiving hickeys, even in sensitive areas on the body.
Why does my guy want to give hickeys?
A guy may want to give his partner hickeys to show that he is interested in her and to show her that he simply cannot get enough of her.
A man who enjoys giving hickeys may also be interested in becoming more physical and more intense in the bedroom.
In some instances, giving hickeys is another way to show off someone’s “prize” or their “catch,” especially when men feel competitive and are vying for the same woman.
A hickey can be a visual indicator that a woman is taken or already has a suitor, especially if the hickey is publicly visible.
Reasons a guy may give a girl a hickey
There is no single why reason a guy may want to give a girl a hickey.
In fact, there can be many reasons behind why a guy gives a girl a hickey, depending on the type of relationship he is in, the seriousness of the relationship, as well as his own sexual needs and preferences.
Some reasons a guy may give a girl a hickey might include:
- Dominance: One reason a man may give a girl a hickey is a display of dominance. When a man is able to leave a physical mark on a woman’s neck or another visible part of her body, he is able to show to others that she is already taken and is not available to any other men who may be interested in pursuing her at the time.
- Passion: Oftentimes, hickeys are common with men who become eager and excited when spending time with a new partner or with a woman they are extremely attracted to on a physical and sexual level.
- Anxiety: In some cases, a man may accidentally leave a hickey on a woman’s neck due to the heat of the passion and moment. If a man is inexperienced or too eager with a woman, he may become easily excited, causing him to become overly aggressive, which may result in hickeys and/or bruises, especially throughout sensitive areas and areas of the body with thinner skin.
How do I know what a man means when he is kissing me hard?
The best way to gauge what a man means and what he wants when he is kissing you hard is to consider his personality as well as the dynamic of the relationship you currently have with one another.
No one man is the same, which is why it is important to consider his individual personality as well as the relationship you have with one another if you are curious about what his kissing style means or why he is leaving you with hickeys.
How can I learn more about why my man is giving me hickeys?
If you are in a committed relationship with a man who enjoys kissing you or leaving hickeys on your body, but you are unsure why just ask him.
The best course of action for any issue that arises whenever you are in a relationship typically begins with effective and open communication.
Having the ability to communicate openly and honestly with your partner about his kissing style as well as the hickeys he leaves can help you to get to know one another better on a more personal and intimate level.
Is it normal to want to give a hickey to my boyfriend or partner in return?
Yes, hickeys are not exclusively only available for men to give to women.
While it is more common for men to give women hickeys, women also desire giving hickeys to men, especially when they are in the heat of the moment or caught up in passion.
What if my hickeys hurt?
If your hickeys hurt too much or are far too uncomfortable for your own liking, you should speak to your partner to find a working solution for you both.
In any relationship, safety, comfort, and respect are always top priorities.
You should always feel safe, comfortable, and excited about the type of sexual and intimate acts you engage in, regardless of the partner you are with at the time.
What if I don’t like receiving hickeys?
If you prefer to skip out on receiving hickeys, you will need to talk to your partner directly.
Your partner may not understand that you are not fond of receiving hickeys until you are honest and upfront about your feelings.
In some cases, your partner may feel personally impacted or offended, so it is important to reiterate that you not preferring hickeys is not personal, but it is a preference and need of your own.
How can I give better hickeys?
If you enjoy giving hickeys to your partner and your partner also enjoys receiving them, you may find yourself wanting to improve your skills and abilities when it comes to causing hickeys on your partner yourself.
You can get better at giving hickeys by practicing suckling and kissing your partner in sensitive areas and in areas of their body with thinner and more sensitive skin.
Watching videos on kissing can also help you to feel more comfortable once you begin kissing your partner and attempting to give them a hickey on your own.
How long will the hickey last?
This will depend on a number of factors ranging from the severity of the hickey itself, the size of the hickey, as well as the placement and location of the hickey on your body.
Additional factors such as your body’s susceptibility to bruising and your body’s ability to heal bruises and other wounds should also be considered and kept in mind if you currently have a hickey anywhere on your body.
Most hickeys will begin healing within one week after they initially appear.
Hickeys should heal anywhere between 7 and 14 days as long as they are not too severe and as long as the recipient of the hickey does not have any underlying medical conditions that may slow the healing process.
What is the healing process of a hickey like?
The healing process of a hickey will also vary based on the size, shape, as well as the overall severity of the hickey that is healing itself.
Not all hickeys are created equally and in the same positions or spots on the body, so they will not all heal at the same pace, either.
A hickey will first appear as a red mark or as a simple bruise. It may also appear as broken blood vessels, which appear red or purple in color.
The color of a hickey will depend on the amount of suction that was used in the initial creation of the hickey itself.
How do I hide a hickey?
This one is tricky, as it is not always possible to expedite the healing process of a hickey, no matter how many creams or gels you attempt to use.
If you want to hide a hickey that is publicly visible, your best option is to use a concealer or a facial foundation that matches your skin tone where the hickey is located.