Hickeys are making a comeback, with experts and daters arguing that the love bite is a playful, primal sign of passion rather than a teenage embarrassment. Search interest in 'biting' on ethical porn site Lustery has increased by around 30% this year compared to last year, according to recent data.
Why hickeys fell out of favour
Sexuality expert Courtney Boyer told Metro that adults sometimes feel the need to be serious and intense during intimacy, which can eliminate playfulness. 'We often forget that sex is meant to be fun and doesn't have to be serious all the time,' she said. Many people shy away from hickeys because they associate them with teenage relationships or early sexual experiences, she added.
Denise, a 27-year-old Metro reader, loves receiving hickeys but often conceals them around friends and colleagues as a precaution. Her preference is to receive love bites on the chest area and inner thighs. Courtney also noted that people might avoid love bites because they could be seen as a sign of being 'inexperienced'.
A new perspective on love bites
Chloe Bailey, 25, from Greenwich, reframed hickeys as a sign of casual fun in dating. After coming out of a 10-year relationship, she said, 'I feel like hickeys used to be cool at high school to show how “active” you were. But now, I see them as a perfect example of human connection, passionate and almost primal. Of course, both parties need to be consenting, but I think we should all give it a go!'
For Denise, the turn-on is about her partner 'marking' her and having a souvenir of their time together. 'Every time I spot it in the mirror it gives me goosebumps,' she shared. Filipa Castro, 28, from North London, finds hickeys 'hot' and loves it when they happen accidentally. 'Seeing a hickey in the mirror the day after makes me feel wanted and desired,' she told Metro.
The broader intimacy trend
The interest in hickeys ties into a wider appreciation for understated intimacy. TikTok creator Tilly Ferrari called for 'more snogging' that doesn't lead anywhere, labelling it one of her official 'ins' for 2026. BACP psychotherapist Susie Masterson previously called kissing 'an underrated art', urging everyone to experiment with it more. Dating influencer Allora Dannon suggested a 'romantic hug' with nuzzling or 'spicy grinding' as a perfect segue into something naughtier.
