Flirtology: the secrets to releasing your inner flirt.

not all of us are natural-born flirts. But the good news is that every girl has an inner flirt just battling to get out. And despite what you might think, your ability to flirt has nothing to do with how pretty or clever you are. But it has everything to do with the vibes you send out.

What kind of vibes? Well, we know your friends find you the funniest and most gorgeous person on earth, but there is no way a great guy will be able to appreciate the real you if you go to pieces the minute a cutie starts a conversation. It's time to think positive, and tap into your flirt power!

Want to catch the eye of the guy of your dreams? Learn the art of grabbing his attention by being your funny, fabulous self!

Here are the 30 secrets of successful flirts ...

1 Successful flirts take risks. Wait for someone else to make the first move, and you'll also be waiting to be called, asked out and kissed. Those who try get results. If you spot someone you like, don't wait by the sidelines--jump in. What have you got to lose?

2 Good mood, good flirt. Good flirts are fun. This doesn't mean you have to crack a joke every five minutes, but it does mean you should be in a good mood when you flirt. One instant mood-lifter? Put on your favorite CD, turn it up, and dance wildly around your room for five minutes. Then hit the road.

3 Find your courage. Magazines are packed full of little tricks and tips for being brave around boys. Sure, it's great to have a cute story to tell or have some cool pin for him to notice but, in the real world, you aren't always going to have timely tales or fun props--you'll just have yourself. That's why you need to just take a deep breath and give it a go. Practice your technique, and you'll find that the more you flirt, the less afraid you'll feel about it.

4 Aim your beam wide. Always start with your flirt gaze on full beam. Let it sweep over every guy in the room before you narrow it down to one person. Sometimes, you'll find Mr. Right in five seconds but, other times, it will take a few tries. Scan with a smile on your face, and you'll find someone before long.

5 Smile on the lookout. Walk around staring at your feet, and all you'll see are the cracks in the pavement. Look up, and the dating possibilities become apparent. To boost your flirt power, make eye contact with boys you think are cute as you walk down the street. Look them in the eye as you walk toward them, smile, keep walking and then look back to see if they've picked up your signals.

6 Make up your mind. All it takes are 90 seconds to decide if you like someone or not, so make those 90 seconds count! Before you hot-foot it over, check out his body language. If he's smiling, standing with his shoulders back and looking at you, then he's ready to flirt.

7 Don't give up. So what if you don't get immediate results? While your aim is to attract someone's attention, if he's not interested or misreads your signals, just move on.

8 Forget rejection. Remember: Everyone gets rejected by someone in their lifetime. Rejection is rarely about you. It's often more about the other person. Relive your dating failures, and all you'll do is put yourself through rejection over and over again. You have to be in it to win it.

9 Make sure your clothes reflect who you are. Everyone thinks guys like girls to dress like divas, but are a micro-mini and skimpy top really you? Are these the signals you want to send someone? Dressing against your personality is a flirting no-no. Always wear what gives the right signals for your personality.

10 Hang with happy people. Happiness is infectious. To boost your inner flirt power, hang around people who look and act happy. Scientists have found that people find it hard to ignore happy people, so grab his attention by smiling and having fun with your pals.

11 Be aware when someone's flirting with you. Don't get so wrapped up that you don't notice when someone's flirting with you. Hints that someone likes you: He's showing up at your favorite haunts or trying to get your attention by being silly.

12 Give him an opp. Screeching loudly with your friends might make a guy look your way, but it won't make him come over and talk to you. Guys are put off by groups of loud girls, so break away and give him a chance to approach you on your own.

13 Flirt sassy, not skanky. Being overly suggestive is not a good idea. While a bit of a romantic undertone to flirting is fine, implying you're wilder than you are will make a guy think you want more from him than a simple evening of flirting.

14 Find your flirt style. Don't copy other people's moves. Instead, pick up some helpful hints you can adapt. Watch how people keep the conversation going and how they make it clear they want to get to know someone better. If you're hopeless at flirting, it pays to spend time watching a pro at work. Choose a friend whose flirt style you admire, or go somewhere like a coffee shop and people-watch.

15 Make your move. He smiles, you smile back. You look, he looks back. You grin, he grins.... Stop it now, and get over there! Guys are notoriously thick-headed about getting the message. If he's giving you signals but not moving, you have to go to him.

16 Don't be obsessed with pickup lines. While it's good to be creative about what you say, just start with a normal conversation-opener like, "Hi, how are you?" This works because everyone knows stock phrases are a sign that someone wants to talk but doesn't know how to start. Good next lines? "So what'd ya think of Superjoint?" or "Hey, where do you go to school?"

17 Ask intelligent questions. The key is to act interested and be interesting. If you're stuck on what to say, think of questions you like to be asked and ask those.

18 Use your memory. Remembering bits of info about people and working them into a convo is not only highly flattering but shows that you're interested because you've paid attention.

19 Give something back. If you want your conversation to be more intimate and personal, give out a small detail about yourself. If the person you're flirting with likes you, he'll give you an equally personal tidbit. If you then add further details, you can move the conversation on to a more intimate level.

20 Lighten up. Humor is the best tool for flirting, and you don't have to be a comedian to use it in an effective way. We're not talking jokes but an ability to laugh. Show him your lighter, funnier side.

21 Be positive. It's a turnoff to hear someone say negative things. If you're a constant complainer, you give a message that it takes a lot to please you.

22 Don't sell yourself short. We're all fascinated (and horrified) by our perceived flaws. The good news is everyone is too busy to notice the way your hair kinks or that your eyebrows meet in the middle. So stop worrying.

23 Don't judge him too harshly. So up close he doesn't look like Chad Michael Murray. Unless he's uncouth and rude, give him a chance. Sometimes it takes a while to see someone's true personality and charm.

24 Don't flirt with his friends. OK, you're on a flirt roll and he's hooked. But you can confuse (and lose) him by turning your flirt beam on his buds. He'll stop taking you seriously.

25 Don't be too eager. Be subtle. Grabbing his hand, laughing loudly, pushing your leg against his and repeatedly telling him he's fantastic are all flirting overkill. Calm down!

26 Avoid fast flirting. Take time to find out if he has a sense of humor, whether you have things in common and if you actually want to go out with him. Be sure this is about more than initial attraction.

27 Send clear signals. Some guys read too much into flirting signals, so be clear about what vibes you're sending out. If your aim is to see him again and then decide if you like him, don't get too chummy. It will make him think you want more right now.

28 Back out anytime you want. Not all flirt specimens turn out to be what you had hoped. If Mr. Gorgeous becomes Mr. Ego, walk away and start again. Flirting is like shopping for shoes--some look great in the window but feel awful when you try them on.

29 Say his name. If you want to bond with your flirt partner, say his name during the conversation. It's a subtle signal that you want to connect.

30 Plan another meeting. Suggest you meet up again, especially if you're running out of flirt steam. Pass him your cell phone number or ask for his e-mail address. Sealed deal.