Sign 1: They’re More Affectionate Than Usual

One of the earliest and often most overlooked signs is a noticeable increase in affection. It might look like a friend who lingers a little longer than normal when hugging you goodbye. Someone who starts sitting a tad closer than they used to or brushes your arm when they laugh. They might even find small, almost incidental ways to touch you during conversations.

If you’re already casually involved, then it might manifest as more frequent or more tender physical contact: hand-holding that lasts longer, more spontaneous kisses or a softness that wasn’t there before.

If you’re prone to overthinking the small stuff, then it can be easy to dismiss these changes at first. You might tell yourself they’re just a naturally affectionate person, or that you’re imagining a pattern where none exists. Besides, not all affection is romantic; physical touch can mean different things in different contexts.

However, research suggests that when affection noticeably increases, it most likely reflects something deeper. In a 2023 study published in Scientific Reports, researchers found that the frequency of affectionate touch (e.g., hugging, stroking, kissing, etc.) is positively associated with feelings of love in romantic relationships. This means that as emotional attachment deepens, people tend to express via frequent non-verbal touch.

Since touch is one of the least filtered forms of communication we have, a shift like this can be incredibly meaningful. Unlike our words, which we can carefully choose or withhold, physical affection reflects our underlying emotional states much more directly. When someone is falling in love, their desire for closeness, both emotional and physical, will naturally intensify too.

So, if someone who once kept a comfortable distance is now consistently finding reasons to close that gap, it probably isn’t an accident.

Sign 2: Their Grooming Habits Have Changed

Another meaningful tell is how someone presents themselves around you. You might notice that they’ve started putting in more effort when they know they’ll see you. Maybe they show up with their hair styled or makeup done, when they used to keep it casual. Maybe they’re wearing outfits that feel more curated, or a new fragrance that you’ve never noticed before. The changes themselves might not be big, but they’re consistent enough for you to notice them.

Again, this is a shift that people tend to downplay at first. You might assume they’re just trying out a new style, or that the change has nothing to do with you. After all, people update their appearance or dress up for all kinds of reasons, not all of which involve romance.

But from a psychological perspective, grooming behaviors are deeply tied to attraction and courtship. A 2019 chapter in The Semiotics of Love highlights how changes in appearance often act as physical manifestations of romantic emotion.

The author, Marcel Danesi — renowned researcher in semiotics and linguistic anthropology — emphasizes that grooming, cosmetics and style are core components of how humans signal romantic interest across cultures, and thus shouldn’t be dismissed as trivial details.

As Danesi notes, enhancing one’s appearance is “part of the game of love,” and plays a crucial role in courtship. When these romantic codes are violated, he argues that the chances of courtship success are virtually nil. For this reason, once someone becomes emotionally invested, they become more attuned to how they are perceived in turn, especially by the person they care about.

What’s most important to pay attention to is the context of these grooming shifts. If someone’s grooming habits have changed specifically in situations where you’re present, then that’s more than likely meaningful. They’re showing up with you in mind; they want to be seen well by you in particular.

Sign 3: They Make Eye Contact More Than Usual

Eye contact is one of the most powerful forms of non-verbal communication we have. If someone is falling in love with you, you may start to notice that they look at you differently. They might hold eye contact a little longer than what feels typical for you. You might catch them looking at you when you’re not speaking, or notice a newfound attentiveness in their gaze that wasn’t there before.

Of all the signs, this one in particular can initially feel far too subtle to really mean anything. Since eye contact is something we all engage in daily, it’s very easy to dismiss changes in it as either a coincidence or a product of overanalysis.

But once again, research suggests otherwise. In a 2014 eye-tracking study published in Psychological Science, researchers found that people’s gaze patterns shift systematically depending on whether they’re experiencing feelings of love or lust.

More specifically, when the participants were evaluating someone in terms of romantic love, they were significantly more likely to focus on the person’s face. When they were driven by sexual desire, however, their attention was more often directed toward the body.

This distinction is important. Love is inherently more holistic and person-centered than lust is. When we’re in love, we naturally become more curious about someone’s inner world — what they’re thinking, how they’re feeling — as opposed to just their physical presence alone. That curiosity is what naturally draws our attention to the face, as this is where emotional expression lives.

So, if someone is consistently meeting your gaze, holding it and returning to it, even in moments where they don’t have to, don’t dismiss it as them just “looking” at you. In all likelihood, they’re trying to connect with you in a new, deep way.

Think about the subtle ways you act when you’re in love. Could you be giving away more signs than you realize? Take my fun Romantic Personality Quiz to find out.