Smiling with your lips closed is a subtle yet effective way to express happiness or friendliness. It's a skill that can be learned and perfected with practice. The key is to focus on engaging the muscles around your mouth correctly.
Techniques for a Natural Closed-Lip Smile
Here are several methods to achieve a natural-looking closed-mouth smile:
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The Jaw Clench: This technique, surprisingly effective, involves clenching your jaw slightly before smiling. This helps to lift the corners of your mouth upwards, creating a more genuine smile. (Reference: The key to making your closed mouth smile look natural (instead for creepy!) is making sure that the corners of your smile go up instead of out. Here are 3 tips to help… ✅ TIP ONE: Clench your jaw and then smile.)
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String Technique: Imagine strings pulling the corners of your mouth upwards and outwards, horizontally. This visualization can help you engage the correct muscles for a natural smile. (Reference: Try imagining a string attached to each corner of your mouth. Envision pulling the string out horizontally, in order to create a smile.)
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Corner Focus: Ensure the corners of your mouth are turned upwards, not outwards. This is crucial for preventing a creepy or unnatural look. This is mentioned across several resources as a key element for achieving a natural-looking closed lip smile. (Reference: the key to getting a perfect close mouth smile. is making sure that the corners of your mouth. are going up instead of out.)
Why a Closed-Lip Smile?
Many people prefer a closed-lip smile for various reasons. Some may find it more comfortable or natural. Others may use it in formal settings or when wanting to convey a more reserved politeness. A closed-lip smile can still communicate warmth and friendliness without being overly expressive.
Normalizing Closed-Lip Smiles
It's perfectly normal to smile with your mouth closed! The way you smile is unique to you, and there's no single "correct" way. (Reference: Yes. It's normal. There are many who smile with their mouths open showing their teeth & some who smile with their mouth closed.) In fact, a closed-lip smile can be interpreted as polite and friendly in many social contexts. (Reference: Closed lip is understood as a polite/friendly way of acknowledging somebody's presence and diffusing tension.)
