When it comes to dating in Charlotte, most of us think we know what we’re looking for – height, smile, eye color, jawline, etc. But science suggests we’re being led more by instinct than Instagram. Beneath the surface-level “swipe-right” features lie subtle, silent signals that steer our attractions, many of which we aren’t even aware of.
Take crow’s feet, for instance. While they’re often zapped by Botox and filters, these fine lines are evolution’s little tell: they signal a genuine smile, emotional warmth, and trustworthiness. In fact, in some corners of the country, they’re more attractive than a chiseled jaw.
To dig deeper into what really draws us in, Lens.me, an online colored contacts store, surveyed 3,014 men and women asking which unconventional traits secretly pull at their heartstrings.
State of Attraction: What Catches the Eye Across America
Across the country, preferences for subtle attraction cues vary as much as accents. In North Carolina, it’s the voice that makes the biggest impression. Not the words themselves, but the tone – that steady, resonant quality that feels grounded and calm. Locals say they’re drawn to voices that carry a certain quiet confidence, whether it’s a low, gravelly timbre or a warm, easy cadence. In the Tar Heel State, the right voice doesn’t need to shout – it simply needs to feel real, reassuring, and unforced.
In second place, it’s the eyebrows doing the heavy lifting. Many North Carolinians are captivated not just by grooming but by the expressive power of brows – the way they arch in surprise, furrow in thought, or lift in amusement. If eyes are windows to the soul, eyebrows are definitely the running commentary.
And thirdly it appears that many North Carolinians are fixated on hands. Their shape, the way they move in conversation, or the calm elegance of someone resting them on a table can apparently rival movie-star looks.
Meanwhile, other states were drawn to other traits. In Alabama, it’s all about posture. Locals here pay close attention to how someone carries themselves – whether they walk tall or seem to fold into the background. A confident gait, it turns out, may beat a six-pack any day of the week. Wisconsinites put a premium on facial expressiveness. From spontaneous grins to subtle eyebrow lifts, natural animation signals warmth and approachability, cutting through any cold Midwestern reserve.
Indiana, true to its friendly, unpretentious vibe, values laughter. Not the polite kind, but the real thing – a laugh that bursts out and fills a room, unfiltered and human. In Virginia, scent reigns supreme – but not the bottled kind. Virginians are drawn to a subtle, natural scent or just the clean warmth of someone who smells like themselves. It’s intimate, primal, and surprisingly powerful.
New Jersey focuses less on eye color but what matters there is the way someone looks at you. A soft, steady gaze can go a long way. This is underlined by data from Lens.me which indicate that traditional preference for exotic blue colored contacts has been replaced by a trend towards more natural brown or hazel colored contacts that make up 57% of colored contacts sold in NY state.
In Vermont, it’s crow’s feet that steal hearts. Those little smile lines are seen as markers of a joyful life and emotional sincerity – traits that never go out of style. And in West Virginia, your walk speaks volumes. Whether it’s a confident stride, an easy saunter, or a thoughtful pace, Mountaineers believe your gait reveals far more than your wardrobe ever could.
