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Find out what he's really looking for.
By Emily Ratay — Written on Mar 09, 2018
I hate guessing what men want. I really do.
I know that I can be a pain in the butt when it comes to articulating what kind of personality I'm looking for in a guy or in a relationship, so I get how frustrating it can be when the tables are turned.
And while I wish mind-reading were a thing and I could still tell you I don't know what I want (but you can read my mind, so you know the truth), I get that it's so much easier to just be honest about what you're looking for in a partner.
But for some reason, dating seems to be a guessing game because you don't want to sound shallow and say that looks are at the top of your list, but you also don't want to sound like you're full of crap and say that all you want in a relationship is someone with a good personality.
We all have preferences when it comes to finding the right person to date.
You might want someone who's both smart and funny, or you might want someone with a kind heart and a bangin' bod, but whatever you're looking for, it doesn't make you a bad person to want it all — or to want someone with a nice face and a personality to match.
If you really want to know what personality traits men want in a woman, you should start with his zodiac sign.
Astrology can tell you a lot about the guy, but it can also tell you a lot about what he wants in a woman.
A lot of the time, men want someone who can complement their interests and strengths (duh).
For example, if he's a thrill seeker, he probably going to want a woman who's always down for an adventure, rather than a homebody who likes staying in and binge-watching Game of Thrones.
Then there are the men who want a partner who will see their weaknesses and be able to turn them into strengths; like if he were a little on the shy side, he might want a partner who's more of a social butterfly than he is so that he can work on getting out of his shell.
Figuring out what men want in a woman by reading his horoscope isn't an exact science obviously, but it can shed a lot of light on what guys who share a zodiac sign are most attracted to.
And once you know what kind of woman he's interested in, you can hook him with your charm, smarts, and, yes, even those pretty eyes of yours.
Use this as your guide to finding out what men really want in a woman by studying his horoscope, personality traits, and some help from astrology.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
When it comes to love, an Aries man really wants a woman who can hold her own; someone who is direct and straightforward with him without making him work for an answer or make him have to guess what she’s thinking.
One of the most important things an Aries man looks for in a woman is someone who can take care of herself instead of waiting around for him to save the day.
When he knows he’s dating a woman who’s confident in herself and wants to be equal partners — rather than being too dependent on each other — an Aries man feels like he has it all. Physically, he might be more attracted to tomboy-types; or rather, women who aren’t afraid to get dirty if it means having fun together — no beauty queens for this zodiac sign!
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
It might sound like a cliché for this sign, but a Taurus man is almost always drawn to women who love to eat and love to chill. He might not realize it himself, but he tends to look for a woman with a unique personality. He wants a girl who takes things as they come in life without letting them stress her out too much.
He likes when a woman is in control of her emotions and knows what she wants to say, when she wants to say it. Because Taurus likes dating women who have the same values as he does, he looks for women who are grounded and very in touch with her surroundings.
If she spends too much time with her head in the clouds or looking to the future, rather than enjoying the present, he’s not going to be as interested. A Taurus man is attracted to women who remind him how important it is to enjoy life and everything in it.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
A Gemini man is the kind of man who wants it ALL in a woman. He might have a long punch-list when looking for suitable women to date, but don’t hold that against him; he just has high standards because he wants his relationships to last.
The most important thing he’s looking for in a woman is someone who’s intelligent; he doesn’t want someone trying to hide her smarts — he wants to see that big, beautiful brain! Dating a woman with a good head on her shoulders is what Gemini men consider the best foundation for a partner.
After that, anything goes! He does tend to be most attracted to women who are energetic and adventurous, though. He loves the idea of dating someone who will accompany him to the gym in the mornings and will jump at the chance to try new things.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
When a Cancer man is looking for the right woman for him, he wants to be surprised by all the good things she’s got hidden inside of her — kind of like a Kinder Egg! He’s incredibly intrigued by women who are unassuming and open up to him once they get to know each other. He has a very romantic, idealistic outlook on dating and likes the idea of having a fairytale relationship.
Cancer men tend to look for women who are more “go with the flow” types over aggressive personalities. He likes women who (maybe secretly) want a man to take care of them.
This doesn’t necessarily mean he wants someone to coddle, but he can’t deny that he likes a woman who’d rather spend Friday night snuggled up together on the couch and calls him in the middle of the night because she misses his voice. Awwww.
LEO (July 23 - August 22)
This might sound a little weird here, but bear with me. When a Leo man looks for a woman, he looks for the one who is almost aggressively beautiful. He loves women who like to dress well, are nicely groomed from head to toe, and are hip with the latest fashions. In a word (or two): the Instagram model.
If he finds a woman he can slay on social media with, he’s happy as a clam. As for her personality, the Leo man wants a woman who is confident in herself, her career, and her life. She should act like the life she leads is the only one she’s ever wanted and if she’s unhappy about something, she’s not afraid to change it.
He does know that there’s a line between being confident and a snob, and he won’t hesitate to call it quits if you’re the latter. He wants an Instagram babe with a heart of gold.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
When a Virgo man looks for the perfect woman, he looks for someone who would be on par with the kind of almond milk he likes to buy: homegrown, simple, and natural. And she should definitely be a person, not milk, by the way.
What I’m trying to get at is that Virgo men tend to look for women who are down-to-earth, wholesome, and keeps her home close to her heart; the All-American Girl. He’s also into a woman who’s straightforward and honest, simply because he believes those kinds of traits are what make a relationship strong from the start.
Brainy women also make him swoon like crazy, so don’t be afraid to show off your big vocabulary and let him take a peek at your extensive book collection. Know any big, hard-to-spell words? Save those for the bedroom.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
The Libra man isn’t one to lie, so he’ll get straight to the point and tell you exactly what kind of woman he’s looking for. If you had to label her, she’d most closely resemble the Southern Belle: charming, well-mannered, and cute as hell; accent optional.
He looks for the woman who can stop a room mid-conversation when she walks in, but doesn’t let her looks get her places. She should be polite, but be able to stand her ground.
He might not admit it – or maybe he will – but a Libra man goes crazy for a woman who aims to please when it comes to intimacy. He’s definitely not stingy in the bedroom, but if his partner is someone who prefers giving over receiving, he’s in heaven. But overall, Libra men adore women who can make a good impression and charm the pants off of anyone — but especially him. Wink, wink.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
A Scorpio man wants the woman who will scare away most guys… or will eat them alive like the Black Widow spider. She must be dark and mysterious, with a complicated and multi-faceted personality to match. Think of her like a real-life Medusa who may or may not actually turn you to stone if you look directly into her eyes.
What makes this kind of woman super intriguing to a Scorpio man is that there’s a good chance that he’s the only person who knows everything about her. If she likes keeping her inner circle small and plays her cards close to her chest, he’s all over it. And if she just so happens to also be a seductress who can make him melt like ice cream with one glance, he’s sold, baby.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
Sagittarius men tend to be most attracted to women who have everything going for them. A winning personality, an amazing sense of humor, and a natural beauty to rival the Seven Wonders of the World (or close to that) are all on his list of what his ideal woman should be like.
And if you ask him if he might be reaching for the stars here, he’ll tell you that he just wants to find his IRL dream girl. One of the most important qualities a Sagittarius man wants in a woman is for her to have a positive outlook on life; she constantly wakes up on the right side of the bed, ready to conquer the day.
He also wants someone who is up for anything, no matter what that thing might be. If he can make some seriously amazing memories with his partner, it’ll make him feel like he’s won the dating lottery. Lucky him!
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
A Capricorn man wants a woman he can have a healthy competition with; someone who can feel empowered by being in a dynamic relationship. Basically, if you want to get technical, he wants to date a female version of himself. She should be able to hold her own, take care of herself, and be a little bit of a bad ass — kind of like a cat, but with less hairballs.
When Capricorn envisions his perfect partner, she’s successful, dedicated to her career and relationship, and maybe even a little bit scary. He wants to be in a relationship with someone who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it, even if it means being the one to wear the pants in the relationship.
Hey, if she’s everything he’s looking for, he’d be more than happy to learn a few things from her.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
The Aquarius man looks for the woman who is like no one else he’s ever met before. If he feels like you’re just another cut-and-dry personality, he won’t think twice about you. But show him that you embrace being one-of-a-kind and a little bit weird, he’s all over you like peanut butter on pickles… or whatever weird thing people are into now.
The Aquarius man looks for originality not just in a woman’s personality, but in her looks, too. Got an interesting hair cut or some bad ass tattoos? Yeah, he can barely write his number down fast enough for ya.
But besides being one-in-a-million, Aquarius men tend to be interested in women who are crazy intelligent and a great sense of humor, too; the kind of women he’s not soon to forget.
PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
Pisces men tend to be most attracted to the woman who makes him dream in Technicolor. He’s a very romantic kind of guy to begin with, but once he finds his muse, everything he’s ever imagined he’d have in a relationship finally comes to life.
He tends to look for women who are sensitive and artistic, but he also goes for the women who are a little quirky and unique. A Pisces man in love sees the world with rose-colored glasses on and he wants his partner to do the same.
She should be just as dreamy and soft as he is, with an interest in making the relationship as romantic and love-filled as possible. The Pisces man needs someone to need him, so his ideal woman should have heart eyes for him and only him. A relationship with Pisces is one that feels like Valentine’s Day every day.
Emily Ratay is a full-time writer living in Pittsburgh. She's passionate about the environment and feminism, and knows that anything is possible in the right pair of shoes. She plans on writing a non-fiction book in the future.