So, you’re attracted to your friend. He’s tall, handsome and most definitely single. You’re smart and attractive and also single. Neither of you want anything serious – should you start sleeping together just for the sake of sex? This is a touchy subject. You’ll probably find a ton of opinions on if you should hook up with a friend or not. It could either be a really great thing or a total disaster.

Here are some things to think about before hooking up with a friend. 

What are the reasons you are doing it? Is it just to get laid? Do you have a secret crush on them that isn’t really reciprocated? If you’re doing it because you like them, things probably won’t end well. Someone is bound to get hurt, even if you try to stick to the “no strings attached” rule. It will probably be you in the long run and you don’t want to do that to yourself. 

Can you trust them? Are they in the regular social circle of people you hang out with all the time? Are they the kind of person who talks about who they are hooking up with? Are you okay with that? Do you really want others to know about your sex life, even if it is something super casual? This is something to really think about – being the topic of gossip is no fun. 

Could you be friends again after you stopped hooking up? It’s easy to say you want something casual and do it, but when it’s over will it be really awkward whenever you see each next? What about if the other person starts dating someone new? Will friends take sides if they knew what was going on? There’s so many things to consider.

Then there is the other side of the spectrum… Sometimes the best relationships can come from being friends first. What if one of you falls for the other and wants more? Could you handle that? It’s a tough spot to be in and way easier said than done. 

One piece of advice if you do decide to start hooking up with a friend is to lay down some guidelines. You need to both be on the same page for this to work. If someone isn’t following all the rules –  the fun needs to end because things can and will get messy. 

No Strings Dating is a casual dating site and blog.