I do it to my girlfriend all the time and she loves it. Now, doing it to a stranger/someone I wasn’t dating would be something I’d approach with EXTREME caution.
Hmm. From previous posts it seems like it’s kind of a gamble. Either she’ll love it or she’ll consider you a creep. Probably depends on the way you do it & general atmosphere.
On another note, am I the only one with extremely sensitive, even erogenous palms and fingers?
How are you supposed to react after having your hand kissed? That’s what I want to know. (besides surreptitiously wiping your hand on your pants or something)
That is, how are you supposed to react if the person who kisses your hand is someone you’d consider a very good friend, but it’s the first time you’ve actually met them? (admittedly, this possibility is theoretical at best now… but I still want to know)
F_X
If you’re dealing with someone who drools on your hand while kissing it, the suave/gentlemanly factor will go right out the window and you’ll know what to do.
How dismissive and rude.
Oh it most certainly can be creepy!
However, I was madly in love with a Swedish man who did this to me. Well, it was the way he looked into my eyes before he did it. Eeeeow. It was sexy, sexy, sexy and not creepy. It was one of those moments where time stood still if you must know.
Not everyone can pull this off. If you can see yourself doing this and feeling natural…then go for it. A hand kiss delivered in a non-creepy way is a thing of beauty IMHO!
Indeed, that was my impression as well. I never delivered a hand kiss, but I always figured it would be best to plant the kiss about half an inch above the hand in the air, so that it appears to be a kiss, but actually isn’t.
As a plus, that way nobody can complain about the creepiness of the kiss 
It’s funny that this thread comes up now, as I was thinking about it the other day as well and came to the conclusion that modern women probably don’t like it.
I’ve always found hand-kissing quite charming, when I have been on the recieving end of the gesture. It would be totally inappropriate in a business setting, though. And I’ve never had anyone “sleazy” try it. I guess that would be different.
As far as “kissing as a greeting” goes, I have three close guy friends who I do the quick cheek/lip thing with. It’s just something that we’ve always done. I suppose it’s because we love each other, just not in a romantic way. 
I’m still not entirely comfortable with hugging as a greeting outside of certain contexts, and I’m definitely not comfortable with kisses as greeting, but a hand kiss as a greeting or in other contexts definitely works for me. I wouldn’t be comfortable with it in a business or pseudo-business setting, because in such a setting, my femininity shouldn’t come into it, but in a social setting its fine. Done with style and grace, it definitely scores points with me! This proved a little awkward yesterday when a man who is both very attractive and quite married offered to kiss a rather nasty fencing injury and make it better. The injury in question is on the knuckles of my left hand, which led to a classic hand-kissing gesture. Damn it man, I’m ethical, not dead! 
CJ
I should add to my story now. I saw at least one reference to the SCA in the thread and indeed I am a fledgling in it now so I am still learning etiquette and style there, but also what I can and I can’t carry over to regular life.
Someone referred to kissing above the hand - I apologize I am about to run out the door and cannot find who it was. There is a website out there which covers etiquette of the hand kiss but I have been told it is a crock of shite for the most part.
The way it was explained to me, was with dry lips to bend at the waist and bring yourself to the lady’s hand and lift it as little as possible. A kiss on the hand without looking into her eyes is one of respect, but keeping eye contact allows you to life the hand so as to not break eye contact and is considered… more lustful.
In any case, I’m about to be late for work unless I hurry.
Thanks for all the input, a fascinating shift in opinion. From mostly creepy and disgusting, to romantic and somewhat acceptable.
Not necessarily disgusting, but creepy. This would probably startle me almost as much as the ‘kiss kiss’ greeting that many of my french friends indulge in, and that I put up for the sake of politeness.
I use it as an ice breaker, but I kiss my own thumb. Then I work my way up my own arm, ala Gomez Addams (Sometimes exclaiming “Cara Mia!”) It usually takes the receiver a few seconds to understand just what the heck has transpired.
I’m a cheeseball.
Brainfizz’s Guide to Hand Kissing
I was taught all this at school. I’m constantly amazed by the manners and etiquette that people don’t know!
There are many variations of hand kissing. Ladies and gentlemen should know in which situations each method of hand kissing should be used.
Situation 1) Young gentleman is introduced to young lady and wishes to indicate to the person that introduced them that they should start up an appropriate conversation and make excuses to leave them together.
The gentleman should offer his right hand as if for a handshake, except slightly more palm showing. The young lady should move her left hand forward, palm down. The gentleman will then gently grasp the fingers of her left hand between the thumb and index finger of his right hand. He then moves his right leg back slightly and bows whilst keeping his eyes locked on the lady until his head is about a foot from the lady’s hand. He will hold this position whilst uttering a very brief pleasantry and then bring himself to the upright position, still keeping her gaze and still keeping hold of her hand.
The person that introduced them will indicate that the time has come for the hand to be released by starting the conversation and drawing both of their attentions to them.
Situation 2) A young gentleman is introduced to a respectable and senior lady.
In this situation, either of the two may initiate the hand kiss. The gentleman can, as in situation #1 or the lady can by proffering either her right or left hand, palm down. She will offer her left hand, if either she is not that much older than the gentleman, or has very little influence in the social circle that he is in, and she will offer her right hand if much older or more powerful.
The bow and handkiss is more difficult. It must be judged well. The bow can be anything from a slight incline of the head to almost as much as situation #1. If the bow is deep, then on no account should the gaze of the lady be held, unless you wish her to treat you as situation #1. The deeper the bow, then the more you respect the lady, but too much and she will assume pretentiousness on your part. To be on the safe side, a very shallow bow with the gaze of the lady held, a small pleasantry and then release her hand.
Situation 3) An older gentleman is introduced to a lady of any age.
Older gentlemen should only hand kiss if sure that their target will not be offended. They should perform the shallow bow and kiss to younger ladies and the deeper one for more mature ladies.
Situation 4) A gentleman meeting a lady that he already knows.
This is a much easier situation and I would advise you to use whichever kiss seems most appropriate.
Note: The hand kiss should not be performed in any situation where chivalry is disregared, such as a business setting.
Important Note: You should never handkiss a lady if you have not been introduced by someone that knows her.
ronincyberpunk, I don’t think your lips are supposed to touch her hand though. At least not in those hand kissing manuals I have seen. They just approach it & it’s sort of symbolic. Unless you’re Gomez.
It’s fine when it’s a stately gentleman doing it. But when Disco Tony tries it, I just want to puke. I’ve gotta say, the Gomez Adams approach is fabulous when done with the right amount of cheeseball humor!
That’s funny, NurseCarmen. I do that too. Just, uh, not to myself.
That is exactly how I feel- “Disco Tony”…lol. I had a guy at a karaoke show come up to me and introduce himself and when I went to shake his hand he gave me the eye lock skeevy hand kiss and went on with how “charmed” he was and blah blah. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. ::shiver::
I agree. Try licking her hand instead. Much less formal. Try to avoid a real wet lick, though. You’ll come off as kind of creepy.
Hand kissing - suave or stupid?
Are you talking about your own or somebody else’s?
Very interesting thread, I’m surprised that so many feel it is gross and sort of scuzzy. Unless of course the guy is attractive, then it seems to be ok.
Frankly even though I am no underwear model or anything I think I can pull the hand kiss off in most situations if not all. Its all about your attitude and intent.