It depends on whether they’re coming or going…
- Voice.
- Conversational style and content.
- Eyes.
- Shoes
- General cleanliness
- Teeth
Height, eyes, smile. Hands: can’t stand bitten down chewed finger nail-stumps.
Voice.
Mmmm, nice voice… 
Gender.
I often get queried by my girlfriend, whom I drive nuts – “Well, how did your new boss dress? Old, young? What did he look like?”
Being my usual observant self, I reply – “Umm, I think he was white…yeah, I’m pretty sure…and I think he had hair…”
But I almost always notice and remember the sex of the person I’ve met.
Hair. I am such a sucker for guys with long hair.
I could have sworn the OP asked what’s the first thing we notice, not the first 9,000. Anyway, the face. Nothing in particular. The whole thing overall.
It must be hair. Think about it… if you ask most people to describe someone they almost always start off with blonde, brunette or ginger or whatever. Mmm… or maybe height?
When I met my wife she was sitting at her desk. It was her hair, eyes, nose and smile. Nice big smile…her eyes even smiled. Been 12 years now.
rande…
Funny, I was about to say the exact same thing. People freak out when I can recognize someone from across campus, just based on body type, movement, posture, etc…
When I had like 20/100 vision as a kid, the only way I could recognize someone at any reasonable distance was by body type. Now that I have 20/10 with contacts, I guess the same principle applies, just at a MUCH greater distance.
I go for peoples eyes and that’s about it. Nothing else will catch my attention.
The eyes are the door way to the soul in my books. People always say I have a bad starring problem because I always make eye contact…but eyes are so beautiful.
My friend knows everyone by their shoes. That’s how she tells who is good looking or not by their shoes.
- Eyes
- Smile
- Height/Weight
Cuticles.