How to Write a Dating Profile That Gets Responses in 2026 (With Real Examples)

Research by dating platforms consistently shows the same gap: people say they want kindness and intelligence, but their actual swipe behavior is driven by:

• Ease of imagining a date: Profiles that describe specific activities ("always up for dumplings in Chinatown") perform better than profiles that list abstract traits ("loves food").
• Proof of a social life: People want to feel like they'd be entering an exciting life, not rescuing someone from loneliness. Photos at events beat solo bedroom selfies every time.
• Emotional safety signals: Negativity, sarcasm at others' expense, or a long list of requirements ("No drama, must be ambitious") signals high-maintenance energy.
• Genuine specificity: The most-liked profiles on Hinge share one trait: they're specific to the point of being slightly weird. "I have 3 strong opinions about bread" is infinitely more swipeable than "I love food."

Across Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, and The League, the same three-part structure outperforms everything else:

Part 1: The Specific Hook (1 sentence)

One concrete, specific thing about you that immediately creates a mental image. This should be something that 80% of people can't say.

Bad: "I love cooking."
Good: "I make risotto that takes 45 minutes and genuinely ruins restaurant risotto for you."

Part 2: The Tension Creator (1-2 sentences)

A contradictory or surprising second fact. This creates intrigue and makes you memorable.

Example: "Also a competitive karate student. The combination confuses people at dinner parties."

Part 3: The Conversation Magnet (1 sentence)

An implicit invitation that plants a date idea or invites engagement without directly asking for it.

Example: "Currently building a list of the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in the city — always accepting nominations."

Tinder

Bios are optional but used by people who convert more matches into dates. Keep it under 90 words. Your bio is a filter, not an essay. End with an easy, specific question or invitation.

Hinge

Prompts are the bio. Choose 3 that show different facets of your personality — one funny, one genuine, one that invites conversation. Answer them with 1-2 sentences max. Avoid the obvious answers. "My love language: making reservations" beats "quality time."

Bumble

Women message first (or set an Opening Move). Your bio's job is to give her something easy to reply to. End with a light, fun question: "Would you rather debate restaurant rankings or restaurant prices?"

The League

The user base skews career-focused. Leading with a career detail is accepted here where it would feel try-hard on Hinge. One accomplishment + one non-work hobby = the dominant structure.

Before (Generic)

"I'm a pretty chill person who loves adventures, hiking, and good food. I'm equally good at a fancy dinner or staying in with Netflix. Looking for someone real who doesn't take life too seriously. Love to laugh and love good conversations!"

This describes 60% of people on dating apps. It creates no image, no hook, no conversation starter.

After (Specific)

"Software engineer by day, mediocre home chef by night — current project is recreating the best ramen I had in Osaka in 2022. I've ruined three pots so far. Also: strong opinions about airport terminals. Looking for someone who wants to argue about which city has the best food scene over a drink."

This creates a specific mental image, a conversation starter (the ramen project), a quirky detail (airport terminals), and an implicit date invitation — all in 60 words.

Read your current bio and photos and answer these questions honestly:

1. Could 50% of people on the app write this exact bio? If yes, rewrite it.
2. Does your first photo show your full face with eyes visible? If no, change it.
3. Is there at least one thing in your profile that someone could ask you about? If no, add it.
4. Does your profile answer "what would dating this person actually be like?" If no, add one specific, vivid detail.
5. Is there any negative language, requirements, or defensive phrasing? If yes, delete it.

If you want a more detailed breakdown, Aurale's AI profile analyzer scores your photos and text against thousands of high-performing profiles and tells you exactly what to fix.