How To Respond To "Hey" (Without Being Boring)
"Hey" is the lowest-effort opener on any dating app. 80% of guys reply "hey" back. That thread is dead. The move is to pattern-interrupt with specificity — reference her bio or ask a question she can't answer with one word.
Generate a reply in 10 seconds
4 replies that work
“Hey! Quick — if you had to pick one: rooftop bar or dive bar for our first date?”
Why it works: Skips small talk. Assumes the date. Gives her a binary.
“hey back. reading your bio and I have questions. starting with: is the [specific bio claim] aspirational or confirmed?”
Why it works: Specific to her, playful, forces a real answer.
“hey! okay real talk — what's the weirdest thing you did this week?”
Why it works: Invites a story. Stories keep threads alive.
“hey 👋 I'm going to fully ignore the fact that you said "hey" and ask how your sunday is actually going”
Why it works: Self-aware. Acknowledges the low effort without calling it out mean.
Unlimited replies, every tone
Rizzly reads her message + your context and writes a reply in your voice. Free for 3 days.
Download on iOSFAQ
Is "hey back" a good reply?
Only if you follow it with a specific question. A solo "hey back" stalls the thread.
How long should I wait to reply to hey?
Within 1–2 hours on dating apps. Waiting longer doesn't seem cool, it looks disengaged.