What to text back when a girl says hey

A girl texting 'hey' first is a green light, but it's a soft one. She initiated, which means she was thinking about you or decided to see if you were worth talking to. But 'hey' alone tells you almost nothing about her investment level. She might be bored and browsing. She might want to talk but doesn't know what to say. She might be testing whether you'll carry the conversation.

This is the moment where most guys either match her low effort with low effort of their own, or they overcorrect and write something trying too hard. The real move is to read 'hey' as an opening, not a full thought. She's handing you the chance to set the tone. That means you're not responding to what she said. You're responding to what she signaled: 'I'm open to hearing from you right now.'

Your message needs to show you're actually paying attention and have something to contribute. This doesn't mean referencing her profile deeply or being clever. It means pulling from something real between you, then adding a prompt that keeps the ball rolling. If you met in person, mention something from that conversation. If you matched on an app, reference something from her profile or your chat history. The point is that she sees you're not just copy-pasting a generic opener to every match.

Second, your reply has to give her a specific reason to text back. A statement alone leaves her guessing whether she should respond or what she should say. A question works. A prompt that invites her to share something works. A light comment that disagrees or builds on something she told you works. What doesn't work is making her do all the mental labor while you sit back and wait.

Send your reply within a few hours if you're texting the same day, or whenever you next check your phone if a day has passed. Don't overthink the timing. She texted you casually. Treat it casually.

If she doesn't reply within a day or two, don't send a follow-up 'hey' or 'you there?' You've already done your part. Double-texting with nothing new just signals you're waiting on her. If she comes back later, reply the same way you did the first time. If she ghosts after your solid reply, the conversation wasn't going to go anywhere. That's not on you. Move forward instead of hanging on for a response that might never come.