How to reply to "hey".
"hey" is the lowest-effort opener there is, but it is not a reason to ignore someone. It usually means they were interested and could not think of anything.
You can either match the effort or take the wheel. Taking the wheel gets better conversations.
What you are working with
Since the message contains nothing, everything has to come from their profile or your own curiosity. That is fine — it also means you get to pick the topic.
What you can say
- 1Answer, then ask about something specific in their profile.
- 2Tease the opener lightly if you want to be playful.
- 3Give them a simple either/or so replying is easy.
Example messages
Hey. Bold opener. I'll raise you: your second photo — where was that taken?
Hey! Okay, important question first: are you the hiking one or the photo-of-a-friend's-hike one?
Hi. What's actually keeping you busy this week?
What to avoid
- ✕Replying "hey" and waiting.
- ✕Mocking the opener hard enough that it reads as rude.
When to leave the conversation alone
If you give them a real question and get another "hey", the conversation is not going anywhere. Let it go.
Related Hook - Ai Rizz Wingman tool
AI Reply Generator
Run your own conversation through it and get suggestions built on what was actually said.
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Related Hook - Ai Rizz Wingman guides
FAQ
Common questions
Only if the profile interests you. One good question tells you quickly.
Get a reply from your actual conversation.
Paste the chat or upload a screenshot, pick a tone, send the one that sounds like you.