Canadians need to date beyond their usual type this cuffing season, expert says

If you’re single in Canada and wondering why your dating pool has somehow shrunk to the size of a puddle, it might be time to switch things up.

Cuffing season — that time of year when singles start looking for someone to cozy up with during the colder months — is upon us, and experts say Canadians might have better luck venturing outside their usual type, whether it’s a certain look or personality.

The way some of us see it is like this: Summer’s when you set up your dating profile and scout potential suitors. September is draft month, and October is the tryouts. November is pre-season, when singles start getting serious about dating. Cuffing season officially kicks off in December, with playoffs running through January. The championship game, if you will, is Feb. 14, a.k.a. Valentine’s Day.

“For some singles, cuffing season is a chance to rethink what they actually want in a partner and give someone outside their usual type a shot,” Devyn Simone, Tinder’s resident relationship expert, told Daily Hive.

In fact, new Tinder data among single Canadian women aged 18 to 25 found that 73 per cent have been attracted to someone outside their usual type.

Let’s face it: we all have a type.

For some straight women, a man who stands at least 6-foot-5 is a non-negotiable. Others may have a soft spot for the bad boy aesthetic, complete with tattoos, leather jackets, and skinny jeans.

Meanwhile, some women have anonymously admitted to Daily Hive that they won’t date bald men.

And straight men have their preferences, too. Some will only date blondes or only brunettes (boo hiss, redheads!), while others are partial to women with, let’s just say, a little junk in the trunk.

Simone encourages daters to be flexible but firm on their non-negotiables.

“There’s a big difference between giving someone a chance who isn’t your usual physical type and ignoring red flags just because you’d like someone to cuddle with.”

And if you’re worried about whether someone will find you attractive, Simone has some advice: own your look.

“You don’t need to decide for somebody else whether they’re going to find you attractive,” she says. That’s backed up by the survey, too, with 85 per cent of Canadian women surveyed saying confidence is what makes someone more attractive to them.

Tinder has done its part to shake up dating expectations. This summer, the dating app giant hosted a Baldies Boat Party in Toronto as part of its “Bald Guys Summer” campaign, encouraging singles to rethink their preconceived notions about men rocking the Pitbull look.

Some Canadians are already discovering that looking beyond their usual type can pay off.

Katy Szakal admits to Daily Hive that she has a physical type and rarely ventures outside of it. However, she once decided to give a self-described “short king” a chance after matching with him online. The two ended up dating for almost six months.

“Honestly, shorter guys aren’t all that bad,” she says. “Look at Tom Holland with Zendaya, or Joe Jonas with Sophie Turner.” Well, at least one of those celebrity couples is still going strong.

Canadians need to swipe with a little more curiosity

Simone says if something about someone’s profile catches your eye, even if they’re not your usual physical type, give them a chance because you never know who will surprise you.

That approach worked for Paula, who asked Daily Hive to withhold her last name for privacy reasons.

Paula says she typically goes for tall, clean-shaven “preppy” men. But one night while browsing Tinder, she came across a bearded man with glasses, a dad bod, and a collection of profile prompts that made her belly laugh. So she swiped right.

“I reminded myself that I wouldn’t want anyone to be vain or overly picky when it came to my own profile, so it was a matter of practicing what I preached,” she says.

The two are still dating and may even celebrate Christmas together this year.

For some single Canadians, winter can feel like the loneliest time of year. The days are short, the nights are cold, and the endless holiday festivities only make us yearn for someone special to hold hands with.

“Just remember, it’s a season, not a deadline. Keep meeting people, stay open to connection, and go at your own pace,” Simone says. “Most importantly, make sure you actually like the person, not just the idea of having someone to get you through the winter.”

Having a date for Valentine’s Day is nice and all, but isn’t finding someone you actually want to hang out with on Feb. 15 way better?