Picture it...everyone's focusing on eating their food, and suddenly a

smoke ring delicately and obviously glides across the room. The

ability to blow thick, full, even smoke rings that will travel as far

and as fast as you want them to is really not as hard as you think.

It's definitely an attention grabber in a group of smokers. Here's

how to master the art of smoke ring blowing.

Pick out cigarettes that tend to have thick smoke - full flavor,

100s, menthols, etc. Light cigarettes will still work, but the

lighter the cigarette, the thinner the smoke will be.

Pack the cigarettes as best as you can. Packing cigarettes involves

repeatedly striking the top of the pack on a flat hard surface or

your hand to condense the tobacco further towards the filter, leaving

that empty paper space on top.

Light the cigarette, and just enjoy the first few drags. The first

two are usually lighter anyways, and relax! Trying too hard is one of

the main causes of failure.

Take a drag of smoke into your mouth, just like you normally would.

Only, try to take a fairly large drag, as the more smoke you have,

the more you have to work with. If you're using menthol cigs,

Newports especially, you will know you when you have enough smoke by

the cold hitting your throat.

Partially inhale the smoke, just enough to keep the smoke in your

throat. This may take getting used to, simply because it may make

some people cough.

With your mouth closed, draw your tongue back in your mouth towards

your throat, keeping it pointing down toward the bottom of your mouth

so that the smoke moves away from your lips.

Shape your mouth into an "O" shape, but stick your lips out as if you

were making an "oo" sound (like in the word 'boot'). The circle

should be as big as you can comfortably make it. Don't stress too

much--leave room for movement. You will look rather ridiculous to

everyone else, until they realize you're about to blow their minds.

Push small amounts of smoke out. The best way to describe this is the

sound you make when you sigh, or the sound you make when someone

tells you you have to do something you don't want to do. You will

feel pressure and then a quick burst of smoke, but your vocal chords

should not be used.

As you feel, or know, that the smoke is leaving your lips, push the

tongue forward, still keeping it pointing down, and bring the lower

jaw slightly but rapidly up at the same time. Tuck your lips inward

very slightly, but rapidly. This will put a "spin" on the smoke,

helping the ring stay tight. This should create a very beautiful,

thick ring of smoke.

 
 
When blowing rings, try to keep your tongue out of the way as much as

possible, as it will only disrupt the spin you are trying to put on

the smoke. Just keep it comfortably at the bottom of your mouth.

Don't force it, but keep it down.

The speed at which your O-ring moves will be determined by how much

pressure you put behind your "uh." Really, to achieve that, you must

push on the smoke in your throat using your diaphragm like you're

going to exhale hard or cough.

How far and how fast you move your lips also affects the ring's

travel. If you quickly curl your lips, the ring will travel faster.

The further in you curl your lips, the faster and farther your smoke

ring will go. However, don't curl too much or too soon. Timing is

everything. If you constrict the opening too soon, you may end up

with smaller rings than you want.

Try practicing in front of a mirror. You will be able to watch the

smoke form, how it flows, and how the shape and movement of your

mouth affects it.

To blow a smaller smoke ring through a larger one, just take into

account which way the smoke rings are floating, and how fast. Blow a

ring carefully, so that it retains shape, yet moves slowly, then

constrict your lips a little more, and blow a smaller one. The

smaller one should move faster by design, but if it doesn't, use lip

curling to make it move faster. After that, it's all aim!

If there is ANY sort of air movement, you will have a hard time

keeping the rings together. In this case, try rotating your position

in the room. Depending on where the air movement is coming from,

shooting your rings in a different direction can help.

Do not use your vocal chords when making the short exhales. It should

be a guttural whisper, if anything.

An alternate method (i.e. cheating) is to burn a hole in the

cellophane wrapper in your cigarette pack. After inhaling smoke, blow

it into the hole. Gently tap the wrapper on side without a hole. A

smoke ring will appear!

Smoking is a deadly and expensive habit. Just don't start. Smoke

rings are not a good reason to start smoking. They may also be very

bad for you as it means keeping the smoke in the mouth for longer

than is usual.

Watch for wind, and too many people moving close to you, as this will

cause air movement, which will disrupt the smoke ring.

You absolutely cannot blow the rings outside, there's too much wind.

Don't even try.

This is a simple method for beginners; to blow smoke rings that

persist with speed and accuracy, pop your jaw upwards instead of

trying to force air forward with your glottis.