Cutting off the man bun and wearing blue are two of the top tips for men looking to make their dating profile stand out on apps such as Tinder.

For women, being the ‘lady in red’ and ditching the Ugg-style boots are two sound pieces of advice if you want your pictures to come across as desirable rather than duff.

Research commissioned for the launch of the new HTC Desire 530 smartphone has found some of the turn-ons and turn-offs to be aware of if you’re using mobile dating apps to find love, or at least someone to cop off with.

For instance, women apparently reckon the ideal man wears a suit jacket and skinny jeans, and has a tattoo. Blue is the colour that appeals the most.

No-nos on male profiles include gym gear, swimming shorts and those man buns.

Red is the colour most likely to catch the eye of men, who also say they do like the opposite sex in gym gear. Selfies and wearing skinny jeans are alright with the blokes too.

Among the fashion sins men don’t like to see are onesies and the aforementioned boots, which are perceived as Ugg-mo.

News Shopper:

If you think all these things make people who use dating apps seem shallow and judgemental, you might be on to something - apparently, a third of app users base their decisions about potential matches purely on photos.

People playing the dating game don’t just fixate on how others look though, they also worry about their own appearance - even down to underwear.

It’s claimed a third of both men and women give “considerable thought” to the colour of their undies before going on a first date.

The most popular colour choices for men are blue and red, while most women opt for black followed by blue.

Other secrets revealed by the research include how a quarter of people continue using dating apps even when they are in a relationship.

Whether you are in it for the short or long term, there are simple things you can do to create a good first impression with your dating profile and find a match.

Here are 10 top tips from dating coach Jo Barnett:

  • Colour impacts your mood and how people perceive you so it’s really important. For dating apps, wearing a vibrant colour like red can help you stand out from the crowd.
  • Wear clothes that flatter your figure. If the thought of a shopping centre gives you heart palpitations, don’t shy away from getting a personal shopper to help.
  • Make sure you capture your natural smile and energy. Outdoors shots can help with this.
  • It’s good to get a variety of photos, with a mix of dressed up and fun, casual action shots.
  • Don’t pose with 'hot' friends of the opposite sex or cute animals – it’s a bit overdone.
  • Never pose with a bottle in your hand or looking slightly worse for wear on a night out!
  • Don’t wear sunglasses – it makes it harder for potential matches to see what you look like and can put people off.
  • Allow your profile to be light and breezy – don’t take yourself too seriously in your profile.
  • Be confident but not arrogant, someone needs to feel that they can make you happy, so don’t make it sound impossible!
  • Ask what your friends love about you and try to put that across in your profile.