Making hookah rings: a guide to perfect smoke rings!
Updated May 5, 2025 3 min 
- “Cough” technique: easier, by gently coughing with pursed lips.
- Jaw technique: a bit harder, with a jerky jaw movement.
- Important: no draught in the room and good smoke development.
- Practice makes perfect, anyone can learn it!
Everyone has seen them before, the cool rings made of smoke. But how do they actually work and how can you learn them? In this article you will learn a few tips and tricks on how to make, learn or even perfect your rings. That way you can impress your friends at the next hookah session together!
If you want to try these tips right away, best get a hookah going. Good smoke development would be a big advantage, but it does not really matter which setup or which tobacco you use. Both dark blend tobacco and Virginia tobacco or a tobacco substitute can be used, the tobacco just should not be burnt or spent yet. In general you can practise rings with any hookah, the size does not matter.
The two most popular ways to make hookah rings
Generally, a distinction is made between two ways to make hookah rings:
- The “cough” technique
- The jaw technique
The cough technique is the much more efficient and easier method, but there are some people who master or want to learn the jaw technique straight away. You can definitely get cool rings either way.
The most important basic requirement: no wind. Close your windows and make sure there is no draught in your room. Only then can you learn how to make smoke rings in the best way.
Simple smoke rings with the “cough” technique
With rings too, practice makes perfect. Once you have successfully shot your first rings, you can use this guide to keep practising and improving.
- First, purse your mouth into a kiss shape. It is important that the lips are pressed together for the next steps and not loose, because only then can the shape be maintained.
- Form an “O” with your pressed-together lips. Check the shape in the mirror or with your smartphone's front camera. The bigger you get the “O”, the bigger you can shoot the rings later.
- Now train the coughing, which is essential for this technique. First cough normally, then more and more gently until you only have a minimal, almost inaudible cough. The stronger you cough, the faster the ring flies, so you can control the speed. For the first attempts a light cough is enough.
- Simply place your tongue on the floor of your mouth, that is where it stays best while you shoot the rings.
- Now take a draw from your hookah and combine all the steps. Form the “O” with your pressed-together lips and cough gently. The faster you cough in succession, the more rings you can shoot.
- Now you can steadily improve your technique. Try different “O” shapes and cough sometimes stronger, sometimes very gently. That way you will quickly notice how you can blow rings best.
The jaw technique: this is how the pros do it!
This technique is a bit harder than the “cough” technique and not as efficient, but it can still produce really cool rings.
- First, form an “O” with your mouth, but leave the lips in their normal state rather than pressing them together.
- Now move your jaw upwards with a “snap”. You can push the jaw slightly forward and try it that way. This usually takes a lot of practice.
- Leave your tongue on the floor of your mouth. When you are more advanced, you can even keep the rings flying with your tongue or a light cough. That way the “cough” technique and the jaw technique can be combined.
FAQ: making hookah rings
Which techniques are there for making hookah rings?
The two best-known methods are the cough technique and the jaw technique. The cough technique is easier and more efficient, while the jaw technique requires more practice but also enables impressive rings.
What is especially important with the cough technique?
You form an “O” with your lips and push the smoke out by coughing gently. The decisive thing is that the lips are pressed together and that there is no draught in the room.
How does the jaw technique work when making rings?
With the jaw technique you also form an “O” with your lips, but leave them loose. Then you move the jaw jerkily upwards. Advanced smokers can additionally help with the tongue or a light cough.
Which tobacco is best suited for hookah rings?
In principle any tobacco is suitable as long as it is not burnt. Dark blend as well as Virginia or a tobacco substitute all work. What matters most is good smoke development.
How important is the environment when making rings?
Very important. The room should be as free of wind as possible. So close windows and avoid draughts, as smoke rings can be destroyed quickly by air movement.
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