Snaps are meant to be as fun as you are. But sometimes, using your camera isn't easy or appropriate or maybe you're just not having a selfie kind of day.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to make Snapchat messages more exciting through Bitmoji, emojis, "cameos," and other fun features—no camera required.

In this article, we'll show you all the ways you can make your Snapchat messages more fun.

What’s the Difference Between Snapchat “Messages” and “Snaps”?

Before we get started, it's worth understanding the difference between "snaps" and "messages."

Related: What Is Snapchat and How Does It Work?

"Snap" is the name of the company behind the Snapchat app, but "snap" is also the name of the photo-based communications that the platform is known for. The homepage when you open Snapchat is the Snap Camera for taking and sending snaps.

"Messages" is a non-photo-based tool within the Snapchat app. This works more like a standard messaging or texting service.

How to Access Snapchat Messages

To access Messages, tap the speech bubble icon on the toolbar across the bottom of the Snapchat app.

Messages might work more like a standard texting service, but that doesn't mean that you can't jazz up your messages with a little bit of that Snapchat flair.

What Kinds of Emotes Are Available in Snapchat?

Here, the term "emotes" includes emojis, Bitmojis, and cameos, along with other non-snap-specific tools. Basically, any non-text, non-photograph affordance that you can use to express yourself in the app is an emote.

With a conversation open, select the smiley face icon from the toolbar across the bottom. If you have your keyboard displayed, the toolbar will rest across the top of this. If your keyboard is not displayed, then this icon is along the bottom of your phone screen.

This emotes menu has a new toolbar across the bottom with five different icons. Each icon represents a different kind of emote available within Snapchat Messages:

  • Recent and Recommended Emotes
  • Bitmoji
  • Cameos
  • Stickers
  • Emojis

The first page, represented by a clock icon in the bottom toolbar, is for recently used emojis, Bitmojis, and other emotes. If you don't use these features often, this field will still be populated. The more often you use these features, the more this selection will reflect your personal Snapchat style.

The next icon, a sort of winking grin icon, is for Bitmojis. Bitmoji characters are the personalized avatars that you can create to express yourself graphically within Snapchat, or even for Snapchat games.

Related: What Is Bitmoji and How Can You Make Your Own?

When you are in a message thread with another Snapchat user, you will be able to use both your Bitmoji and theirs for fun scenes to include in your messages.

Using Cameos

The next icon, a face icon with a + on it, is for "Cameos." Cameos offer something between a Bitmoji message and a standard snap by putting a selfie onto a cartoon body or into a cartoon situation.

To create a Cameo, select the body or situation. This opens a new screen with a face shape. Hold your phone with the selfie camera activated such that your face fits into the shape on the screen.

After taking the selfie, you can select your gender for better customization. Don't worry, you have the opportunity to review your Cameo before sending it.

Cameos are ideal for when you feel like sending a selfie, but you don't want to send along your background surroundings.

Stickers and Emojis

The next icon on the toolbar is a dancing bear icon. Emotes in this section feature whimsical cartoon animals. These animals can express sentiments similar to the Bitmojis, but without using the likeness of the people in the conversation.

The final icon, the smiley face icon, is the standard emoji selection that you might expect in your standard keyboard in any chat or messaging service. Bitmojis and Cameos are fun, but sometimes all you need is a heart or a thumbs-up.

How to Search for Emotes in Snapchat

It might feel like there are too many emotes in Snapchat for you to ever find exactly the right one, particularly with no actual search feature. However, whenever you start entering text, Snapchat generates a page of recommended emotes. Access these by selecting the emote that appears next to the text field.

These recommended emotes can be used to annotate your text message or you can use the text field as a de facto search bar.

Snapchat: It's All About Expressing Yourself

Of course, Snapchat is almost all about the camera. But there are some times when you can't send a photo, or when you just don't feel like it.

That still doesn't mean that you're limited to plain text. No matter how you feel like expressing yourself, Snap has your back.