My Favorite ASMR Triggers

For as long as I can remember, hearing specific sounds, such as paper crinkling or gum chewing, caused a flurry of delicious tingles to erupt across my scalp. I thought I was the only one who experienced this sensation until I caught an episode of Tosh.0 (remember that show?) that included a segment about this phenomenon.

Turns out, it has a name: autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR). I wasn't the only one who experienced the tingles. In fact, YouTubers had uploaded thousands of videos that featured whispering, gum chewing, makeup rummaging, magazine browsing and other so-called "triggers" meant to stimulate this sensation.

I spent some time in the ASMR community and learned that everyone has a different set of triggers. Some are fairly specific, but most of mine are common enough that I can search for the term on YouTube and find dozens of clips. Whether you're new to ASMR or an experienced user who wants to refresh their routine, these stimuli might help you relax, too.

1. Colored Pencil Rummaging

I have a vivid memory of sitting in art class and enjoying the heavenly tingles as a classmate rummaged through a colored pencil box. Something about their hard material and thin, narrow shape makes colored pencils produce the most delightful clinking, rummaging sounds. Pens and markers also do the trick, but colored pencils come with the added bonus of childhood nostalgia.

Some videos show the YouTuber drawing a picture after they've sorted their pencils, but I've never felt tingles while watching a sketch. For me, the best videos are ten minutes of non-stop clinking, clacking and rattling. I'm not a huge fan of talking during the video, but I'll make an exception if the YouTuber has a particularly soothing voice.

2. Plastic Crinkling

It seems like a lot of my ASMR experiences stem from fond childhood memories, and here's another one: reading silently at my desk while a classmate sorted and uncrumpled paper a few desks away. Crinkling paper or plastic sends irresistible chills down my spine, especially when it's spontaneous and not part of a recorded video.

Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to ask people to crinkle plastic around me without sounding creepy, but local coffee shops are often a goldmine of stimuli. When I worked in retail, I once enjoyed a blissful shift as one of my coworkers unpackaged and hung up socks. Is there a job where ASMR lovers can hang out and unwrap supplies all day?

3. Makeup Rummaging

Makeup isn't quite as elite as colored pencils, but the products come in a variety of shapes and sizes, producing a wide range of pleasant sounds when YouTubers rummage through their makeup bags. Better yet, some people have plastic bags that add crunchy crinkles to the soundscape.

Makeover videos are also fairly popular. I've watched a few when I needed to relax, but watching someone apply makeup on their face or pretend to apply it on mine has never given me tingles. The products are the main event--and, luckily, most YouTubers have plenty.

4. Ear Cleaning

I've never had my ears professionally cleaned, but I hope it's as enjoyable as these ASMR videos that involve close personal attention, crinkling gloves, delicate tools and intense scraping sounds. Small, narrow tools are another trigger for me, and ear cleaning videos are full of Q-tips, wooden rods and cleaning picks.

Since the YouTuber can't actually clean your ears in person, these videos require a little imagination. However, ASMR artists have gotten fairly advanced, using fake ear models and high-tech microphones to capture the sound of a tool digging around in your ear. For some, this might be unsettling; for me, it's relaxing.

5. Checking for Lice

Lice checks were another elementary school highlight. I excitedly waited for my turn, and I could've sat there for an hour as the school nurse checked my hair for nits. Unfortunately, it only lasted 30 seconds before she was on to the next student.

Like the ear cleanings, YouTubers can't actually check your head for lice, but many channels try to replicate the sensation with first- or third-person videos. Personally, I get more chills from third-person videos where the ASMR artist checks another person's head for lice--sometimes with fake bugs attached to their scalp. Many of these clips also involve hair play or small tools, which accentuate the experience.

6. Gum Chewing

Normally, I don't care for chewing noises, but my brain inexplicably makes an exception for gum. I can't get enough of people chewing, cracking and popping their gum, especially if they're speaking quietly or performing a task while they're at it. Unfortunately, chewing gum myself doesn't produce the same effect.

Luckily, I'm not the only one. Gum chewing plays a role in lots of ASMR videos that focus on other triggers, such as reading a magazine or painting their nails. ASMR artists tend to layer the gum chewing with other sounds to create an exquisite, multi-layered audio that surprises you at every turn.

Are you a fellow ASMR enthusiast? Which triggers are your favorite? Let me know in the comments.