Unlike most of the internet now, I didn't know what ASMR was until late 2018. I didn't even realize that I was familiar with it. After years of experiencing weird tingles on my scalp whenever someone brushed my hair or did my makeup, I finally realized that not everyone felt the way that I did. Realizing that maybe something weird was going on, I did what most people do in a panic. I googled it.

It turns out that what I was experiencing was completely normal. These tingling sensations are called Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. Basically, when you hear or see something pleasant, your brain registers the experience and a calming sensation takes over. Some people have described it as goose bumps, but more often than not, it's described as something more similar to a gentle scalp massage.