Brushing ASMR Sounds: Mic Brushing, Fur, Foam and Hair
Soft brushes on the microphone, fur and foam. One of the gentlest triggers, and an easy one to fall asleep to. Four to try below.
Samples
Tap a sound to play it on a loop, and tap it again to stop. Headphones help, especially for close-mic triggers.
These are 4 of the 14 sounds in this group. Tingles ASMR has 255 in all. See what else is in the app.
What brushing is
Brushing is a soft brush, sponge or cloth stroked across the microphone or a surface near it. Most of the sounds here are on the microphone itself, which is why they feel as if they’re happening right at your ear:
- On the mic grille (the bare metal mesh): Grille Duster, Grille Foundation Brush, Grille Powder Brush
- On the foam cover: Foam Short Strokes, Foam Long Strokes
- On a fur cover: Fur Foundation Brush, Fur Powder Brush
- Other textures: Soft Fur, Hair, Sand, Broom Long, Broom Short, Scrub Balls
Long strokes are slow and even. Short strokes are quicker and more rhythmic, closer to tapping. Grille brushing is the crispest of the three mic surfaces, and fur is the softest.
Why brushing works
Brushing is the sound of slow, gentle stroking, and that kind of touch is what recent research keeps coming back to. In a 2025 study, Liu and Kondo found that people who were more sensitive to slow, gentle touch on the skin reported stronger ASMR tingles. That fits a hypothesis from Flockton, Preston and McCall, also from 2025, that close sounds lead the brain to expect that kind of touch. A long brush stroke across the mic may be about the most direct version of that cue a recording can give. Both ideas are early; the triggers guide sets out what has been tested so far.
How to use brushing
- For sleep: Foam Long Strokes and Fur Powder Brush are among the gentlest sounds in the whole library. Play one on its own at a low volume.
- In a mix: the app’s Soothing Mic Brushing mix layers Foam Long Strokes, Soft Fur and Grille Duster. Hair Care pairs Hair with Hair Wash and Shaving Cream for a barber-style session.
- If you like brushing: try personal care sounds next, especially Ear Massage and Head Massage.
Sources
- Flockton, J. R., Preston, C. E. J., & McCall, C. (2025). The Proximity Prediction Hypothesis: How predictive coding of CT-touch explains Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response and its therapeutic applications. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 19, 1688172. DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2025.1688172
- Liu, R., & Kondo, H. M. (2025). Affective touch sensitivity shapes tingling intensity in autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) experiences. Scientific Reports, 15, 34974. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-19082-8
In the app
Every sample on this page comes from Tingles ASMR, free on iOS and Android. In the app you can layer up to 10 sounds into a mix (no limit with Premium), set each volume, play ready-made mixes, and set a timer. With Premium, Sleep Mode fades the sound out gently instead.
More brushing sounds in the app: Broom Long · Broom Short · Hair · Foam Short Strokes · Sand · Grille Duster · Fur Fundation Brush · Grille Fundation Brush · Scrub Balls · Sea Salt
Ready-made mixes with these sounds: Soothing Mic Brushing · Soothing Strokes · Crime Scene · Orbital Sensation · Hair Care · Layered Bristle Strokes · Misted Powder Facial · Gritty Surface Scratches
Got a trigger you'd love to hear in the app? Suggest it from the app menu under Send Feedback.
