""It's time for your lice check," a woman who goes by "Ms. K" whispers directly into my ear as she starts running her fingers into my scalp and through each strand of hair. I'm in a dark room, Eastern flute music playing in the background as I sit across from my partner who's also having his hair caressed by a stranger. We close our eyes so we don't burst out laughing."
"Our inspectors move on to drawing lines and circles into our heads with metal sticks before brushing our hair with combs as tingly, shivery sensations crawl from the back of my ears down to the middle of my spine. At first it's uncomfortable, because honestly, I've never felt this sensation before and I'm not sure I'm doing whatever I should be right."
Tinglesbar operates as an ASMR spa and collective in Toronto that stages role-played experiences like lice checks and school simulations. Participants sit in dim rooms with ambient music while staff adopt personas and perform whispered prompts, scalp touching, combing, and light tactile triggers. The experiences produce ASMR tingles, shivers, and near-sleep relaxation for many participants. Sessions use group role-play with strangers acting as classmates or patients to create a low-pressure environment for social interaction. The setting blends nostalgia, guided sensory triggers, and care without sexualization, catering particularly to introverts seeking a gentle social haven.
Read at WIRED
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