Anyone know where to buy a decent face mask?

[anxietrist]

Don't really know what I'm looking for in terms of effectiveness and where to buy?!

I bought mine from Etsy too, one is Ravenclaw fabric and the other one has butterflies on.

This has links to/lists of sites for masks in the US/UK and Australia just scroll down to the section for your location. Hype ones reputable but not great for glasses wearers, the ones that come further up and tuck under glasses are better for not steaming.

www.t3.com/news/where-to-buy-face-masks-may-20#where-to-buy-a-face-mask-in-the-uk

Amazon sells disposable ones but seem quite pricey, and obviously more waste. And think some chemists/supermarkets also have them. There are a lot of sites with instructions for no-sew masks online, can find via Google. There are more and more on fashion sites, seems in France already becoming common to mix and match them with outfits!

Work are supplying the papery surgical masks for us - wearing optional (we're connected to the health chain). I find them very warm and feel my face going through phases of getting hot. Is this the case for all masks?

Vistaprint

The best homemade masks are ones made of high thread count cotton. It's a compromise between stopping the virus getting through the mask and breathability.

I'm a fairly experiences sewist and I've spent hours this week trying to find a relatively easy and effective mask tutorial on line. It's harder than you would think. I've found one that fits me, but it doesn't fit my husband really. It's been incredibly frustrating.

A nose wire is a must if you wear glasses, otherwise they just steam up.

At least 2 layers of cotton fabric is a minimum too.

Some of those Hype ones look next to useless. Knit fabric on some and huge gaps on others.

99% of ppl use them incorrectly. It ruins my outings. I'm an ex medic. Not wearing a mask.

@AZP3
Can’t believe you actually said that 🤦‍♀️

Please do consider buying them on Etsy if you can't make them yourself. Not necessarily from me, although I'm obviously going to provide a link!

I have a shop www.etsy.com/shop/shewearsredfeathers and my masks come with acrylic hooks so you can wear them over the back of your head rather than over your ears if preferred. I use quilting cotton which is a close weave (high thread count) and the adult versions have a non-woven layer.

Debenhams sell masks for adults and kids.

They're well made, wash well and have a filter pocket.

I thought I'd hate them, but have to travel on public transport so it's necessary but I find them ok and it's definitely helped reduce my hayfever symptoms.

I really like the idea of the filter pocket. Pop in a piece of kitchen towel and their effectiveness in blocking out particles is greatly improved.

But if I wear a mask to protect you and you wear a mask to protect me, the level of protection is quite significant, so worth doing

Exactly. You don't need them all the time, just in confined spaces like shops and public transport. And definitely not a surgical mask, I just wear a runners' buff. It's just something to create some sort of barrier. I don't really see why there is so much opposition to wearing them here, they're really not an imposition for the few minutes you are in a supermarket. Maybe not so great on a long train ride but you may not need it if the train isn't busy.

I just picked one of the million tutorials on YouTube and made a few for self and family - cotton with filter pockets and nose grippy things.

I've bought a bunch of ski buffs. That way, they can be washed and when this is all over, we can wear them in winter (so not wasted).

These might be good too.

We got ours from etsy. They have filter pockets and are comfortable. Kids have to wear them for hair cuts so they got spiderman ones and they like them. My partner works in a factory and they have to wear surgical masks or n95 masks if within 2 metres of anyone else

The factory has bought their own machine to make masks so they don't take from nhs

mabelandmu.co.uk/collections/dog-print-masks-by-mabel-mu

I’m presuming that there is enough stock in hospitals of surgical masks now as pretty much every supermarket and chemist near me sells them and there is plenty of stock.

[quote Carlislemumof4]mabelandmu.co.uk/collections/dog-print-masks-by-mabel-mu[/quote]
@Carlislemumof4 have you ordered from them?

@JudithGrimesHat Yes, I've bought quite a few for myself and family.

Lovely quality cotton, well made, very comfortable to wear with the ear elastics being easily adjustable to get the right fit and the nose pinch wire meaning the mask doesn't slip.

They're non medical grade, 2 layers of cotton with a filter pocket sewn in. So depends what you're looking for in terms of level of protection. I'm happy with these and have found them comfortable even in the really hot weather. Great price at £4.99 each too, postage low cost UK wide and delivery fast. Recommend them.

That’s great thank you. I think I’ll order some for the dc.