why are most mask-wearers now wearing the inexpensive surgical masks (blue/white) rather than fabric ones? Safety or just lost interest in having beautiful masks?

[loveyouradvice]

Just that really - I'm still wearing fabric ones and was thinking of getting some silk ones for people as christmas presents....

What do you think?

Like everyone else says - the fabric ones are hot and sweaty. I have to wear one at work for fairly long periods, so the paper and plastic ones are better for that. Also there is less weirdness attached to wearing them now, which seems to help with wearing the surgical ones.

@TheYearOfSmallThings

I just kept losing all my fabric masks. You know all the masks you've seen lying in the road and on the pavement? Those were mine.

I now use a disposable surgical one, a new one every morning, usually lost by the end of the day.

Same here I had lovely ones. Kept leaving them places, leaving them in jacket pockets etc. Now down to using surgical ones. The woman who made my others has given up making them probably presuming her business was over.

Fabric ones are sweaty and uncomfortable and look like knickers

I do think there's no such think as a 'beautiful covid mask'

I would HATE to be given any sort of mask for Christmas.

Because the novelty has worn off.

I can’t breathe in the fabric ones, and my glasses steam up.

Masks would be a terrible Christmas gift unless the person had specifically asked for them.

I only wear masks at work because we have to. I used to wear fabric masks sometimes, once had a silk one but it clung to my face, now I always wear paper ones because they are provided for us, but mainly they are more comfortable.

I would consider that an exceptionally shit Christmas present and think that you had no imagination or desire to choose something personal

I’m in Scotland where they are mandatory, and just took delivery of a box of paper ones. Now the weather is cold I find my nose runs when I go from out to in under a fabric mask. I find the disposable ones more comfortable to wear for long periods eg in work too.

As someone said it really does look like someone has knickers on their face when they wear cloth masks. They look more absurd than paper ones, especially the twee patterned “ jolly” ones.

@PokemonGoGoGo

I’m sure there’s some research somewhere as to mask effectiveness. Basically, surgical masks are better than cloth masks (by quite a long way) but FFP2 etc are better than surgical masks. There is a mask hierarchy and cloth masks are not much better than not wearing one at all

I'm supposed to wear FFP2s but I find it difficult to breathe in them when I'm walking, and they still steam up my specs. Also if I'm seeing a HCP it's hard to make ourselves understood to each other.

But I wear them when I have to.

I’ve never worn fabric ones as they stick to my face when I breathe in and out. The only time I wore them was at the beginning of this year in closed spaced with a surgical mask underneath so double masked. Double safe and I could still breathe.

I would like some more pretty masks and think it was a thoughtful present. But I don't think silk is practical as I like to throw mine in the machine. Like a previous poster I often wear FFP2 these days to protect myself from all the people not wearing masks.

I'm 9 months pregnant and I'm wearing the disposable surgical ones, it's so much easier for me to breathe in them when I'm out and about.

My fabric one is beautiful but I just can't breathe in it!

I still use fabric masks as I hate the thought of all that waste of disposable ones, but I bought washable ones with a PPE layer inside them. My glasses don't steam up I wear them just over the nose wire bit. I was worried about mask wearing as i suffer from claustrophobia and don't like not being able to breathe but I seem to be able to breathe fine in them.

Well this thread is bad news for anyone who owns shares in Etsy!

Facemasks as Christmas presents? I wouldn't be able to think of a single thing to say. Sorry to sound rude, but that's an awful idea for a present,no matter how pretty they are

@Oncebittentwice

As someone said it really does look like someone has knickers on their face when they wear cloth masks. They look more absurd than paper ones, especially the twee patterned “ jolly” ones.

I have seen some clothing shops sell garments that come with a mask in matching fabric. Gross!

I'm trying to imagine the crushing disappointment of getting a mask for Christmas

Please don't get anyone a face mask (even in silk) for Christmas. It would be like giving a mooncup.

@DurhamDurham

I'm trying to imagine the crushing disappointment of getting a mask for Christmas

I would be delighted. A lovely hammock for my pet rats! (if I had some).

We use FPP2 disposable ones because they are safer and fit better

I wear the surgical masks all day at work, my skin is a riot with them but there's less fogging on my glasses.

I have fabric ones for popping to the shop for a thing or two or picking up the kids from school if I'm not wearing my glasses but if I'm out for longer I wear the surgical ones.

@XenoBitch

I would be delighted. A lovely hammock for my pet rats! (if I had some)

I'll keep that in mind if I'm unlucky enough to get masks for Christmas 😆