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?

I just pull my Seasalt handyband up if I need to wear one as it is the easiest in the winter, it's not much use for stopping covid but is ok for when needs must on park and ride. In the summer I wore the disposable ones.

I wouldn't want a silk one as it might show wet breath marks and look like sweaty armpits, not a good look.

Rashes. Fabric ones irritate my skin.

On the school run it’s only parents who work in the local hospital wearing them so we’re mostly in surgical ones - finish work and take one with us (work happy with this as they provide best protection.)

I must be a weird shape because the disposable masks are too baggy on me . After a few minutes, they ride up over my eyes, even when pinched in above the nose

I’d like silk masks!

@WotNoLoobrush

I must be a weird shape because the disposable masks are too baggy on me . After a few minutes, they ride up over my eyes, even when pinched in above the nose

I thought I was the only one this happened to! Everyone else seems to have the issue of the mask falling below the nose, where as found that they went up. I solved this by twisting the straps before putting them behind my ears. Kind of makes it look like a beak, but I can see.

I wear a fabric one, much better environmentally, I only wear it in work because I have to (communal areas) and in shops and on the rare occasions I use the Tube. But I have been in shops without one if I have forgotten to pick one up. I have a clean one everyday and a spare!

I think you are 18 months too late to be giving masks as presents.

I think their moment as Christmas presents have gone I'm afraid.

There was never a moment when they were acceptable christmas presents.

I also thought I'd never get to wear Xmas ones again - every cloud eh!

Even if silk all I could think is ah you think this pandemic is going to keep on and on

I really wouldn’t want masks I can’t wait until they disappear (from most if not all)

I wear an N95.

I wear both. Not at the same time. It depends what I have put in the basket by the front door and how many fabric ones are in the wash. I only wear them one day then they are washed.

The original reason for not wearing surgical masks was to save them for health workers, wasn't it? I don't think there are supply problems any more so it's not an issue, and they seem to be more effective (as well as being lighter and more comfortable).

Personally, I rarely wear normal fabric masks any more. It's either the disposable surgical ones, or a supposedly more effective multi-use Cambridge mask.

I hate the disposable ones for the sake of the environment but unfortunately can't tolerate the fabric ones on my face, so I've never used them.

I figure it is because people have to wear paper masks for work so tend to have some scrunched up one's around. Also anywhere that insists you wear them tends to have a stash to offer. Therefore I wear paper for laziness , convenience and because I am a mask hater

Why would you do that? Silk masks are not protective. Isn’t that the point rather than how beautiful the fabric? (The disposable blue ones aren’t a whole lot better tbf. FFP3 offer excellent protection to the wearer as well as others, that’s what everyone ought to be wearing).

@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?

I would also be a little sad if someone got me masks for christmas

Rat hammocks sounds adorable though

When I got pregnant and masks were compulsory outside I started to get puffed very easily and realised the blue disposable ones are much easier to breathe in, so haven’t worn my fabric ones in a while.

@Amberflames

I think their moment as Christmas presents have gone I'm afraid.

There was never a moment when they were acceptable christmas presents.

Yup.

OP I always use blue surgical because they're easier to shape as needed. They look more comfortable, though I haven't trued fabric, only FFP2.

Still a bit 😱 at mask as xmas pressie.

I'm another glasses wearer that only wears the blue disposable ones.

I've tried a number of different fabric masks but the blue disposables are superior in not fogging up glasses.

I think it depends on the mask.
I make my own, with interlining so it's 3 layers. I find them much more comfortable than disposable ones, and I'm mindful of the environmental impact too.
Round here I'm seeing plenty of people still using fabric masks, I don't think I've noticed a drop, more of an overall drop in mask wearing.

@QueenofLouisiana

Because Covid has left my lungs in a worse state than they were in the first place. I struggle to walk and talk at the same time, I have almost no voice post-Covid and find it hard to be heard (I wear a portable microphone to teach now). I can no long project over a class of children. Fabric is much harder to deal with for me. It’s far from ideal, but that’s the way it is. I was an avid fabric mask wearer before I caught it.

Shit. This sounds awful. I am so sorry to hear this.

I can't bear the surgical ones, they make my face sweat and give me spots. I refuse to pay for N95 masks so I'm still wearing my fabric ones if I have to.

I'm also sick of inconsiderate arseholes littering with their disposable masks (I see some fabric ones but not as many). They're too lazy to even break the elastic before throwing them away. Twats.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I can't bear the surgical ones, they make my face sweat and give me spots. I refuse to pay for N95 masks so I'm still wearing my fabric ones if I have to.

I'm also sick of inconsiderate arseholes littering with their disposable masks (I see some fabric ones but not as many). They're too lazy to even break the elastic before throwing them away. Twats.

One of my frequented grocery shops is a 45 second walk from me. In that time, I once saw 5 littered masks. One was a fabric one that someone had clearly made. I still see loads now but I guess I am just used to seeing them everywhere now.