Masks have been present at many rituals from thousands of years back. So it’s no wonder that the huge portion of the Halloween industry is centered around masks. The nature of this celebration is about being someone else since a mask is an instant transformer. We might also like masks for their mysterious quality. As we put on a mask we slip under a new skin. They make it okay to skip from daily reality to the magical forest of imagination with an unlimited number of faces that we can put on. Also who can deny the visual beauty & magic of masks! That’s why many of us collect masks as works of art as well as a part of our costume.
If you are a mask lover like us, you want to have your collection in mint condition and for a long time. There are ways to go about ensuring they stay around, each with their own stories. With a little time and care, you can keep these characters protected until the next time that it’s its turn to come out and play. After all, that’s what Halloween is about!
The majority of masks in use today are made of latex, leather, or Paper Mache. So in this post we are going to talk about these three materials.
Latex Masks
Keep Away From:
- Sunlight
- Loss of moisture
- Oil
- UV-Light
- Oxygen, ozone, and many airborne pollutants
- Tobacco smoke
- Moisture
Care After Use:
- Clean the inside of the mask with a damp paper towel or cloth. If any of your makeup has transferred to the inside of the mask, wash the inside of the mask with a damp sponge or cloth and a very mild detergent. This way you remove germs and oils left inside of the mask.
- Make sure you wipe dry the inside with a clean paper towel or cloth and let it air dry.
- After the mask has been cleaned and dried, lightly powder the interior with cornstarch. Use an artistic or makeup brush to apply the cornstarch and then shake the mask gently to get rid of extra powder. This will keep the clean latex from sticking to itself. You can use baby powder, but do not us a powder that contains talc.
Leather Masks
Keep Away From:
- Sharp objects
- Excessive moisture
- Sunlight
- Excessive heat
Care After Use:
- Gently dust it using an air power duster.
- If absolutely necessary, the surface may be gently blotted with a damp – not wet cloth. Do not rub the surface with damp cloth, since you might remove the paint. You may want to read up on the saddle soap vs a leather conditioner debate before deciding which is the best way to look after your leather masks.
Paper Mache Masks
Keep Away From:
- Excessive Moisture
- Sunlight
Care After Use:
- Clean masks with spray canned air or lightly dust it.
Care for Hair on the Mask:
- It’s important to clean and brush the hair after each use. You can blow out the hair with a use of canned air. If the soiling is not going away and you absolutely have no other way use a damp cloth to remove the spot.
- Do not use a comb to tame the hair. Use a boar bristle brush and brush in direction of hair.
- If the hair is losing its shape, you can use a non-oil based hair spray to refresh the shape.
Tips:
- Always read the instructions on how to care for your mask.
- The best makeup to use under the latex mask is a water based makeup.
