Interesting, though I really don't have trouble breathing with my mask on. Are they comfortable?

I saw one of those on Instagram last night or the night before. My masks all have enough room in front of my nose and mouth that I don't have a problem breathing, but I can see how many people would find these useful.

I have had ads for these on a couple of sites that I visit. I think they are one of those things that if the edges are smooth or thickened they might make things more comfortable to breath under masks. However some I have seen do not seem to flare outward to spread the contact area on your face. Others just appear to be a stamped product with what could be sharp edges.

I wear the disposable surgical masks or a kn95 and am annoyed at how they stick to my face and itch my nose. I gave up on lipstick and my masks get dirty from sunscreen and bb-cream. I wonder if these would be helpful or another annoyance. Does the mask and bracket attach to each other or do you now have two things to wrap around your ears or head?

Thank you for this info! I had no idea. I just ordered some for my 8 & 9 year old Grands who are masked all day at school. I get them off the bus every afternoon and yell at them crossing the street "Take your mask off!!" Who knows what long term damage this decrease in oxygen is doing to their young bodies. Not to mention the growth of bacteria, etc. on those damp masks they breath through. . .

^^^^🙄 🙄 🙄

I do not wear the pleated masks - I made a bunch of contoured masks that have pouches for insertable filters, but those brackets do look practical for those who do wear the pleated masks. Too often I see the pleated masks fall off of people's noses, which defeats the purpose.

I recently bought some fashion boob body tape, to use with masks, but I have been putting pipe cleaners in the tops of the masks that I make so that they will fit close to the nose without leaks. I haven't used the fashion tape yet.

Lars, that is the best price I’ve ever seen on that sort of tape. I buy toupee tape at Sally’s Beauty Supply because it is cheaper than most “fashion“ tapes. The problem with the toupee tape is that it is already cut into strips. Every woman in my family keeps a few strips in her purse.

Yes, the ones my DD bought are very comfortable, hold the mask in place and since the fabric is away from my mouth, it seems people can hear me better.

HB, it will help with that I think. The ones my DD bought (there are a few different designs) I hold to my face while I put the mask on. It’s clumsy to do the first time you try but it’s easy once you get the hang of it. Mine fits into the mask perfectly. I can take a couple of pics of mine later today and post them. I’m not much of a gadget person, but for what averages out to be a buck or two a pop, I found this one to be helpful. Mine is silicone, so no sharp edges, it’s got a nice feel to it.

Interesting. I have something like that I bought years ago to wear while sanding and spray painting. They have removable knit fabric covers.

They're not silicone though - just plastic. I'm sure silicone is more comfortable and fits better.

Shades of Hannibal Lecter!

Oh gosh! Just the pictures from that movie gave me the creeps!

I wonder if somewhat of the same thing can be achieved by adding a stiff boning to the seam allowances on a mask. I have thought of trying this. It is much like how boning is used in wedding dresses and corsets. Make a channel and run the boning through it, down that front seam on the clamshell type of masks. You might even be able to do it on a pleated one, too. Just been brainstorming this.

Check out Epbot, she has a post about making a mask frame with craft foam.

Our air is full of pollutants -- especially now when the EPA has been forced to let manufacturers pollute unchecked. Masks do more to *protect* lungs than somehow damage them. Masking will probably result in fewer cases of flu this winter, too.

Plus, I've just stopped caring if my chin whiskers need plucking. 😉

To expand on what dallasannie mentioned about putting boning into masks, I had seen mask instructions which called for using a zip tie (straight) placed into a center front channel on a shaped mask. It was then cut to length and the opening sewn closed. It gave just enough structure to hold the mask off the mouth area.

The air we breath in has 21% oxygen and we exhale 16% oxygen, So a mask is not going to impair someone's oxygen levels. Comforting to know. Only people with severe lung disease would be at risk.

The videos I’ve seen of mask brackets show marks on the wearers face after they remove it. I like the idea of more space behind your mask but on the other hand I don’t want dents on my face .

dedtired: you'd have to change your moniker .... dentired

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Hmmm...maybe it depends on the mask, or the bracket used, I don’t get dents on my face. OTH, the gal that cuts my hair commented on how much better she could hear me when I spoke. She said I didn’t sound muffled anymore.

Ha ha, BragU. I have thought of changing my name, but not to that!

For those that are positive that masks can't be a problem. When I was in my 20's, healthy with no lung disease, one of the hospitals I worked at wanted to fit all patient care professionals for N95 masks to enter Tuberculosis patients rooms. When they tried to fit me I felt fine wearing the mask but as the fitting continued my O2 levels dropped too low for safety. Due to that I was advised to never wear a N95 mask by the physician doing the fitting.

Over thirty years later I still do not have lung disease so don't assume that there aren't issues with mask wearing.