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It’s July of 2020 as I write this. I don’t think I’ve written a post in July in 8 or 9 years since I generally take summers off from writing.
But July of 2020 is no ordinary July. And I’m sharing a tip that’s hopefully time-sensitive. (Please, God, let this be irrelevant at some point in the near future . . . )
I’m giddy about my idea for keeping up with my mask. It works so well for me as a person who has little awareness of when or where she puts things down.
I bought this necklace/chain for reading glasses, and attached it to my mask! There are other options, but I’m linking to the one I have.
The key is to be sure you get one with hooks. Some (including the less frufru cord types) just end in the loop thing that goes around glasses. That won’t work for attaching a mask.
I love using mine. I put it on when I get ready to leave the house (not that that’s very often) and then I never have to worry about it again. No accidentally leaving it in the car or worrying about what it might have accidentally touched. No stressing over what to do with it in that glorious moment when I realize I’m far from other humans in the parking lot and can rip it off.
P.S. At this pre-8AM moment on a Monday morning, the forced perkiness in the photos gets on my nerves, too. But who knows when the next time will be that I’ll actually get dressed again (this was for a funeral visitation), so it’s all I have.
P.P.S. I want so badly to excuse my Quarantine Roots. But honestly, I had my roots done the first week hair salons re-opened in Texas. Now, these are What’s the Point Roots. But I guess it’s good I have these photos as a reminder that I should really get my hair done again before I drop my kid at college in a few weeks. There will be pictures.
P.P.S. I did wear black to the visitation. I just changed into that shirt (ironed on the front only for a video interview I did a while back) for these photos. It shows the mask better.
Again, here’s the link to the one I bought.
--Nony
This is cute. Good idea!
If I’m forced to wear a mask, I just use the kind that looks like a turtle neck. Not great for people who have particular hairstyles, but it works for me.
Yes this is an awesome tip. Thank you! And I too hope very much this won’t be relevant in the not too distant future.
Hey Dana,
I love that idea. But, to clarify do you have to hook it over your ears? I have freakishly small ears (which never mattered pre COVID) and the elastic won’t hook over them. I know I will heed to wear one full time when schools reopen.
Glad you and your family are safe.
Laura
You don’t hook the necklace over the ears, but this is for the masks that hook over your ears. I guess it might be able to work on ones that tie, but I would be afraid of the necklace getting caught in my hair? Have you tried the gaiter type masks?
Thanks Dana! I love the idea of being able to convert the over the ears masks to what you’ve done. I will also try the gaiter type masks.
As always, you are awesome!
I did similar with a cord necklace. I put it through each ear loop then close it. Thanks also have a few of the neck gaiters so I either wear as a headband or around my neck until needed 🙂
Good idea! One could also use little clips or even a mini carabiner to hook it on if one already had a glasses cord with loops.
I have found so many uses for my gaiters! It’s easy to pull it on and not worry about forgetting. Also, when driving the other day (in a car with no A/C!), I forgot sunscreen (windows open). I pulled it off my neck and extended it all the way up my arm to my short sleeve! They fit everyone (except the toddler), and wash/dry like a dream.
I tied a piece of yarn to mine so I can just let it hang around my neck when it’s not on; similar to what you are doing with the cord. It’s nice because I can leave the yarn on for washing, and I just hang it to dry so it doesn’t get all tangled.
Great idea for those of us with ADHD who lose everything!
Laura Rochon, there are things that are little straps with buttons (search up button band on Google) that people are using to hook the loops onto. They go behind your head, and the mask hooks onto a button on the strip of fabric. You can make your own if you’re handy.
Nice idea. Because I already have a lanyard for work that I have to wear, this would get a little more tricky. Our method is to hang them on the hooks by our door and grab them on the way out no matter what we’re doing. Going to the store, grab mask. Going for a walk around the block where you don’t even need the mask? Grab the mask. Just get in the habit of grabbing it so you don’t miss it one day. Because as we’ve said, we’re totally fine wearing them. But we have to remember them in the first place. (And I like keeping them in the house rather than the car because they’re more likely to get laundered then…)
Hi all! Just wanted to add….
I’m an LVN, and can’t wear the ear loop masks because to wear them properly it is too tight for our ears, and irritates the back of the ear. Most nurses where I work find the custom fit of ties much more comfortable (our hair is always up), and we can lift them up and down from our necks as they are tied once and done tiring for the day. You just slip the top ties over your ears from your neck. It never leaves your neck.
This necklace hack is a WONDERFUL IDEA! I wish there was a way to have masks with ear loops that don’t hurt and fit well enough so I can try it! In nursing though, fit is the most important aspect, and since we have to wear for 8 hrs or more, we gotta deal with it. You guys enjoy!
Great idea! Thank you!
I saw a woman using one of those plastic monkeys from the Barrel Of Monkeys game to hold her mask on so it wouldn’t hurt her ears. It was cute and worked well on her, though I’d think that the length of the loops would be an issue. But if you had one of those lying around…or if they are easier to find in stores than the button bands.
I saw on TikTok where a lady’s little girl had a carabiner clipped to her belt loop. When she took off the mask, she’d just clip it on to help keep up with it. Not the same thing, but maybe easier for kids who don’t want something around their neck that might get tangled.
Laura Richon my husband works at a casino and he told me that his female co-workers are using a length of ribbon (about 5 inches) that they turn the ends under and then sew a button on each end. The ribbon goes on the back of your head and the loops of the facemask get looped over the buttons instead of over your ears. You could use lots of different things instead of ribbon to make the band. Hope this helps you!
Laura – I wear masks 10 hours a day at work. There are some great options for you. I have a couple cloth ones that someone made for our staff that have two cloth strings for each ear. The cloth strings aren’t tied together, they go through a small bead, forming a loop. You put the loops over your ears and then slide the bead up each string to adjust the fit. They’re very comfortable, fit any size ears, and you get a snug fit all around the mask. I’d post a picture but I’m not sure how to do that in the comments. The other ones that would work well for you are the tie on masks. They don’t go over your ears at all and once you tie them on, you can then just untie the top part and pull it down when you are back in your car and away from people and you don’t have to worry about misplacing your mask.
You are so stinking cute! May I adopt you? (I’m old enough.)