Costume Masks

Choosing a style

Full-face masks give the most complete transformation and are the most restrictive to wear. Best for shorter events and photographs.

Half-face and eye masks leave the mouth free, which means the wearer can talk, eat and drink normally. These are the ones that stay on all evening.

Overhead latex masks cover the entire head for a complete change of silhouette. They are the warmest option and worth thinking twice about for a long outdoor event in spring.

Vision and airflow

Check the eye openings before the event, not on the way out the door. Small or misaligned openings are the main reason masks end up carried rather than worn, particularly for children who need to see where they are walking.

Mouth and nostril openings matter just as much for comfort over a couple of hours.

Materials

Latex moulds to fine detail and gives the most realistic result, but it is warm and it perishes over years if stored badly. Moulded plastic is lighter and cooler with less fine detail. Fabric and felt masks are the most comfortable and best suited to young children.

Fit for children

An adult-sized mask on a child rotates and slips constantly. Child-sized masks with adjustable elastic sit properly and hold position, which makes the difference between a mask that gets worn and one that gets abandoned in the first five minutes.

Storage

Store latex masks stuffed lightly and lying flat, out of heat and direct light. Stacked or folded, they take a permanent crease.