It might have seemed a bit strange at first, but we’re all getting a bit more used to wearing face masks while out and about.
Face coverings are mandatory while visiting shops in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and recommended in Wales, with more and more of us going further and wearing one every time we leave the house to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
It means that if you want to keep supporting your local independent record store or stock up on supplies for a summer weekend, you’re going to need one – and we think we’ve found some of the coolest out there with a rock and metal twist.
Where to buy face masks online:
- Buy rock n roll face masks at EMP
- Buy Star Wars and Marvel face masks at Disney
- Buy fabric face masks at Amazon
- Buy disposable face masks at Amazon
- Buy face masks at Vistaprint
- Buy face masks at Boots
- Buy face masks at Etsy
- Buy face masks at Not On The High Street
What we don’t know about music you could write on the back of a stamp. But when it comes to the coronavirus, we’re just as in the dark as you. That’s why we’re following all official UK government coronavirus advice, and have spoken to the Health Editor of one of our sister websites to give us the low-down on face masks.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that COVID-19 mainly spreads from person-to-person through respiratory droplets when a person coughs, sneezes or talks,” says Claire Davies, Health Editor of Top Ten Reviews.
“As a doctor recently explained, face masks ‘are worn for the benefit of others, in that they catch our coughs and sneezes and stop the viral-laden droplets within them being passed onto surfaces or other people.’ That’s because some of us might be asymptomatic – we’re infected with COVID-19 but don’t display symptoms – or pre-symptomatic, so wearing a mask helps protect those around us, especially the vulnerable.”
The most rock'n'roll face masks online right now
What to look for in a face mask
Not all face masks are created equal. In fact, some offer about as much protection as that 20-year-old condom languishing in the bottom of your dad’s wallet.
“According to the CDC, face masks should use multiple layers of breathable fabric,” says Davies. “In a recent face mask materials study at Northeastern University, Loretta Fernandez, an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, explained that, ‘Any sort of filtering that people can use in their masks could be highly protective. The idea is to create an efficient series of layers with bends within the fabric that make it harder for the virus to have a straight shot at a person’s nose.’”
And no, we’re not talking cigarette filters. “You can buy ready-made PM2.5 face mask filters,” explains Davies, “though in that same study, researchers found that toilet paper and coffee filters were effective, as long as the material is safe to breathe.
“If you’re using fabric face masks with a filter pocket, dispose of the filter after each use before washing your mask. And remember, it’s safe to wash fabric masks with your regular laundry as long as you use a hot wash setting.”
When shopping for face masks online, look for ones that:
- Fit snugly against the face without impeding breathing
- Have moldable nose bridges to achieve a better fit
- Use multiple layers of breathable fabric
- Can be washed without losing their shape
- With fabric face masks, choose ones with a filter pocket
If you or someone in your household is displaying symptoms indicative of the coronavirus, follow the latest NHS coronavirus advice for self-care and to understand when medical assistance might be needed.
