Before when people thought of face masks, it was just something used in the medical field, but nowadays, you can’t go anywhere without seeing someone wearing one. It is becoming mandatory in many states to wear a mask to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

As they are quickly becoming more prominent in our everyday lives and with so many different options, it is almost impossible not to have questions. What mask should I buy? Are store-bought better than homemade? Do bandanas work just as well? Are disposable better than reusable? How many layers should it have? Below are some tips to help answer some of those questions.

Do Masks Help and What Is Their Purpose?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that a mask be worn anytime you leave the house if you are over the age of 2 and do not have a medical condition that prevents you from using one. Masks help to keep respiratory droplets from spreading further than your face by covering your mouth and nose. The main way that the coronavirus is spread is through these droplets. While masks can’t stop the spread completely because there are other ways to come into contact with them, they provide some protection and offer a better way of stopping a person who has the infection from spreading it. Everyone has seen the saying, "I wear a mask to protect you, and you wear a mask to protect me," all over the internet and social media because, simply put, masks do help.

What to Look for in a Mask

There are so many options and materials when it comes to picking out a mask; it can be confusing to know which one to buy. So what kind of mask works the best? Reusable, disposable, bandanas? It all depends on the material and fit of the mask being used that determines if it is effective, safe, and provides protection.

Disposable medical masks offer both breathability and blocking of respiratory droplets, but they are meant to be thrown away after one use because they start to break down. A reusable, washable mask, on the other hand, might be a better long term investment because they can be worn more than once. The most important thing is to make sure it covers both your mouth and nose, is made from a breathable material, has some layers, and has a snug fit to form a seal.

If a mask is not made from a breathable material and not snug, respiratory droplets will spread if one sneezes or coughs because if breath cannot escape through it, it will find another way out like the sides. However, a material with a tighter weave and thicker thread should be used as it does a better job of stopping droplets from getting through the mask. Based on this information, bandanas do not provide any protection when it comes to stopping droplets from spreading, and a mask should be chosen instead.

What Is a Good Number of Layers to Have?

The more layers you have, the better job a mask does. It is important to remember that you still need breathability; otherwise, a mask is pointless. There isn't a set number of layers, but most masks are made with three layers.

Should I Use Homemade or Store-Bought Masks?

Masks are more about the layers and materials used than if they are homemade or store-bought. So whether you decide to buy or make a mask, check out the material and make sure it checks all the boxes to protect you. The biggest thing is that it is breathable and you find it comfortable and will wear it.

Whether you decide to go the disposable or reusable route, Nectar has you covered and offers mask choices in both styles.