We Asked 10 People What Their Face Mask Means To Them

We took a survey that was answered by around 400 people to find out if they wear a face mask, when they do so, and why they feel it is important to them.

“I’m at the point where my mask needs to match my outfit lol”, said one fashionable mask wearer.

When asked if she bases this matching off color she replied none other than, “Oh absolutely. I have a lil rainbow set”. 

Another mask wearer had a different answer, she’s got a “a crazy lady [mom] who researched “the best masks” for weeks… so no Ms. Rona [here!]”, she said. 

Wearing a mask has become extremely necessary for many of us- living in big cities we wear them all the time, in the suburbs almost all stores and restaurants require it, and in general, wearing a mask is the surest way to stay safe (and keep others safe, too!). But the reason we wear a mask, and the reason we were the specific mask we do, varies greatly among mask wearers. 

We took a survey that was answered by around 400 people to find out if they wear a face mask, when they do so, and why they feel it is important to them.

In general, 80% of people said they wear a mask every single day. 18% said they do when it’s required, and only 0.6% of people said they don’t wear one. Pretty good numbers if you ask me. 

From the survey, we took the 10 most memorable responses and dove deeper. From a grandma’s gift to an autoimmune-caused requirement, here are 10 of the most important things to note when exploring what a face mask can mean to someone…

As many of us return to work, face masks remains a very important part of our daily outfits. For some, a face mask is simply an addition given little thought; for others, a face mask totally changes how they go about their day. 

One survey taker answered the question “why do you wear the type of mask that you wear” by explaining the importance of making her face mask fun. 

“I wear a standard cloth mask in all sorts of patterns for the kiddos as preschool!”, she said.

Another worker bee told us, she wears cotton to ensure “comfort during long work days!”.

And a third let us know that her “all black, tight fitted [mask that] passes the candle test” was originally given to her to match her work uniform, but then she ended up just liking the way it looks! Simple, effective, couldn’t ask for a better combo. 

Regardless of whether it’s part of your work uniform, working outfits, or something totally different, comfort and functionality are two key components to a face mask.

For the survey takers with sensitive skin, they reported that cotton is the way to go. It’s “less abrasive on [the] skin” and many said they “[felt] more comfy and confident wearing a favorite cloth one”. 

Not only is cotton great for those reasons, but we were reminded again and again (and again!) about the importance of multi-use masks, too. “Reusable is better for the environment”, it creates less waste, and not having to throw a mask away every day were all reasons mask wearers opted for cotton choices over the surgical or disposable kind. 

One tip of advice: the “reusable mask from target, 100% cotton”. 

But if you’re looking for another way to keep it socially conscious, maybe a local mom and pop shop will have what you’re looking for. 

One of the most compelling answers to the question of “why that mask?” talked about the wearer’s experience trying to support locals. “[I] bought a custom one from my fav dumpling store because it’s cute… [and] supporting businesses!” The dumpling store is called Dumpling Man in the heart of East Village Manhattan and is the perfect example of spreading the mask-spending wealth to a variety of businesses.

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Hopping on the train of sustainability,  homemade face masks were a super popular answer, too.

Many grandmas seem to have found a new hobby as “homemade cloth face masks” were the go to for countless survey takers. When asked where they got these homemade masterpieces, “my grandma” was in almost every one of their answers. (umm, grandma… I think you missed a grandma memo!)

On another note…

Like the fashionista who decides to match her mask to her outfit every day by color, many choose patterns for a similar reason. 

“I like the patterned ones for spicing up outfits and basic ones to balance patterns”, someone told us. 

But despite, “cloth masks [being super] cute” and a great addition to many outfits, it’s also crucial for us to remember the deeper, much more pervasive “why” of wearing a face mask.

“[I wear a] surgical mask… like doctor office n95” one reader wrote. She continued on to say “I would say I want to [wear it] and I feel I should… also I have to due to an autoimmune disease”. “[Not] really seeing people other than family” and even then understanding it is still a risk is the life many people are still living. So even with our mask fashion statements (which are more than welcome), these personal stories are the ones we need to remember. 

We need to remember as mask wearers (and especially those of you who don’t wear them!) that it is life threatening to some when we don’t wear these small pieces on our face. So no, it isn’t a choice, it isn’t an infringement on your rights, it isn’t political. Wearing a mask is about helping one another; it is about keeping each other safe. And these ten testimonies and countless others are perfect examples of how to turn this albeit uncomfortable situation into a positive one.

Start a fashion statement, support a local business, celebrate a cause with its logo written across your mouth. Whatever you do, remember how important wearing a mask is. And think about what your mask means to you. 

What type of mask do you wear? Did you grandma make it too? Let us know your favorite mask in the comments below!

*featured image from @yaniragiselle on Instagram