As you all know, i have big OCD issues and obsession when it comes to my masks. Always been so careful in maintaining and taking care of my masks.
I want to ask you all, do you think natural lighting via indirect sunlight can cause damage to latex masks? Here is an example of what I’m talking about.
All of my masks are never exposed to direct sunlight, only lighting from the outside environment.
Below are examples of what I mean by natural lighting. All of my masks never been exposed to direct sunlight. No, there are no reflective surfaces that gets to my masks.
Thanks for the response all!
Latex is a natural material. How it will react and age over time can vary. As of right now, I think they’ll be fine. They’re in decent-looking cases out of direct sunlight. Enjoy them!
Mine are kept in a dark room with no sunlight. Just a regular 40 watt bulb when I want to look at the masks. Any UV is damaging to masks. Even indirect uv. Over time it will damage the masks. Not as quickly as direct sunlight but over time, for sure.
Yes, indirect sunlight still damages the masks, not as fast as direct but over years, the masks will slowly rot sadly. The best I do is keep them in a completely dark area. Here’s an example. Yes i know they’re exposed to dust, which is why I’m going to get acrylic cases for my display pieces. If you cannot put them in a dark area; black curtains would work as well, or any curtain that can get indirect sunlight out or as minimal as possible.
so even without direct sunlight, these masks that we have all spent a lot on and cherish or eventually just gonna rot away? That sucks. I just got into the hobby a few years ago. My favorites are the (2) Warlocks I own. The regular version and blood tears. I have them in a Detolf cabinet, stuffed with grocery bags, each on their own stands. I have pretty low light in my room. It’s actually just one light bulb. Disappointing to hear that even though I try my best to take care of my mask, I don’t wear them only display them, that eventually they are just gonna rot away on me : - (
I can tell you from personal experience. I had a Trick or Treat H2 sitting in indirect sunlight in a room and left there for three years. Its started to rot and turn hard from the bottom. Indirect sunlight WILL 100% rot your mask. Albeit slower but not much slower.
The trick is to get film for your windows that blocks uv rays and it will stop this.
Also what helps is keeping all your masks in big clear ziplock bag. This will also prevent Ozone from circulating air around the mask.
UV rays from indirect and direct light and Ozone from circulating air and oils from hands and sweat is what causes latex to degenerate from one or all combined factors.
It was not worn it just sat on a holder that was coverd with a plastic bag. It leads me to beleive that the latex to begin with wasnt good quality but also the indirect sun overtime weakens the molecules and causes rot.
It was not worn. It just sat on a holder that was covered with a plastic bag. It leads me to believe that the latex to begin with wasn’t good quality but also the indirect sun over time weakens the molecules and causes rot.
I just recommend if anyone doesn’t wear their masks and is extremely worried about them rotting,get them foam filled by a professional artist and you won’t have anymore worries as long as you keep it properly stored. Even after foam filling you have to take precautions,but it extends the life of a latex max by alot. Depending what mask you have,it may decrease or raise the value. It’s very subjective.
