Simple tricks to make your face mask more comfortable to wear

In certain parts of the country, and certain public spaces in others, face masks are a mandatory accessory right now (find the latest advice for your state here).

Throughout the pandemic, Aussies have become accustomed to the practice of mask-wearing and some of the little annoyances that come with it, like sore ears and fogging glasses.

RELATED: Where to buy reusable (and stylish) face masks right now

Luckily, the internet is full of nifty tricks to make the experience more comfortable. Behold:

For sore ears

Having elastic looped around your ears for hours may cause some discomfort, but there are some simple ways to alleviate this.

US hair and makeup artist Olivia Smalley has perhaps the most stylish solution, using hair clips to lift and pin the elastic securely to the wearer's hair behind their ears:

Conveniently, decorative barrettes like the ones pictured have been a major accessories trend over the past couple of years, so they should be easy to source.

RELATED: Should I be wearing a paper or cloth face mask?

In another useful Instagram post, Smalley also suggests using a hair bungee — a hair tie fastened with two hooks — to pull the elastic from behind the ears and join the two loops at the back of the wearer's head:

Don't have that particular hair accessory available?

Well, you might like to try an alternative technique shared online by numerous health professionals.

It requires rummaging through the toy box, as the key ingredient is (drum roll, please)... a Barrel O' Monkeys monkey!

Others have suggested using paperclips for the same purpose, or if you're wearing a hat, using binder clips to pin the elastic loops to it where it sits behind your ears.

For people with long hair, wrapping the elastic loops around a ponytail, or two buns or pigtails, can also offer your ears some relief.

For loose masks

To work effectively, face masks need to fit snugly and securely around your face, covering the nose and mouth.

If yours is feeling a little loose or is gaping at the edges, there's a simple way to tighten it, as demonstrated on TikTok by dentist Olivia Cui.

Using a single-use surgical mask, Dr Cui folds the mask in half and ties a knot in the elastic loops close to each side of the mask material. She opens the mask back up and tucks in the gaping material at each side to close the gaps before putting it back on.

For glasses-wearers

Around the world, bespectacled folk have become acquainted with an unfortunate downside of face masks: foggy lenses.

Glasses-wearers have bemoaned the phenomenon on social media, with others sharing their clever solutions.

Among them is New York eye doctor Jennifer Tsai, who shared three methods for combating steamy glasses on TikTok.

The first involves placing a folded tissue under the top of the mask to create a barrier between the wearer's breath and their specs.

Dr Tsai also suggested using surgical tape at the top of the mask to seal off any gaps around the bridge of her nose and under-eye area.

The third option is spritzing a mix of baby shampoo and water onto the lenses, then rinsing them with water and drying before wearing with a face mask.

For the forgetful

If you're the forgetful type, or you're simply tired of having to rifle through your handbag to find your mask before you need to slip it on, it might be worth considering a mask chain.

You read correctly; the trusty chain is not simply reserved for spectacles-wearers.

There are some snazzy designs available online, with everything from beads to mini faux pearls used to keep that mask within reaching distance. Or, you could always put your creative juices to work and DIY one.