If you already have perfectly spooky Halloween costumes, picked a haunted house to explore, and packed treats, then you should have fabulous Halloween masks to complete your Halloween costume. No matter how old you are, wearing a Halloween mask that evokes excitement, fright, and mystery can make your Halloween experience spooktacular.
So, what exactly are Halloween masks? And why do we wear them?
This blog post explores the history, types, and materials you can use to make Halloween masks.
Ancient Origins of Halloween
The Halloween masks are a crucial aspect of the Halloween holiday, which grew from the Samhain (Sow-in) holiday celebrated by the Celtics. The Celtics marked the transition from summer to winter by wearing scary masks to ward evil spirits from their homes and kids. Why, you may ask? Ancient Celtic believed the veil between the world of the living and evil spirits was at its weakest during the transition from summer to winter.
Halloween masks in the Renaissance period: The Venetian aristocrats wore masks to escape the restrictions forced upon them by their high-class standing in Venetian society. Members of the aristocracy wore masks to engage in activities that would be otherwise frowned upon because of the rigid rules and structures that governed them.
A Halloween night in the 21st Century is a time of creativity and spontaneity. Little girls and boys get to dress as their favorite TV characters, trick-or-treat, experiment with scary masks, and embrace the fear of playing in a haunted house. For an adult, this is the time to let loose by wearing creepy costumes, converting your home into a haunted house, and decorating with frightening quality Halloween accessories.
Unlike their counterparts in the past, Modern Halloween fans are not driven by the need to fight evil spirits nor the desire to hide activities imposed by society. Halloween has become a holiday that gives people an excuse to explore art by wearing high-quality masks and costumes that would make directors of the most classic horror films turn green with envy.
Types of usually available Halloween masks
Animal Halloween masks
Halloween season is the time to bring out your freaky side to play without judgment. I’m not saying they won’t call you ‘cock-a-doodle-doo’ behind your back because of the very realistic Halloween rooster mask you wore, but who cares? The good thing about shopping for animal masks is that there are so many animal creatures on Earth you can’t possibly exhaust them all.
Popular animal masks you can wear include:
- Rabbit ear masks
- Bear mask
- Werewolf masks
- Buffalo masks
- Latex Dinosaur mask
- Lion mascot masks
- Parrot masks
- Llama mask
- Godzilla mask
Funny Halloween masks
I know Halloween masks are supposed to be scary, but there is something fun about eliciting laughter from people in dark places. Funny masks are easy to create. You can use a paper mache to create a Halloween mask with your favorite joke. For instance, you can have a mask with the caption, “Why do ghosts go on a diet? So that they keep their ghoulish figures”.
Don’t roll your eyes. That joke is classic.
Superhero Halloween masks
If you are a fan of superhero movies, then you’re familiar with the mask that creates a veil between superheroes and their real lives. Far be it from me to question how a mask obscures the eyes and part of the face keeps the superhero’s real identity hidden from even their friends and family. Anyway, these fantastic masks can trace their ancestry to carnivals in Venice, Italy, where action characters donned them during action plays.
The beauty of superhero Halloween masks is that they enable fans to dress as their favorite TV character, making them feel like part of the show. If you have kids, a Batwoman Halloween mask will look good on a little girl, while boys look dashing in anything Batman or Spiderman.
Popular superhero Halloween masks include:
- Supergirl masks
- Batgirl mask
- Spiderman face mask
- Dr. Fate’s head mask
- Catwoman mask
Realistic Halloween masks
Ever wondered what it would feel like if you had a different face? Do you look at your favorite pop culture icons and wish you had their faces for a day?
With a realistic mask, you can transform your musings into reality. Realistic masks are created in the imitation of real human faces. You can create a realistic look by using flexible materials such as silicone to mimic skin pores, wrinkles, hair, blood vessels, and freckles.
Get a realistic mask if you are a Halloween fan who loves to horrify your friends with frightening costumes.
Masquerade Halloween masks
If you want to feel fashionable, you might match your Halloween costume with a masquerade mask.
Masquerade masks, popular in Italian society in the 15th and 16th centuries, are still a crowd favorite for people who like mystery and playfulness behind the anonymity of a face mask. For instance, the Volto mask, designed to cover an entire face, can hide your identity during Halloween nights, allowing you to revel without fear of judgment.
Other examples of masquerade masks include:
- Pantalone mask
- Bauta mask
- Gnaga mask
- Medico della Pestemask
- Colombina mask
- Moretta mask
What are Halloween masks made of?
Having an intimate knowledge of the materials used to make masks can help you select the right one. Understanding the texture, weight, and flexibility of Halloween materials can help you choose a Halloween mask that is convenient to move around with and safe to wear.
Here are the materials used to make Halloween masks:
Plastic mask
If you are looking for a relatively stiff, thin, and flexible material for your next Halloween mask, plastic can be your go-to material.
You can shop for plastic costumes from your local store or ship from the major retailers in the country if they are out of stock. If you like to reuse your costumes, shopping for those made of plastic can be a wise choice because they are durable.
Latex mask
If you love the feel of skin-tight rubber on your face, then latex is the material for you.
Latex masks are popular among Halloween costume fans because their material is waterproof, flexible, and durable. Whether you wear a latex mask to trick-or-treat out or attend a costume party, you can have fun because they are gentle on the skin.
Foam mask
Foam masks are made from foam materials such as Styrofoam products. If you want to create a killer 3D Halloween mask, this is the best material. The material is hard to break, durable, and waterproof, making it suitable Halloween masks for indoor and outdoor functions.
Silicone mask
Silicone masks are created from silicone material, which is flexible and realistic enough to mimic human faces.
When using silicone materials, the only limitation is your imagination. The flexibility of the silicone material allows you to bend and stretch your head mask into a custom shape that will delightfully horrify anyone who looks at you.
Resin mask
Here is the thing: a good Halloween mask can transform you into anything: add wrinkles to your smooth skin, give you a cool scar, or make your skin soft like a baby’s bottom.
Resin material doesn’t just make your Halloween mask look good, but it also makes it durable. A resin-made Halloween mask comes out hard like plastic but with brittleness similar to materials made of ceramics. Unlike realistic masks made with silicone, people can tell when you are wearing a resin mask.
Paper mache Halloween masks
Paper mache materials are an old-age method of creating Halloween masks at home.
If you want to make a simple Halloween mask, arm yourself with flour, water, string, and Vaseline. Paper materials can be suitable when you don’t have adequate time or cash to go grand for your Halloween celebration.
What are the best scary Halloween masks to wear?
Your love for scary Halloween masks doesn’t stop when you become an adult. As an adult Halloween fan, you have the authority to shop for a high-quality Halloween mask that can dazzle people at every costume party you attend.
Here are some of the best Halloween masks to wear as an adult:
- Grinning Face Halloween mask
- Alien mask
- Zombie Halloween Mask
- Ghostface Halloween mask
- Machete Halloween Mask
- Grin Demon head mask
- Creepy Momo Halloween Mask
Examples of Halloween activities
The following are examples of Halloween activities:
- Carving pumpkin lanterns
- Visiting a haunted house
- Attending a costume party
- Accompanying kids to Trick-or-treat
How to care for Halloween masks?
How to clean Halloween masks?
You can ensure your Halloween costume remains in good condition until the next time you wear it by thoroughly washing it.
To ensure your Halloween mask doesn’t lose its cool appeal with time, you can use the following steps when cleaning it:
- Check for dirt, tears, and stains on your Halloween mask when you remove it.
- Check the manufacturer’s label to learn if your Halloween mask has special cleaning instructions.
- Wash your mask with a soapy cloth dipped in water, paying special attention to mouth and eye openings.
- Deep your washcloth in warm water and wipe the mask to rinse it.
- Sprinkle your Halloween mask with cornstarch to prevent the mask from becoming sticky.
How to store Halloween masks?
- Ensure the Halloween mask is completely dry. Removing all the moisture prevents the mask from breeding mold when you put it in the store.
- Store the Halloween mask in zipped plastic bags to protect it from collecting dust once in storage.
- Ensure the place you store your Halloween costumes is well-ventilated to protect your mask from dust.
- If you have children, keep your costumes locked to prevent your kids from destroying them.
So, what is your favorite part about wearing a Halloween mask? Do you like to Trick-or-treat, visit a haunted house, carve pumpkin lanterns, or wear creepy costumes?
Is there a Halloween mask you desire but can’t find at your local store? Where do you get a great selection of the material you use to design your Halloween mask? Let me know.
Learn More：
How Trick-or-Treating Became a Halloween Tradition
Halloween Masks – History of Halloween Costumes and Masks
Unleash Your Imagination with Elegant Masquerade Masks and Hoods This Halloween
