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Masquerade balls and weird questions

Cuvier

One of the Regulars
Messages
205
Location
Texas
I don't know what section to put this in so if this belongs somewhere else please move.

Coming up in about a month I have a Masquerade Ball and charity benefit I plan on attending. I have my outfit and a mask to wear. That's where my question lies. The mask I'll be wearing is a paper mache Bauta mask. It's fine as is but is quite a bit too wide and tall. I can trim it down but I was wondering if I could gently steam the mask to better fit my face. I would like to wear a hat with this.
So long story made short. Can a paper mache mask be steam formed to fit?
 

Cuvier

One of the Regulars
Messages
205
Location
Texas
Well I got my answer. Gonna put it here in case someone else wants to know.
If the paper mache is made with pva glue then it is moldable with heat. I took a heat gun and gently warmed up the sides of the mask and slowly bent the sides in and molded it to fit. Now it fits tight and comfortable, can't even tell that anything has been done.
I'm now debating whether to trim the mask down so that I can wear a hat with it but if I do then I'll lose some nice decoration.
 

Cuvier

One of the Regulars
Messages
205
Location
Texas
Interesting! Thanks for letting everyone know the result. I had no ideas/advice to offer but was curious.
Yup. I figured that the lack of response was due to a lack of knowledge. The mask was inexpensive and replaceable so experimenting with it was fine. Now I learned something and was able to share it. Win-win in my book.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,082
Location
London, UK
Well I got my answer. Gonna put it here in case someone else wants to know.
If the paper mache is made with pva glue then it is moldable with heat. I took a heat gun and gently warmed up the sides of the mask and slowly bent the sides in and molded it to fit. Now it fits tight and comfortable, can't even tell that anything has been done.
I'm now debating whether to trim the mask down so that I can wear a hat with it but if I do then I'll lose some nice decoration.
Unless you plan on wearing the hat all night as part of the costume, I'd keep the mask as is. If the hat is a necessary part of the costume, then maybe trim the mask to fit.
 

Cuvier

One of the Regulars
Messages
205
Location
Texas
Unless you plan on wearing the hat all night as part of the costume, I'd keep the mask as is. If the hat is a necessary part of the costume, then maybe trim the mask to fit.
The mask is a Bauta mask which traditionally is worn with a cloak and hat. I don't need the hat, just wanted to wear it.
 

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