Facial hair and mask seals

Some masks have problems sealing over moustaches, leading some people to shave the top off their moustache.  This works, but to anyone who's not a diver it is funny looking.  A good solution is instead to work a bit of vasoline into the 'stash so that water will bead up on it.  This seals the mask in the same way that teflon tape seals a lousy pipe fitting.  Air can still get through, so don't expect a top-side test to work unless you really goober on the vasaline.

This works, but to anyone who's not a diver it is funny looking

You callin' me funny lookin'? Seriously, vasoline does work, but I like the ease of a chin beard and a buzzed head....ez

I have heard that over time the Vaseline could break down the integrity of the mask's rubber. As funny as it sounds, a lot of those with hair use
 K-Y jelly since it is not petroleum based. May be hard to explain to the wife why you have it in your gear bag. Maybe a new mask each year is a better idea. You decide.

I got the tip from a dive instructor some time back.  Using KY would open the door for some great one-liners though.  "Mmm.  Smells like teen spirit."

Or:
"This isn't my prefered application method, but..."

Ya, I've got some 'plumbers grease' which is some sort of silicone compound.  I use it to keep O-rings pliable in my aquariums pressurized CO2 system.  It's cheap and very similar to vasoline in texture, only thicker.  I guess it'd work too, and it's only about $2 for a small snap-pack.  I'm pretty sure it is non-toxic as it was among to the teflon tape and other potable water plumbing supplies.






I don't use anything mostly because I forget to put it on, But when I do, I use silicon because most masks are silicon base and it won't hurt them. You can get it at any dive shop.  Ya. my mask leaks but I clear it on a regular bases.

Mike

if you use silicone grease make sure its food grade silicon grease. vaseline can and does damage rubber being its petroleum based. for silicon it might be ok. if you have a facial hair and mask sealing problem, when in the water, get the hair wet and brush it down with the lip of the mask and slowly lower the mask on your face from the bottom up.

might work, that was the BS line we gave customers at the dive shop: O ) anything to sell one of them masks!

and the famous "looks great!"