Sometimes switching to a different strap material can help if it lingers.
You’re not kidding about the straps making a difference. I swapped out the “official” ones for a softer, cheapo fabric headband from the dollar store (don’t tell my orthodontist) and it actually helped with the redness. For the price of a coffee, my skin was less angry and I didn’t feel like I’d been wrestling with Velcro all night. As for those marks, mine faded pretty fast—definitely not worth stressing over. And frozen peas? Lifesaver, especially when you’re on a budget... and too lazy to hunt for a fancy gel pack.
Totally agree about the dollar store hack—those official straps are weirdly rough. I ended up using an old t-shirt as a makeshift cover once and it actually worked better for me. Also, frozen veggies > overpriced gel packs any day... just gotta remember to put 'em back before dinner.
Using an old t-shirt as a cover is actually genius. I tried wrapping a soft scarf around the straps once and it was way less scratchy, but the t-shirt probably stays put better. Those official straps always left marks on my cheeks—looked like I fell asleep on a waffle iron.
Frozen veggies are definitely the MVP here. I used peas for a while, but then my brother cooked them for dinner and wondered why they tasted like plastic... lesson learned: ziplock bags are your friend. The store-bought gel packs always felt too stiff or got weird after a few uses anyway. Plus, who wants to pay extra for something you already have in your freezer?
One thing I found helpful was putting a little moisturizer on my cheeks before bed when I had to wear the headgear overnight. Helped with the chafing, especially in winter when everything gets dry. Not sure if that works for everyone, but it made a difference for me.
Honestly, headgear is such a pain, but little hacks like these really do make it less miserable. If anyone’s worried about looking ridiculous—trust me, you’re not alone. I started wearing a hoodie over mine at night just to feel less self-conscious, even though nobody was around to see me. It’s all about finding what makes it bearable day by day.
Hang in there... it does get easier (or at least you get used to it).
Man, the waffle iron face marks are too real. I used to wake up with lines so deep I thought they'd never fade. The t-shirt trick worked best for me too—old cotton ones are softer than those covers the orthodontist gave out, and they actually stayed in place through the night. Scarves always slid off or bunched up.
On the frozen veggie front, I once used corn and it leaked everywhere... lesson learned about double-bagging. Never trusted the store gel packs either, they get weirdly stiff and just don’t mold right.
Moisturizer’s a solid tip. I found Aquaphor helped when my skin got really raw, especially in winter. And yeah, feeling silly is half the battle. I’d pull my blanket up over my head just to forget I was wearing the thing. After a while, you just stop caring as much—survival mode kicks in.
Those lines on your face really do make you question your life choices at 6am. I remember trying those orthodontist-issued covers too—never understood how anyone kept them in place. Old t-shirts were my go-to, but I’d sometimes layer two if my skin was extra sensitive. On the ice pack thing, I tried peas once and it was a disaster... the bag split and I ended up with frozen veggies everywhere. Honestly, I found a soft washcloth with cool water worked better than any gel pack. Aquaphor’s a lifesaver, especially when the straps start rubbing in winter. The mental hurdle is real, but after a few weeks, you just kind of accept it and move on.
