PSA: Here Are Cool Ways to Preserve Your Music Festival Wristbands

(SPOT.ph) Safekeeping concert tickets are a great way to immortalize a memorable night…but the same can’t often be said of festival wristbands. Typically made of sturdier material, removing it from your wrist without cutting it in half it is already hard enough to begin with. However, this event memorabilia shouldn’t go to waste just because it takes a little more effort to preserve.

Whether it's a cloth wristband or a paper wristband, there are steps you can take to ensure they remain in good condition. Follow these simple preservation techniques below to make festival wristbands last for years to come.

Also read: UPDATED: Don't Miss These International Acts Coming to the PH in 2023

Here's how to preserve cloth wristbands from music festivals

Ensure your wristband remains removable (as a whole)

First and foremost, the process starts even before the music festival ends. Keep in mind that cloth wristbands are notorious for tightening, not loosening. The locking clasp makes sure of that.

That said, don’t fidget with the wristband during the festival. You have a better shot at removing it without too much of a struggle later on when it's loose on the wrist.

If it’s already been tightened, one trick for removal is to use the twist method. Twist the tail ends of the wristband into a tight coil until the fastener has enough leeway to be pulled. The thinner the fabric, the easier it will be to slip the small plastic ring out. If it still doesn’t work, a plastic straw might help.

Make a vertical cut all the way through a plastic straw. Open it up to enclose the tight coil. This way, pulling the wristband out will be smoother without the fabric ridges.

If all else fails, bring out the scissors.

Paint with clear nail polish

Cloth wristbands can fray over time even without human contact. One way to preserve it is to apply clear nail polish to both ends of it to create a barrier that will keep the fabric from coming apart.

Don’t paint the entire arm band with clear nail polish. That leaves the whole thing in a strange plastic-y crisp.

Frame in a shadow box

Many people consider music festivals an art form, so it only follows that a reminder of that event is also a piece of art that can spark the best memories.

Regular frames or shadow box frames will work wonders for displaying festival wristbands, especially if you don’t want anything to go into contact with it. You can hang the frame on a wall or place it on a shelf to enjoy the wristband on display.

Other creative ways to honor this souvenir is to store it in a scrapbook, pin it on a bulletin board, or use it as a keychain. 

How to preserve paper wristbands

Flatten the wristband

You have to be more careful with paper wristbands. There is less room to wiggle out of paper wristbands, considering it could tear more easily. Instead of cutting it, try to peel the ends of the wristband off from the adhesive slowly. 

Once you've removed the wristband, use a flat surface and heavy books to flatten it out. This will help prevent it from curling or warping over time.

Keep out of direct sunlight

It's a known fact that direct sunlight can cause paper to fade or discolor over time, so it's important to keep the wristband in a shady place. You can store it in a cool, dry place—anywhere inside the house away from a window works.

Store in a protective sleeve

K-pop stans know this well. You can store paper wristbands in a protective sleeve or folder to prevent it from becoming faded or wrinkled. Archival quality sleeves and folders can easily be purchased from craft stores everywhere.

Sleeving the wristband would prevent it from being unnecessarily exposed to stains, sweat, dust, and moisture. However, do take note that the chemicals in common PVC sleeves can impact the material in the long term. PVC chemicals could evenually turn a yellowish color, which can transfer to the wristband. Proceed with caution on this one.

Also read: No More Scalping? PULP Live World to Print Names on Concert Tickets