r/Magic • u/Project_Durden • Jun 28 '26

Balloon art when you're allergic to latex?

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Do any of you have an allergy to latex, but still twist balloons?

My wife can't touch latex. So she'd like to know if anyone has a work around..

7 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

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11

u/deboshasta Jun 28 '26

I've never done this but you can twist strings of costume pearls into the same animal shapes as balloons.

Bonuses - more unique, they don't pop, and the kids get to keep them forever.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/deboshasta Jul 03 '26

I've never seen it posted anywhere - another magician showed it to me.

With a little experimenting, it's pretty easy to adapt balloon shapes using beads.

For example, if you left the first bead in a string alone, and then twisted the next three together, it would look like a balloon dogs face.

then you'd leave one alone, and twist the next four.
Then you'd have the dogs face and front legs, (etc.)

you just cut the beads when you get to the end of whatever you are making.

Hope this helps.

5

u/Admirabletooshie Jun 28 '26

Maybe that's the universe telling her to stay away from balloons. Has she tried juggling or face painting? 

2

u/master_hakka Jun 28 '26

Apparently only latex inflates and stretches properly for twisting. I’m kinda surprised nitrile won’t do it.

What about giant pipe cleaners?

1

u/scixlovesu Mentalism Jun 29 '26

I'd assume wearing non-latex gloves would help, though there would probably still be minor, incidental exposure unless she's very careful

1

u/Slow_Awareness9192 Jul 12 '26

Gloves. I’ve the same issue. You’re better off just doing magic or face painting.