Frequently asked questions
•Is swimming in a tail difficult?
No! In fact I swim better with my tail than I do without it. Inside of my tail is a monofin, which is a specialty fin used by many freedivers. It allows me to propel myself through the water using a undulating motion called the dolphin kick.
•Do you make tails?
No. My tail was made by a professional tailmaker. Please don't send me emails asking me to make you or tail or for me to send you one. I do not make or sell tails.
•What is your tail made out of?
My current tail is made out of silicone and a monofin.
•How Many Tails do you own?
I own four tails. One completely made of silicone, two latex and neoprene, and one made of lycra fabric.
•Where did you get your tail?
It was bought from a professional tail maker, Merbella Studios. It's their "performance" model, with a competitor monofin inside, with additional fins (pectoral, heel, and dorsal fins). Please check out their FAQ for more information about their tails.
•Where Can I get a mermaid tail?
There are many different people who make mermaid tails. For a complete list you can check out merfolktails.info. I strongly advise reading reviews not posted or endorsed by the company you are buying from, as well as researching the materials it is made from, before purchasing a tail.
•How long have you been swimming in a tail?
I've been swimming in tails since 2007.
•How many mermaids are out there?
There are hundreds of merfolk- mermaids and mermen alike, professional and enthusiasts both- from all over the world!
•Where can I meet other merfolk?
Some merfolk are the solitary type, but many of are social locally or via online communities and social networking. There a great many mermaids on Facebook that have Fan Pages in which you can interact with them, and also on YouTube, Tumblr, Twitter, and other social media. The merfolk community forum where many mers go to find information and to interact and meet one another is MerNetwork.com . There they even have a Pod system to help and encourage others to be active locally via meetups.
•Can you teach me to make a tail?
No- I don't sell tails. If you want to learn how to make a tail, there is a vast amount of information on making every type of tail on MerNetwork.com. A good place to start is the Making Tails page and all of the links that it lists. Please DO NOT EMAIL ME asking for information about making tails- All the information I know is listed on MerNetwork.
•Do/Will you travel?
I can travel for booking purposes only, at the expense of the client.
•Can I be a mermaid too?
I am currently not looking for any new mermaids. But you are more than welcome to buy or make your own tail and take up mermaiding!
•Where do you get your accessories?
I make most of my own accessories myself! You can buy accessories made by me on my Etsy store, SeaShore Siren. Others I buy from other stores and fellow mermaids online. Etsy is a great place to find accessories made my other mermaids and mermen- here is a list of Merfolk Accessory Stores with links to dozens of stores that sell accessories just for mermaids an mermen!
•Will you tell me how to become a professional mermaid?
Please do not email me about information on becoming a professional mermaid. Launching a professional career takes research and lots of hard work, but if you put in the time and effort you too can go pro!
•Will you let me try your tails?
My tails are custom made to my measurements and not intended to be worn or used by someone else, so I can and will not do that.
•How do you get your makeup to stay on underwater?
I use makeup products, primers, and sealers that are specifically made to be used in and under the water. I don't use any one brand, but many brands to insure that my makeup stays place for hours submerged in a chlorinated pool. I made a video tutorial that you can find here on YouTube. I've also made a comprehensive thread on Underwater Makeup on MerNetwork that has all the details on types and brands of makeup for swimming and underwater use.
•How do you keep the chlorine from bothering your eyes?
I don't- it bothers me just as much as it bothers anyone else.
•How do you keep water from going up your nose?
I don't! Some people are able to, and some are not. I am one of those who is unable to, and it is painful for me every time water goes up my nose an sinuses, but I deal with and smile through the pain associated with it.
•Why do you love mermaids?
I love mermaids because of all of what they represent to me. Mermaids are myth and magic. Not only that, but they are the employment of the element of water, which to me represents emotions, dreams, compassion, love, sadness, healing, rest, cleansing, and death and rebirth. They are loving and accepting of themselves and ever compassionate to both the planet and other beings. They are freedom, peace, and and healing from the weight of the world. They are angels of the water.
To become one with the water and adopt all of what they stand for can be an enlightening experience in many ways. Cousteau made an excellent description of what water can do for us. "From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free. Buoyed by water, he can fly in any direction - up, down, sideways - by merely flipping his hand. Under water, man becomes an archangel." The water heals and rejuvenates, and connects us with ourselves and the planet at the same time. It can give you a whole new perspective on life, if you let it. Becoming that embodiment of water.. it is magical, in a very real sense. People ask me why I swim with a tail, and I smile at them and say, "This is how I fly."
