How to put on a Silicone Mermaid Tail in Less than 5 Minutes
Silicone mermaid tails are notorious for being a struggle to put on. Sure, they look hyper-realistic and are ideally one-of-a-kind, but they are a PAIN in the butt to wiggle into. Right? WRONG.
As it turns out, it isn’t THAT difficult to put on a silicone mermaid tail if you know what you’re doing. When I first started out as a professional mermaid, it took me 15 minutes on average to get changed into my tail (Sparda). But as the years have gone on, I’ve figured out new ways to put on my tail— STRUGGLE FREE. And today, I’m here to share with you exactly HOW I put on my tail, and I’m going to share with you exactly WHAT I use to get into my tail.
What you need to put on your Silicone Mermaid Tail (Material List)
Before I tell you HOW to put on your silicone mermaid tail, it is essential that you know WHAT you need in order to do it. Now, there are lots of mermaid out there who may tell you that oil (DON’T use oil) is better than conditioner, or lube is better than conditioner, or that you should only use water to get into your tail. EVERYONE has their own technique for putting on their mermaid tail. I’m not here to say that how you or anyone else does this is wrong, but I am here to show you the technique I’ve come up with that works best for me… and if you have a big booty, then chances are that this will work great for you too!
Below, you will find a complete list of ALL of the products that I use to put on my tail. I will also link you to the EXACT products that I use personally. You can click on these links to buy the exact products that I use. FULL TRANSPARENCY! They are affiliate links, which means they’ll help earn me money (at no expense to you). But… I literally use these things for each event I work. I wouldn’t recommend them to you otherwise. You get good stuff. I get some cash to pay the bills. Win-win. Without further delay, here’s the material list!
MATERIAL LIST
SEAVENGER NEOPRENE SOCKS
I used to use neoprene socks that went past the ankles. They were a PAIN! They made it more of a challenge to wiggle into my silicone mermaid tail because the extra fabric stuck to the silicone in all the areas I didn’t want it too! Hahaha! But these socks… I made the change to them about a year ago. They are HEAVENLY! Not only do they have a minimal amount of fabric, but they also have a grip on the bottom, which helps keep your feet from slipping out of your monofin. Additionally, these neoprene socks come in a variety of colors and sizes so that you don’t run the risk of confusing your socks with another merperson’s after a swim… yuck.
Neoprene socks are essential for minimizing heel slippage when wearing a silicone mermaid tail. They also help protect your feet from monofin-related blisters too. Get these socks!!
ASTROGLIDE WATER-BASED LUBRICANT
This is the super fun and awkward part about being a mermaid… lugging around bottles of lube EVERYWHERE you go. I remember checking into the airport on the way to Singapore hoping and praying that security wouldn’t check my luggage. How in the heck was I going to explain the 4 bottles of lube!? As embarrassing as it may be to pull out sexual lubricant on the beach or at the pool, it is one of the best things you’ll ever use for mermaiding. I PROMISE. It is well worth the embarrassment. Water-based lube is safe to use on silicone mermaid tails, it will not make the water you’re swimming in look foggy (unlike oils) and it shouldn’t irritate your skin. Also, it makes putting on a tail extremely quick and easy. That said, it does dry (unlike some products) and can make it harder to get your tail off than if you were to use something else. Regardless, if there is one thing you buy today, buy this lube… it is expensive, but a little bit goes a LONG way if used following my tutorial.
NOTE: Do not buy off-brands of this water-based lubricant. They do not use the same ingredients and may not be tail-safe. I know it is tempting to go the cheap route, but don’t do it! Buy exactly what I’m linking you to below.
HAIR CONDITIONER (AS NATURAL AS POSSIBLE)
Sexual lubricants are not cheap. That’s why I use my Astroglide Water-Based lube sparingly. As you’ll see in the tutorial, I only use lube on my belly, butt and thighs. On my calves and feet, I use a much less expensive mixture of conditioner and water. I fill about 1/4 of an EMPTY container of Astroglide water-based lube with conditioner, and fill the remaining amount with warm water. This reduces the amount of lube I use, recycles the plastic bottle of lube and ultimately saves me money. Make sure you use a conditioner that is as natural as possible so that you aren’t polluting the lake, river, sea or ocean that you’re swimming in. I’ll link you to one I like to use. It smells really good, by the way! (This one comes with a shampoo too. You’re welcome.)
HAND TOWELS OR DISH TOWELS
This seems like a very silly thing for a mermaid or merman to need. However, these things are a LIFE SAVER! After you get all “lubed up,” you’ll have a difficult time getting a grip on your tail to pull it up onto your body. These will provide the grip you need to get your tail on while also protecting the vulnerable silicone from your sharp sirenesque nails (in case you forget to cut yours 24/7 too!). The ones in the picture below are not the exact ones that I use… but they are pretty, so enjoy! ;)
Other things to Consider when Putting on a Silicone Mermaid Tail
In this blog post and in the video it contains, I’ve done the best that I can to tell you how to put on your silicone mermaid tail quickly and properly. Before I send you off on your merry way, I do have a few other things that I’d like to share with you in regards putting on your tail. FIRST! Always consult with your tail maker before trying anything not outlined in their tail care guide. If you are skeptical about what I’ve written here, you can always send them the link to this blog post to make sure that they approve of my techniques for your tail’s make. SECOND. Make sure you try to remember to cut your nails before putting on your tail so that you don’t scratch it up and cause irreversible damage. THIRD. Check out the video below to learn how to get into your tail without getting overly sandy. And FOURTH. Take a look at some of the other blog posts and videos below for more useful Professional Mermaid tips.
HOW TO CLEAN & DRY A SILICONE MERMAID TAIL: http://www.themagiccrafter.com/blog/2018/6/26/how-to-clean-a-silicone-mermaid-tail-cleaning-drying-silicone-mermaid-tails-tutorial
HOW TO FIX A SILICONE MERMAID TAIL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYzizWNGC7U&list=PLf88KrDvBQcmm_7-Wz_TXEUHRDujaO2d9&index=2&t=0s
PROFESSIONAL MERMAID TIPS, TRICKS & TUTORIALS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrCbVA2PEXE&list=PLf88KrDvBQcnAa8k-F83KmcFtDHkc5_tf
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog post and watch my videos. Please feel free to share this blog post with your friends and peers, and feel free to ask ANY (appropriate) questions that you may have about putting on a silicone mermaid tail. And remember, if you’d like me edit any of your swimming videos OR if you’d like to hire me as a mermaid, sponsor a video or do any other sort of business together, please email me at Phantom@TheMagicCrafter.com
XOXO ~ Mermaid Phantom of The Magic Crafter ♥
AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER: TheMagicCrafter.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. (This helps to support me in doing what I do so that I can keep on creating content for you! It does not cost you anything, but I am legally bound to disclose my participation in this program with you.) This blog post contains affiliate links.
HOW TO CLEAN A SILICONE MERMAID TAIL (how I clean my $3,000 silicone mermaid tail after events) - This blog post will share video tutorials and written information that will help you learn how to clean a silicone mermaid tail after a dry land professional mermaid event or after a swim in freshwater or salt water.