DISCLAIMER
Okay, I'm posting my review in both places because I think people will have questions and I don't mind answering. Before I get into the nitty gritty of the review I need to make a few things clear: While testing this tail I have been unwell. So it affects my ability to swim, my balance, all that stuff. I don't want my current illness to be misunderstood as "she can't swim in that tail!" I also want people to remember this was one of Jesse's first tails he was doing all his testing on, that several people have tested it and posted their experiences, and that the tail is very different from my merbellas ones. I'll be using my own template for how to write a review.

REVIEW


This tail came from Mermaid Creations Inc.
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The current price for a "Deluxe Silicone Mermaid Tail" 1750$ (depending on the type of monofin) and a regular silicone tail is 900$ (Mine would fall under this category again price dependent on your monofin.)

The time it took to get here is basically N/A to me as this tail was a surprise gift. The tail arrived in a box, wrapped up, with care instructions. I'd say it's close to the 50lb range but I have yet to actually put it on a scale and check. It's made of platinum silicone and has a foil monofin. It also has a blended waist and a dorsal fin. The tail is intended to be used in the water and on land for swimming and modelling. It can be used for professional work as well.

The Look & Fit
The tail is painted/tinted to look like the splash tail. I must say that it really does look like the tail. One of the amazing effects that I have yet to see on other tails is that this tail ALWAYS looks wet. It feels very different that my other tail. One of the benefits of smaller scales is that the tail feels quite fleshy- which is an affect I enjoy. Now, with this being one of the first tails there's a lot of experimenting with seams and colour so there are things on my tail you wont see on the others. From the looks of it Sasha's tail barley has a seam and Nerine's are hidden better. The fluke is really flowy and floppy. While I'm not strong enough to really lift it up- the smaller monofin doesn't really support it anyway. Because the foil is flexible rubber as opposed to stiff fiberglass the fluke is able to move in ways not seen in a lot of tails. I have some video that shows this at the end of the review. The fluke also has nice ridges. Also, because the silicone IS so thick, you rarely get wrinkles. It's just not possible, lol.

The dorsal fin is really cool. It stays upright all by itself. I was pretending to be a shark.

There is a blended waist. I couldn't get the tail up high enough the first try so that the waist was above my bikini bottoms. So I ended up having the bottoms show through at the waist by mistake. You could always have your waist come up a bit higher if this is something you'd be concerned about, (keep in mind this actually comes to my waist and shows my stomach while my merbellas tail purposely comes up OVER my stomach) or wear a lighter coloured bottom. (I was wearing black with white spots lol) I like the look of the blended waist because your skin shows through it and really sells the idea. Also, because it's so thick and tight I noticed it rarely got caught in the swim drag-it really hugs your hips.

Presently the tail is REALLY tight. Jesse got my measurements almost a year and a half ago so my body shape has changed a lot since then. Obviously when you order a tail you'll be giving him better measurements. While silicone does stretch- I would caution that a tight tail can set off panic a little bit. I felt a bit nervous before trying to swim because I simply wasn't used to a tail being so tight. So I had my boyfriend close by. Of course once I took off in the water I was fine. So just be sure if you're the least bit nervous you have someone nearby for safety. I know I have lost some weight and thinned down a bit because my merbellas tail is getting looser. It's my goal to be back to the size I was of these measurements so I dont think it'll stay this tight forever.








Putting it On & Durability
Like most silicone tails it can be tricky to put on. I suggest tying something to the straps of the monofin so you can pull them up under your heals. I was unable to get my tail on dry. I tried baby oil, water, and cream (separately- obviously lol) but the tail is heavier and thicker than I'm used to. I haven't been feeling well so when I started getting dizzy from the effort I decided I'd wait and get my boyfriend's help to put it on in the water. Ive talked to ALL the other mers with a Mermaid Creations tail and they were all able to get their tails on dry using the usual method and with a little help. So keep in mind that this is more due to my being unwell and also used to a thinner and lighter tail. I was able to get the tail on in the water with some help from my man. I suggest actually sitting in the water on stairs as opposed to simply getting your legs wet and pulling it on. You should lay out straight and have someone pull it up as far as it can go.

Because the tail is thick it can be tricky to roll/fold down to get your feet in and it can take a while. Doing it in the water will also take some of the stress off your legs by the weight. Silicone is also very sticky so it'll try to stick to your swim suit. Make sure your suit is nice and wet so it can slide past it. With a thick tail you don't need to be as worried about tearing it or poking a hole in it while trying to put it on. This thing can take a beating I'm telling you. SERIOUSLY durable. I'm pretty sure you could run over it with a truck and it would be fine. lol



Swimming
Keep in mind my disclaimer from earlier. I found it tricky to swim in because I'm used to a huge monofin and a very thin silicone. I really struggled to get any kind of a kick. You'll notice in my videos there are many clips where I'm pretty bouyant. I've always been that way- and it didn't clue in until half way through to try the weight belt hahahaha as soon as I did that I was golden as far as staying down. Because I couldn't get much of a kick I found myself bending my knees more than I should. Which as I explained to Jesse would scare me a few times. I forgot I had a dorsal fin so when I bent my knees the dorsal fin would poke my back or butt and I'd freak out wondering who was touching me. LOL.

One of the big differences I noticed in having a foil fin- despite the fact I found it difficult to kick or get down, man oh man was I agile! I could turn corners like nobody's business (something I find tricky with a competitor) and I could do back flips and side flips. I also felt smaller since the fluke doesn't extend out so far. Of course the fluke itself is so flowy it creates a very believable effect in the water. It's see through in a few parts which ended up looking really cool in some of the photos. Water doesn't collect in the fluke as it's solid but you can get air in it if you don't put it on properly. Jesse includes tips to prevent air from collecting in the foot pocket area with your tail so you'll know what to do.





Care
Jesse included a great care sheet with the tail. I would just add that because this is silicone and there is no neoprene lining you can wipe the inside of the tail dry with a towel right away. After I do that I spray the tails inside and out with (wait for it...) silicone sex toy cleaner. Why? Because it kills all the germs, alkalines (meaning does away with any acids that might harm), prevents mold, and it's safe for use on silicone without degrading it. If you're embarrassed you can buy the stuff online and put it in an unmarked spray bottle when you get home. Also, I had to get my boyfriend to lift it up and get all the water out of it because it was so heavy.

Things to consider


  • So when buying a tail like this you need to decide what monofin is best for you. A foil is cheap and will allow for that lovely flowy effect. But can you swim with a foil? A competitor is super expensive but you may find it easier to swim in but you'll lose the flowy effect. It's really not a case of pro or con- just really what you think will work for your needs.
  • The tails are thick and heavy. Now, MOST silicone tails are thick and heavy! Keep in mind my merbellas was specially made. So, if you're only used to latex or fabric or silicone caulking the thickness and the heaviness may come as a shock to you. There's lots of benefits for that thickness and heaviness but at the end of the day you need to choose what it right for you. A thicker tail wont wrinkle as easily, it's very durable, but it can be an adjustment.
  • And as I explained in the disclaimer, some of the "kinks" you might see have to do with my own troubles with health and swimming, and anything else is really more to do with this being one of the first tails. I'm sure if you ask questions here Jesse will answer too.

Conclusion

For me at least, this tail is better underwater. It's easier for me to put on, move in, and I love the flowy look. Until I get used to it and a bit stronger I wont be using it for any "dry gigs" but hopefully as things progress I'll be able to. You're going to see Ama in this tail. I'm going to take some video of her because I believe she'll do it better justice. I'm hoping to have some photoshoots done in the next little while before it gets TOO cold. I would suggest you be prepared for something heavy by making sure you have a way to carry it, enough time to get it on during gigs, and if a person is going to lift you that they are prepared for the weight.

I recommend Jesse if you're really wanting that flowy and wet look with the fleshy feel. It really is a totally different tail. As Jesse said, I have two different tails but they both are made with the same ingredient: love! lol Jesse is easy to contact and get ahold of for questions. While I wont be sending the tail back to him for any changes I know he's been good about that for Nerine. I think Jesse also improved a lot since making this tail as I pointed out you'll see some little things on it you don't see in others. and I mean really, 900$ is a great price.

Monofin choice will play a big role in the functionality of your tail depending on your skill. So choose wisely. Do you want flowy or do you want one you can hold up and have it stay up? Can you swim with a small one or a bigger one? You can talk to Jesse about your choices.

Dorsal fin. Everyone needs one. Feel like a shark. It's awesome.