How I Became a Mermaid and How You Can Too!

Рет қаралды 16,377

Күн бұрын

My mermaid journey started in 2014 when I heard about the hobby of mermaiding and decided to try it for myself! Ever since, my goal is to spread joy by showing others that they can do it as well! This video will run you through the very basics of beginner mermaiding with some tips and tricks I've learned throughout my many years in the mermaid community.
Last video: • Siren Tail Test Swim B...
Levels of Mermaid Tails: • Levels of Mermaid Tails
Subscribe! goo.gl/WJILHN
Thanks to all my friends who appeared in this video - too numerous to name but I love you all and am grateful for each and every single person who has helped me get to where I am today!
I do feel a need to credit my sister for her multiple appearance and to apologize for my anti-mermaid ways as a child. Follow her on insta: / j.a.i.r.a
Follow me on social stuff:
/ nerdmaidfaith
www.tiktok.com/@nerdmaidfaith...
/ nerdmaidfaith
/ nerdmaidfaith
/ nerdmaidfaith
0:00 Intro
0:34 My Story
3:44 Be Your Best Mermaid Self!
4:41 Mermaid Prerequisites
6:13 Tails
6:40 Where to Swim
8:08 Mermaid Friends
9:49 Next Steps
Mail me stuff! [MUST USE THIS EXACT ADDRESS]
Faith Brownlee
115 1st Street PMB-FB110435
Sumas, WA 98295-9674
Music used: Itty Bitty 8 Bit by Kevin MacLeod
and Song: Inukshuk - The Long Road Home [NCS Release]
Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds
Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/TLRH
Watch: • Inukshuk - The Long Ro...
NO NEED TO SUE ME!
Filmed with the Canon Rebel T5i (although she was being MEAN)
Edited using Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2018
Fun Fact: This project kept CRASHING while I was making it :(

Пікірлер: 117

@NerdmaidFaith 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching the video! What is your story? I'd love to hear how everyone got into the hobby!

@kaytlynnyang5282 3 жыл бұрын

I love mermaids

@rashaan64 3 жыл бұрын

My daughter is a huge mermaid fan but I had a question is it faster to swim on your side vs belly?

@rashaan64 3 жыл бұрын

Also I'm a robotics engineer how hard would it be to make a reliable and safe tail?

@handsomeswing7861 3 жыл бұрын

@@rashaan64 It doesn't matter if you swim on your side or belly the population is the same.

@tasharowe8437 2 жыл бұрын

What r some good comfortable safest mermaid monofins an tail recomendations an what to stay away from as a beginner to try

@TheSingeuse 3 жыл бұрын

Loving this title/thumbnail combo that heavily reminds me of those dodgy blogs I would find back in 2008 with recipes to create mermaid potions... "This one works, I swear"

@NerdmaidFaith 3 жыл бұрын

That was maybe some of my fin-spiration haha

@Beatriz_MC 3 жыл бұрын

"Those life experiences are worth it!" Totally! I mean, I have always the weird one, but with the pandemic, I squeeze every opportunity to do something I like. I wanted to get a mermaid tail for years but I was too shy, then I decided to do a mermaid experience for my 30th birthday and well, pandemic (no mermaid experiences at the pool), so I said "WHATEVER, I'm going to buy my own mermaid tail and people will have to deal with it!" Great video, as always!

@whimsicalwoodsywriter8645 3 жыл бұрын

As a kid I loved swimming. Ocean, swimming pools, and yeah, totally pretended I was a mermaid. As an adult I was focused on other hobbies when tails started becoming a thing people could wear. Fast forward and I was trying to think of an exercise that would motive me and immediately though of swimming. That night I got a finis Wave and practiced all summer. It's actually been a year since I went to my first merfolk meet up, had an amazing time, the next day was our first "Stay at Home" for covid. This last year I bought two tails. Life is short. If you wanna be a mermaid, be a mermaid.

@brysonworden 3 жыл бұрын

And we're all certainly happy you became a mermaid, and are inspired by how you inspire others daily to do so as well. 🧜‍♀️♥️

@ashely-zn2jc 3 жыл бұрын

YEAH!

@MytischCrafts 3 жыл бұрын

I remember wanting the Ariel green tail soooo bad! But I wasn’t allowed to barrow my parents credit card. And they thought it was lame, dangerous and childish. Which was kinda sad but didn’t stop me. Every time we went swimming I brought my swimming flippers and practiced my dolphin kick. And when I got older I started making my own tails. First it was a bit secretly because my parent still thought it was stupid. But after posting it on YT en getting thousands of views they got super supportive. And now I can freely make tails and be a mermaid :)

@NerdmaidFaith 3 жыл бұрын

That is so awesome! I'm glad your family is more supportive now

@smoleliza4491 3 жыл бұрын

I was 12 when I made my first tail and then when I was 13 my parents got me a tail! I was so happy! I had that tail for a few years and then it broke and I could not get a new one. I just purchased a new monofin to start practicing again! Using my university's pool to practice!

@CurrentTheMerboy 2 жыл бұрын

I wish the hobby wasn't so difficult for us guys... despite the mantra in the tail swimming community that "oh yeah boys can be mermaids too!" (which they say, subtly reinforcing that mermen are forgotten about) most of the world still finds this super weird and much weirder when you're a guy. I feel that I got my fin fun preemptively, and I have no IRL friends I feel comfortable swimming with it on, no pools around me where I am allowed to wear even the monofin... I've not showed my tail to many people outside of tail swimming groups, and to no one in real life. Someone once asserted that I couldn't possibly be a straight guy and had to be gay or a closeted trans girl. It hurt. I want to swim with it so bad but it just isn't really possible right now. 🙁

@prettybird1978 2 жыл бұрын

Ahh, I am sorry guys can't just enjoy swimming without the labels. We have a very cool merman in our pod. Since they are so rare, he is very valued. He is our unicorn because he is rare. His wife doesn't swim but she is pretty cool to send him off to hang and swim with the pod.

@CurrentTheMerboy 2 жыл бұрын

@@prettybird1978 I'm hoping, with the merfolk centric fantasy novel I'm writing, I can make a dent in these stereotypes. Master Plan: -Write merfolk fantasy novel -become super successful -get movie or streaming show based on merfolk novel _invest in costume tail manufacturers_ -publicly endorse tail swimming and show off my tail -profit 😎 Joking aside, writing this story, and sharing it with people has been very cathartic. Seeing that people don't immediately freak out that I'm writing this gives me a lot of confidence.

@toothfaerie444 3 жыл бұрын

i just got my first mermaid tail in yesterday ! what a coincidence

@earthtobrianna1661 3 жыл бұрын

Congrats!!

@starfirebird3099 3 жыл бұрын

I got my first tail recently- my friend mentioned a mermaid friend of hers who's making a sequined neoprene tail, and as a curious crafter, I went down a rabbithole researching what that was, and ended up finding your channel! I really liked swimming as a kid, so I decided to get a finfun and try out being a merperson. If I like it, I definitely want to sew my own tails, the crafts and costuming side really appeals to me.

@iflykaya 3 жыл бұрын

My mom bought me a knockoff on Amazon when I was 9ish and the moment we got it we both knew it sucked. I had it for a few months as a costume thing before I found my glorious real first tail! The Finfun Neon Skeletail! I got her on Christmas morning, I think Christmas 2021 will be the 4th anniversary of when I got started. Currently thinking about getting a mertailer

@summermermaidstar756 3 жыл бұрын

My mermaid story is long, fair warning. (note I am a transwoman, the story won't make sense without this disclaimer) As a kid I loved Disney princesses, my favorite being Ariel. I swam a LOT as a kid, and I visited beaches a lot with my parents. My favorite thing to do with my parents as a kid was go to aquariums to see all the fish. In pokemon I always liked the water type the most. Fast forward I don't know when but I found a movie in the 5 dollar bin at like a store called Aquamarine and something clicked and I was like "Yes, Im buying this movie I don't care what other people think of me watching this movie". Fast forward again Im 18 now, I came out as a transwoman and suddenly the whole loving mermaids clicked as a "OH wait a minute, is that why I connected with mermaid stuff as a youth? Was it the love of the ocean PLUS my dysphoria over my lower half not matching who I am inside? Since ya know, all mermaids have down there is a gorgeous tail" . But I brushed the mermaid stuff to the side for awhile Fast forward again many years later I got into roleplaying/larping stuff and watched Mo Mo O'Brien's videos and suddenly one of her videos in my recommendations was titled "How to be a Mermaid" with her in a blue tail in the thumbnail. I clicked, and watched in aww. I looked up more mermaid content creators, found Nerdmaid Faith and Mermaid Zelda and now Im of-fish-ially hooked into the mermaid community.

@NerdmaidFaith 3 жыл бұрын

And we're so glad to have you! Thank you for sharing your story!

@samanthagreene229 3 жыл бұрын

That pink clamshell you’re lying in that photo looks so cute 💥💗

@mermaidjaffa9135 3 жыл бұрын

I became a mermaid for health reasons in 2014. My family has a history of heart disease and I thought at that time, swimming would be good. As I didn't like land exercises like running because it was sweaty, and here in Australia, in summer, we have flies. Lots and lots of flies! I wanted to do something that was cooling, at my own pace and didn't hurt my feet. I've learnt a lot since then. Joined a pod, made new friends and even learnt two new skills of tail and swimwear making!

@olivert.rubert2489 3 жыл бұрын

Really interesting to hear your development on mermaiding ^^ But concerning your "Sure, it's a little bit weird"-part: is it really as weird as 22 people + a ref running after a tiny ball on a soccer field? xD To my story: started as a photographer, got into cosplay, took some pictures of mermaids and was like "hey, here are no guys doing this. Gotta start it :D" and now my first tail is arriving some time next week :) I'm as excited as a little kid on christmas xD

@MermaidZelda 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome video as always! I’m obsessed with your tail wall and I also really loved your camera presence in this video 💖 (weird film school compliment 😂) I can’t wait to see you again soon!!

@NerdmaidFaith 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I tried pretty hard this video, as I haven't been super happy with it in the last few I've done

@dorsalguide3205 3 жыл бұрын

my interest started as a child, I was in love but at the same time didn't know it, and later forgot about it and pass some years, but when i was 13 all of the sudden i got the feeling to watch mermaid stuff and PUM. that how now I'm so interested into mermaiding and hope i can get a mermaid tail

@GloobyIsAmazingYes Жыл бұрын

Wow, thanks! I used to be a BIG FAN and just recently found out that this dream has never left my brain! 😅. So, it’s good to know before I start saving up for my first simple tail! Thanks again! ❤

@rachelrose4691 3 жыл бұрын

It's been so long since I've seen a video with 0 thumbs up, well deserved. Love you and your content 💖💖💖

@blanketthief3251 2 жыл бұрын

My first tail was an impulse buy after being super jealous of a girl who had one. I’ve been hooked ever since.

@realtamermaid6353 2 жыл бұрын

I love your videos! They are so much fun! I am completely new to mermaiding and I can't wait to get started, thank you for all the info it is so helpful! :)

@themostrandombird 3 жыл бұрын

Im plainning on opening a mermaid school in Orlando this is very helpful advice

@starfirebird3099 3 жыл бұрын

neat! I'm from around there

@damaribrown5638 3 жыл бұрын

I can't wait 💜

@mikeysrose 2 жыл бұрын

I enjoyed being in the pool as a kid but never learned how to swim properly. I had severe chronic ear infections as a kid, and when I was 9 I had an operation where tiny tubes were put into my ears to help with fluid drainage. My doctor told me I couldn't get water in my ears or I would get an ear infection, so I grew up with the mindset of water in ears = ear infection, and haven't been under the water since (I'm now 34). As a result, I never learned to swim, and I still detest the sensation of my ears being underwater. 😕 Now I'm watching all these mermaid videos and wistfully dreaming...

@calicalico318 3 жыл бұрын

Man, living in a small town really sucks. I can’t find anyone in my area and it’s not from a lack of trying and I just lost my swim partner (who wasn’t into mermaiding, but liked traditional swimming)

@priscillafalcao3985 2 жыл бұрын

SAME I have literally no one to be in my "pod" so it's kinda lonely

@calicalico318 2 жыл бұрын

Priscilla Falcao ;-;

@priscillafalcao3985 2 жыл бұрын

@@calicalico318 wut

@AnnieCheungXo 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your experiences, I watched many mermaid videos for researched before I brought my first tail.

@dorothy2280 2 жыл бұрын

Lol a tiny part of me wishes I got into mermaiding sooner, but I'm definitely thankful to have started now. You guys went through the hoops and I'm glad I can learn from y'all, and also, we have so much more options now. Hahaha

@peigirl23 3 жыл бұрын

Yay! You saw the top of my head lol! Great video, Faith! You're so MERmazing!

@GreekMermaidSophia4L 3 жыл бұрын

Love this video! I love being a mermaid I did grow up swimming in my pool with my bestie playing mermaids and never knew till last year about the tails and everything. I unfortunately did buy a knock off tail/ fin and the fabric got ruin after one swim plus the straps broke on my fin. Now I'm a mertailor fanatic lol I love mermaiding though. I did get lucky and met a professional mermaid in my area whose a sweet heart and I'm now part of her pod and she's part of mine. ( Rolling Mers and Northern Indiana Mer-pod ) plus I started following and watching you, mermaid Zelda, Melissa, Hannah and whatever circus siren videos I could find. I love the mer-community I have found and can't wait to meet more at MerMagicCon! I can't wait!!! I hope we get to meet 🙂💗🧜‍♀️

@persephonegonzales6506 2 жыл бұрын

Just bought my first tail ever your video defiently helped me decide if I wanted tonget into mermaiding. I can't wait for the summer when I get to finally swim in it

@Mermaid_Pearl22 14 күн бұрын

i love all your advice and review videos thanks for making them

@prettybird1978 2 жыл бұрын

I was 33 when I got my first tail. I spent exactly 2 min wondering if I was to old to be doing it. Then I decided that I owed it to myself to do what makes me happy.

@stitchlovesart Жыл бұрын

I grew up near the beach and for as long as I remembered I loved mermaids and Im currently 11 and when now I have 4 mermaid tails all from finfun so yea, and my one friends does mermaiding with me.

@gooseblue4906 3 жыл бұрын

OMG THIS HELPS SO MUCH U ARE AMAZING!

@makaylaschannel8656 3 жыл бұрын

I love love merpeople and also I think I fell in love with that kinds of stuff when h2o came on Disney when I was younger and also maybe other stuff too (:

@jaydavis579 2 жыл бұрын

yeah i bought a knockoff finfun tail from wish when i was around twelve and the monofin snapped underwater and i had to spend 20 minutes looking for the plastic piece lol,, it’s definitely safer and better to save for an actual finfun one

@dragonsoul7651 2 жыл бұрын

I'm 45 years old. The oldest "beginner" i think. But... i't so fun and nice. Greetings from switzerland.

@cassicraft 3 жыл бұрын

Firstly mermazing video Nerdmaid, and I hope you dont mind me pursuing helpful advice here. Im from Australia and ive been trying to get into the Mer world. I ordered a finfolk fabric tail and have tried ordering the Linden TWICE on amazon US, both shipments have been lost in transit and im absolutely devastated. If anyone knows where else i can buy it, preferably within Oz, id be so grateful for any advice.

@morgansings5737 3 жыл бұрын

Could you make a video with your bf and two about how being a mermaid has affected your relationship

@lydiatheglimmermaid 2 жыл бұрын

This is so helpful!

@yula6618 2 жыл бұрын

Used to have a mermaid tail as a kid….. Good old memories 😌

@KENZIE_ISBETTER 3 жыл бұрын

i started mermnmaiding when i was 8 and im 13 now and have 4 tail and i love the finfun finfolk and

@ifeedonpeoplesfailure2123 3 жыл бұрын

i know i’m 7 hours late but i love your videos

@valaceleste7822 3 жыл бұрын

Yes

@kalypsodeepsea982 3 жыл бұрын

Okay, I now know what to do! *goes to Mermaids of Canada* 🧜🏼‍♀️

@kenziehurlock 2 жыл бұрын

I'm not a strong swimmer. Is this something I should worry about before I get a tail? I can swim fine, but I'm not like super good. I tire out fairly quickly. I'm not good at swimming laps. I enjoy swimming, but I'm not super skilled at it. Is it recommended to try swimming with just monofin by itself before putting on a tale?

@aljonlorenzo5868 3 жыл бұрын

my sister love that wow

@iflykaya 3 жыл бұрын

How to find other merfolk if you aren’t old enough for social media: force your brother to try by getting him a tail, force your friend to come to the lake/pool with you, force your other friend to try by getting her a tail. BAM POD OF CHILDREN

@HeartOfArt7 3 жыл бұрын

To be honest, I can't quite say what exactly got me interested in mermaiding and I've only got into it recently, by which I mean last year's summer. I loved fairies and mermaids ever since I was a little kid, but I don't think that was the reason why mermaiding appealed to me. I've seen videos of woman swimming dressed up as mermaids before, but I always thought these people were specially trained for such performances. I never thought that "normies" could do that as well. And since I've always loved swimming and especially diving, I just decided to check out Courtney's videos that were recommended to me here on KZfaq. That's how I got interested in mermaiding. And now I own a mermaid tailskin, Fin Fun's Amp, their Pacific Pearl leggings and yesterday, I also ordered a pretty blue tankini top by them and their Deep Sea Green leggings. I love my tailskin and its colors, but after swimming with it in our pool for the very first time, I quickly realized that mermaiding - at least for me - isn't about actually looking like a beautiful mermaid. I'm really into the sporty and workout aspect of mermaiding, as swimming with a monofin on is just so much hecking fun. I love the speed and the power you get and I already thought about purchasing a bigger monofin like the hydra some time in the future, which will give me even more power. So, rather than putting on pretty make-up, jewelry and a fancy tailskin, I just put on my beloved scale leggings (if even), make my hair into a practical ponytail and put on my goggles and then I'm ready to go ^^🧜🏻‍♀️💕

@NerdmaidFaith 3 жыл бұрын

This is a great story! And if you're looking for sport/nyoom the finis shooter is my FAVE

@HeartOfArt7 3 жыл бұрын

@@NerdmaidFaith Thanks for the tip 😉

@leiregarcia485 2 жыл бұрын

Faith where you can buy a cheap silicone mermaid tail????

@uglytelevision 3 жыл бұрын

I once had one of those finfolk knock-offs before I knew it was a knockoff. It was so bad. The vinyl for the monofin always slipped around and cut my ankles. The flippers (yes seperate flippers, not even a monofin) were terrible and the straps broke immediately. And the there were no drainage holes so the fluke bubbled up and became so heavy that the tail would just slide back down my legs. All in all, it was $100aud and it was terrible.

@thalia2584 3 жыл бұрын

Fun times!

@lori5774 2 жыл бұрын

Finnally! I am out of the pining stage! I got a monofin!

@MsLuckyLucario 3 жыл бұрын

I got involved in mermaiding right before the whole corona virus hit... And now all the pools are closed 😭 I have my tail ready, but only used the monofin itself till now in water.

@handsomeswing7861 3 жыл бұрын

I have a Sun tail but the monofin is cracked and I AM getting a new one in the mail. My grandma tried to repear it but Think you have to use flex tap or Grela Tape or your gonna fail. MY grandma is NOT going to pay $20 for Flex Tape. The tap we used always repped. So I yeeted it into the trash. It was on of the older monofins so the plasek was pretty hard.

@AmbeertjeNL 3 жыл бұрын

I am exided 😍🥰

@johncarstens5400 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, I saw you video about being a light techie and I was wondering how one gets hired by a theater? And how to learn to be a light techie?

@NerdmaidFaith 3 жыл бұрын

That was for a highschool show, but after that I took a college course in Audio Visual, then started working as a General Technician at various AV companies, building up my skillset and resume.

@johncarstens5400 3 жыл бұрын

@@NerdmaidFaith Thx for the reply! Really helps.

@KENZIE_ISBETTER 3 жыл бұрын

yes\

@sophya7692 3 жыл бұрын

I wish I could do that but here in Portugal I can't even 1 group 😔

@mermaidlilac 3 жыл бұрын

My story is very personal because of where I how I grew up on I was gonna write you in a letter about it I don't know if you do still Receiving letters because I've been struggling with the pressure in anxiety again if I do I keep getting distracted I guess to where I don't have time for mermaiding but if I have that opportunity to put on a tail again just be myself I would love that I'm trying to find The old me..

@ariesdork5283 2 жыл бұрын

Lmao I love your sister, she’s awesome 😂

@whatisthisfor 2 жыл бұрын

i had a mermaid tail and it was a knock off and it broke while i was swimming and i was in the deep side so i had to do and emergency get out i almost drowned

@BurntSpaggetti 2 жыл бұрын

I'm pretty sure in my country your not allowed to wear tails at pools😢😢

@lesbonheursdesiggy76 2 жыл бұрын

hello it is possible to put the translation in French on your videos thank you ❤️

@riah4320 10 ай бұрын

I'm 30 and I just bought my first tail

@stephaniehewitt7483 Жыл бұрын

You get more exercise swing with a mermaid tail than with your legs separated

@everythingcat2885 3 жыл бұрын

I bought a tail right before quarantine and then the pandemic hit and so I haven't been able to try it out ;-;

@jan___e8315 2 жыл бұрын

Um the one that I bought literally looks like one of the photos of don't unsafe😭

@StarStrikerTheDragon 3 жыл бұрын

barbie is what made me love crazy fancy finned mermaid tails

@mygingerlife8688 10 ай бұрын

it is called a Porsha

@priscillafalcao3985 2 жыл бұрын

How did u meet other people who like it to :///

@Roses6858 Жыл бұрын

I grew into my horse faze when I was 13 and then grew into my mermaid faze and I'm 15. Before that I pretty much liked to dress as disney princesses

@wolfpony8293 3 жыл бұрын

I want to learn to swim in a mermaid tail however there are Soo many problems that I don't see my self being able to learn.

@moonshineaudios5740 2 жыл бұрын

WIt’s alright, don’t give up on your eggs before they hatch! I’m terribly asthmatic and have a barrage of breathing and lung issues for I don’t even know how to swim well yet! But I’m going for classes and still purchasing a mermaid tail and fursuit :) because life’s way too short to let the fear of what could be hold you back from what you love

@wolfpony8293 2 жыл бұрын

@@moonshineaudios5740 I am trying somewhat. I really want to learn but money trouble and mental problems is what is holding me back. I don't/can't work for personal reasons. I've been waiting years to be able to do Soo but still can't even thinking about going to the bottom off the barrel for money. As for fursuit, omg If you don't mind I would love to see our character that your going to base to suit off of. I am planning to be a maker one off those day..... Hopefully

@marknelson4361 3 жыл бұрын

Can I became a mermaid too

@rougeakane 3 жыл бұрын

I’ve been a mermaid since 2014 :D Edit: omg I was the poetic “mY hEArT iS cOnNeCtED tO tHe sEaaaaa”

@StarStrikerTheDragon 2 жыл бұрын

I want to start mermaiding but my parents are like no you are too old but right now I'm younger than when you started

@jeanettecarnell8933 7 ай бұрын

Have always pretendedto be a mermaid,weather in water or on rocks...lol,never grew out of it..,have mono fin,just need the skin, found a red sling tail,bur by time saved money gone off site...one day maybe.

@AmbeertjeNL 3 жыл бұрын

Are here so mermaids from The Netherlands?

@BlueeyedEMOgorl 2 жыл бұрын

My great grandma got me a knowckogf

@nicolejmdurand624 2 жыл бұрын

I live in South Africa can you pls send a mermaid tail P.S I love your videos and a 13 year old size mermaid tail

@terencebradshaw4044 3 жыл бұрын

It happened in 2018 and I won a biding war for a h2o tail from the show

@NerdmaidFaith 3 жыл бұрын

That is awesome! I had wondered if they ever auctioned off the props!

@CraftyTan 3 жыл бұрын

Look into Atlantis, starseeds Sirius

@corinnecoyle4513 3 жыл бұрын

All my fAmily says its stupid and for kids so I'm What to do😭

@aljonlorenzo5868 3 жыл бұрын

she want sam blue and i what to say dad is soooo colorful and beautiful

@RyanByan 3 жыл бұрын

lol My lakes are so damn filthy that you can't see your hand in front of you when you go under, where I live there are no pools, so it appears I'll have a little bit more trouble figuring this mermaid thing out.