The Truth About Sequin & Plastic Scaled Mermaid Tails
The Truth About Sequin & Plastic Scaled Mermaid Tails


I’ve gotten several requests and suggestions that Mertailor should produce a sequin tail or a tail with individual sequin type scales. My answer is simply “NO”.


In my professional opinion, there’s nothing “eco” friendly about sequin or plastic scaled mermaid tails whatsoever.


While these mermaid tails might look pretty, they aren’t practical for underwater use in natural environments.


Mermaid tails, tops, and accessories with individual sequins “shed their scales”, will fall straight to the bottom of the ocean, lake, or freshwater spring.


Regardless, if the sequin or plastic pieces are made from recycled plastics, the “scales” will still fall off, not solving the "eco-friendly" part. Even if you were about to create a biodegradable sequin scale (Let's not even suggest sugar. Goodness knows Florida is having its own politics about sugar), would you want to see them laying around all over the ocean floor for years before it disintegrated?


Take it from someone who has seen this first hand. My history of working as a costume designer for the Mermaids of Weeki Wachee, had me creating many garments with sequins on them. I can't tell you how many sequins and beads have fallen behind the stage top over the years that just sit there! If you’ve ever dove Weeki Wachee Springs, you know what I’m talking about.


Years ago I use to train mermaids to swim in aquariums. These venues would not allow sequin mermaid tails, tops, or beaded accessories of any kind. Management and zooologists feared the animals in the aquariums would swallow and choke on the prices.


Did you know that a airline recently banned mermaid tails from traveling with sequins or individual plastic scales on them?


If you wanted to have one of these mermaid tails for “dry” performances or on-land photoshoots, that’s a different story, but I personally wouldn’t be swimming in them. Not in the ocean, lake, river, aquarium or freshwater spring.


I’m sure many individuals will not agree with my point of view, but it’s true and you know it. Please understand I’m not saying not to use these mermaid tails, but to think about where you use them! These mermaid tails should be used in a controlled environment such as a swimming pool or studio photo shoot! Not 30,000 leagues under the sea or your next beach outing!


I’m not perfect and I’m sure I’ve made a few things in my career that I could have constructed better, but we live and we learn.


With that said, our mermaid and merman tails are made from silicone rubber, spandex, and neoprene materials. Our scales will not fall off our our tails! No scale shedding to see here.


Thanks for reading and consider this!


Eric Ducharme, "The Mertailor"


PS: I don't care who you are or how you're going looking at this. If you're swimming with a sequin tail or plastic scaled mermaid tail, you're tail is GOING TO shed. You know, I know, everyone knows it. It's not a secret. It's going to happen. We're already having an issue with State Parks and public swimming pools "banning" mermaid tails. The next excuse they have to banning mermaid tails is going to be caused by the breakdown of these types of tails. Just think about it....