How To Detect A Two Way Mirror [Fingernail Test]

[@slayer8actual]

Imagine putting your phone flashlight against a "mirror" to test if it's a two-way, and instead of seeing just a hollow space on the other side of the glass, you see a face looking back at you.

[@JasonAizatoZemeckis]

Bro I would probably punch it because I was so scared

[@brickster000]

​@@JasonAizatoZemeckisFr this guy just gave me a new fear

[@Michael-fw9xb]

If I ever build a house I'm gonna install a 2 way window with a little space behind it and place a clown head there.

[@camerantherollermain]

yyyep, that’s a horror movie scenario!

[@Egerit100]

​@@SpaceBugFoodI don't get what you mean by this

[@ratsumatra3003]

Your information saved my nephew at his new place. He felt really creepy about the landlord where he started renting a room. Every time he went to the bathroom the landlord ran to his own room which connected walls. I told him to look at your video and he did. It ended up being a two-way mirror. Unfortunately the mirror suffered an accident once he noticed. We have moved him out and the police are investigating.

[@Rosesraspberries72]

Creepy 😮

[@Neptune8]

Should have sued , you have a guaranteed right to privacy when renting and could probably get all your money back in court. I’d say talk to a lawyer

[@tinak.3022]

That’s so creepy. I’m glad you sent him this video and saved him from whatever this creep had planned.

[@moe47988]

how would he know the landlord ran to his room, was he living in the same house with the tenant? are you making this story up?

[@ratsumatra3003]

@@moe47988 My nephew said anytime any of the guys (male tenants) went to the bathroom the landlord ran to his room. Would literally drop the conversation and haul ass to his bedroom. The house rules were also weird. Females only the living room and out by 7pm, well ok. Dude was encouraging the guys to use the pool naked. He walked around in skimpy clothing that a man in his 70s really shouldn't and drinks all around for everyone. Fawning over them. Creepy. If you get a red flag...if your gut says something is wrong don't wait. Either confirm your suspicion, walk or I guess you might live with it. I wont stay in a spot that makes me uncomfortable. I'm proud of my nephew. This specific video helped him and I appreciate the help and information provided. Edit Yes the landlord lives on site in the master bedroom, it's a four bedroom house.

[@doomyboi]

Another method that you didn't mention but I found out just a few minutes ago is that when you go knocking on your mirror, if it's one-way it'll say "That's not a 2 way mirror." Really put me at ease.

[@rifahtasneem87]

Bruhhh

[@H87-u5o]

😂😂

[@roflcopterfan57normal150]

💀

[@a64738]

Because mirrors never lie?

[@kellydalstok8900]

@@a64738 no. Just watch Snow White.

[@sandsleeper3124]

Two way mirrors are darker than regular mirrors because some light passes through which reduces the amount of light that is reflected back. You should be able to spot a two way mirror right away if a reflection of a wall or an object is darker than the actual wall or object. If you are alone in a bathroom you could do the finger check, but if you are in somebody's office or conference room you should be able to know if there is a two way mirror without an overt display of mistrust.

[@doktormcnasty]

If you're in a police interrogation room it's ALWAYS a two-way mirror.

[@rageagainstthehygiene2357]

Looking from a dark room into a bright room, it can just be a couple percent though. It is always going to be instrument-detectable, but it won't be detectable to your eye. Also, mirrors are naturally lossy and reflect maybe 95% of light incident on them, absorbing the rest. So your method just doesn't work. You can't just look at a mirror and tell if it is a slightly lossy regular mirror or a mirror that is letting 5% of the light through to another room.

[@TheRaeffel]

That is true but you should keep in mind that regular mirrors are also darker than the actual objects due to bad reflectivity. I recommend to calibrate your perception with mirrors you can trust.

[@rageagainstthehygiene2357]

@@TheRaeffel You can't "calibrate your perception" because every mirror has a different coefficient of reflection. They lose different amounts of light.

[@theflexistentialist]

^ Now that’s a good tip

[@smexijebus]

I've found the best way to determine whether the mirror is a true mirror or a two way mirror is to break it. I've always been able to tell after inspecting the shards. Highly recommend trying this at any and every instance. Remember, bad luck multiplied by bad luck equals good luck.

[@murray821]

Broken mirrors only give bad luck if you cut yourself. Other than cleaning up its not that big of a deal

[@chrisantoniou4366]

You don't need to inspect the shards, just look for the gaping hole in the wall behind the mirror!

[@9nikola]

@@chrisantoniou4366 What if there is no hole in the wall? How are you supposed to find out if it's a two-way mirror then?

[@chrisantoniou4366]

@@9nikola If there's NO hole in the wall behind it, it doesn't matter if it's a two way mirror or not, no one will be able to see through the wall!

[@wiktorkw881]

​@@chrisantoniou4366what if it's a 2-way wall? I'd suggest destroying it too and inspecting the rubble just to make sure

[@bladder1010]

As a paranoid schizophrenic, I find this most useful!

[@OpticalMirror]

Thank you!

[@valindro8563]

Same I did this today because I was scared in a rent house and all the mirrors are my finger touching and I’m scared if there is a camera

[@Handles-R-Lame]

@@seb8613 not cool pal. Dont assume things. I clearly saw the demostration, did you?

[@chalk9238]

@@seb8613 there’s proof everywhere, this works. Please don’t say stuff like this, do research before you worry people for no reason.

[@chalk9238]

@@FuckHandlez that isn’t funny, or cool. Just stop man.

[@nef36]

The biggest issue with the fingernail trick is that a glass pane can easily be put in front of the mirror to provide a space for anyone attempting the fingernail trick. Like others have said, the best method is to use some sort of light and see if the light hits something on the other side. People have said use a flashlight, a pen laser, etc, i say use every method when you're in an unfamiliar place, and if you're even 5% suspicious, cover the mirror when you're not shaving or putting on makeup or something. (A note about the pen laser test: the reflection of the laser (and also a flashlight) on the bathroom walls will be darker than the reflection from a one way mirror, so even if you can't see anything be illuminated on the other side, a darker laser reflection might provide that 5% chance for you to cover it up It's also worth mentioning that two way mirrors aren't their only trick if they're using cameras, so if you suspect a two way mirror, then it's probably best practice to treat the entire hotel room/air bnb as surveilled.

[@BusinessWolf1]

None of the tests mentioned are 100%. If you are not a lazy prick, go to a hardware store, get the highest lumen flashlight you can find. Ideally a spot light, not an area light. And just blast the fucking thing. Even if it doesn't work, the sound of the reaction of the person on the other side will be a clue, or if you check on them and they can't see that well or at all.

[@tobbcittobbcit8899]

Or you just grab a big ass hammer smash it and replace with your own mirror.

[@gavinjenkins899]

Lol don't just "cover the mirror" and forget about it, call the police, push and find out more, etc..

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

nef36 if youre in a hotel/air bnb and you suspect a two way mirror, the room wouldnt be surveilled. Surveilled is past tense. You mean the room is BEING surveilled.

[@megapet777]

Imagine using 100k lumen flashlight to check the mirror. I think that would have enough power to see if its real or not xD

[@ObeyCamp]

My friend taught me this trick when we were in like 4th grade and I didn't believe it was a real method for detecting a 2-way mirror. It stuck with me all these years because I thought it sounded so strange. Now, almost 30 years later, I find out it's 100% legit? Weeeiiird. You were right, AJ.

[@-mv]

Why would a pair of 4th graders discuss two way mirrors?

[@Roadent1241]

​@@-mvIt's amazing what comes up in films and TV XP

[@copiagueeagle]

AJ the 🐐

[@timmiller1]

What if the guy you just watched in this video is AJ all grown up and he’s still pushing the same old fake mirror test?

[@hartwarg3051]

AJ is owed a Coke plus years of interest

[@chrisantoniou4366]

The only certain way of detecting that you have a two-way mirror is the flachlight test, but even then there are limitations in the sense that the owner of the mirror can put a black panel on the back of the two way mirror and remove this panel when he wants to see you. Also, there is no guarantee that if the mirror looks legit, the whole mirror is legit. It may be that all but a small portion is legitimate, so check the WHOLE mirror! Finally, the fact thta the mirror is part of the wall and can't be removed is also an indication there is something to hide. The "bottom line" is if you suspect a two way mirror, cover it up with something opaque!

[@Serai3]

If there's doubt, just cover the mirror. Nobody NEEDS to have a mirror in a certain place.

[@greatbriton8425]

That's a good point - a mirror built into the wall is usually a two-way mirror.

[@MarinMixes]

and frigging call the cops

[@godrilla5549]

I prefer the hammer approuch.

[@jvallas]

That's what occurred to me - cover it up at all times but when you just need to use it momentarily for seeing your face. Of course, this wouldn't work in a conference room-type situation. But at least someone isn't likely to be looking at a naked me in a conference room! 😁

[@adamb89]

Keychain laser is the best way to tell if it's a mirror or not. Press the laser right up to the glass and turn it on. If you see no dot, it's a regular mirror. A 2-way mirror, you'd see the laser hitting something on the other side. Edit: I suppose you could use your cell phone's flash too. Turn it on, press it to the glass, see if it illuminates anything on the other side.

[@enricofermi3471]

For extra points, wait until you think someone may be watching you and use an illegally powerful aliexpress laser. Just remember to shut your eyes tightly. If it is actualy two-way, you will know it when one of your neighbours / roommates or lanlord suddenly become legally blind.

[@Zuckerkome]

@@enricofermi3471 I prefer to use a M249 light machine gun and spray the mirror until it is gone. If you hear screaming you know it's a two-way mirror. If you see a wall, you just got a zero-way mirror for free.

[@nicolaidepue3970]

@@Zuckerkomemy personally, a 150 ton tungsten cube traveling at roughly 0.9999c is the only way to eliminate any chance of a two-way mirror.

[@arandomcommenter412]

@@nicolaidepue3970That would be 852590.576 terajoules. Or equivalent to a 56.839 megaton explosion, so about the explosive power of the tsar bomba. I don’t think that’s enough, I think you might need something a bit more powerful?

[@nicolaidepue3970]

@@arandomcommenter412 My dude, a 150 ton tungsten cube traveling at 99.99% speed of light is 14.8 billion terajoules. This would be equivalent to 3.55 million megatons or roughly 71 thousand Tsar Bombas (check my math and you'll find I have done it correctly) concentrated on the utter disappearance of the two-way mirror, the men behind it, and the CIA interrogator. I know that isn't a lot, but I run into two-way mirrors very often and have to conserve energy for the arrival.

[@lil----lil]

An even easier way and 100% accurate is the cellphone camera test. Place your cell phone DIRECTLY on top with your camera on. Anything other than a solid backing (like a real mirror with those grayish paint) will be instantly revealed on screen - regardless how dark the tint or good the mirror finish is. Learned this from counterterrorism.

[@garymitchell5899]

People in custody often don't have their phone, but luckily they do have their fingers.

[@lil----lil]

@@garymitchell5899 If you're already in police custody they'd be your last concern.

[@jacobvolcheck4510]

Not unless the paint is vanta black

[@AkaSora96]

@@garymitchell5899 if you are in custody might as well assume every mirror is a 2 way mirror

[@lil----lil]

@@AkaSora96 Exactly.

[@kurtmuns]

Glass and plastic can be coated on the back side to be a two way mirror and give a gap when doing the fingernail test. The phone flashlight test is the more definitive. Front coated mirrors are an issue because scratches remove the reflective coating.

[@Fiufsciak]

​@@fredthe47thGreat job, Fred! I'm sure the guy now curses "those meddling kids"! You've really outdone yourself!

[@Fiufsciak]

@@fredthe47th Ah, yes, I meant the Fred over there. I'm sarcastic af, not clever. And neither are you, Fred.

[@phutureproof]

Yea he said that in the video

[@arandomcommenter412]

@@fredthe47thshut up Fred

[@LordVader1094]

@@Fiufsciak No, you're not sarcastic. Just retarded.

[@turtlethiefyt3871]

Or just show a middle finger at the mirror and wait till someone shouts at you.

[@Skoolitz]

Perfect

[@fiorella6596]

I just did it my dad screamed

[@docmartens101]

Hehe

[@foxonnug2039]

Lol

[@Eidel_Rose]

Haha that’s smart

[@samTollefson]

I have found that my method works very well every time, it involves the aggressive use of a hammer! The hammer is also handy if you find a peeping tom behind the mirror.

[@JohnMiller-zr8pl]

The ol' trustee hammer.

[@trueno8663]

😂

[@Nika-ig9zi]

Hitting it with a hammer is a good solution to a lot of problems 😂

[@cuckoobrain7999]

Probably best to bring a whole tool box so it doesn't look like you only had it for self defence (Idk, not a lawyer lol)

[@larrybruce4856]

Won't you get 7 years bad luck breaking the mirror ???

[@kungazopa2831]

Seems a good idea to cover any mirror with cloth or by placing a large item in front of it (like a suitcase etc) when staying in an ABnB, motel or hotel. Better safe than worry. If you need the mirror for shaving or makeup or checking your outfit etc., you can always take the covering down being fully clothed first.

[@segevstormlord3713]

I mean, one way to be sure that it isn't a spy mirror - regardless of whether it COULD be used that way due to material construction - is to ask yourself what's behind it. In most hotels I've been in, the only mirrors are in the bathroom and on dressers, or are closet doors. The bathroom mirrors are almost always on the wall that has the hallway on the other side; anybody spying on you through that would have to fit inside the wall, somehow. Dresser mirrors are generally free-standing and you can look behind them to see the wall. And closet mirrors, aside from usually having the closet back onto the bathroom, would have to have somebody hiding in the closet to take advantage of it being a spy window. So, really, you only need to be careful if the mirror is built into/fastened to the wall in a way that would make it destructive to remove it and examine the wall behind it, _and_ the other side of the wall could reasonably house a place for somebody to sit and view. Unless they're using hidden cameras, but at that point, it's not the mirror that's the concern.

[@segevstormlord3713]

@@mal2ksc Precisely.

[@ralphm6901]

You can buy panels of acrylic plastic with a mirror surface. Just hang a sheet over any suspicious mirror, then hang your own acrylic mirror in front of that to shave, do makeup, or whatever, You could also use a glass mirror tile, but acrylic wont break anything like as easily as glass.

[@protorhinocerator142]

As if anyone shaves with clothing on.

[@windy8544]

@@protorhinocerator142 maybe people that are scared of someone spying on their moobs do

[@rustybucket2248]

All the fingernail test is telling you is whether you are dealing with a First surface mirror (light encounters reflecting surface “first” before Substrate (Glass, acrylic…))commonly used in optics) or a “back silvered” mirror (light must pass through glass before it encounters a reflecting surface) most common mirror material in use. cheap digital cameras are replacing two way mirrors in every application where it matters.

[@Gandhi_Physique]

Yeah, when I think about it, it would be so easy to set up a hidden camera without needing a mirror. Tiny cameras are cheap, just find a way to hide to wiring and drill a small hole. Scary to think about tbh but most wouldn't go that far.

[@edwardmitchell6581]

@@Gandhi_Physique There was a video about someone who clears hotel rooms in South Korea, as a profession. He had lights he'd hold near his eye and shine around to see if they bounced off tiny lenses.

[@Gandhi_Physique]

@@edwardmitchell6581 That sounds interesting. I'll search for it thanks. Oh wow, seems like a serious issue in South Korea. I knew it could be bad yikes.

[@bonniepawson8840]

My family stayed at a B&B. We arrived around 1 in the morning and had a coin toss to which room we would get. I won the toss to sleep on a futon in a closed in sunporch with a big bay window. In the morning. I saw an amazing view out the bay window of some mountain's. While looking around I noticed a 12 x 12 framed into the wall at the end of the bed a mirror. I did these tests on it and sure enough, it was a two way. I looked to see if I could find what room was on the other side and it turned out to be a craw space under some stairs. Surprise. There was a video camera set up looking through that two way mirror. This guy knows his stuff. Don't be afraid to try it if you think your being spied on.

[@mjbalbo]

What did you do when you found out?

[@monejohn9973]

Well I hope u called the police 😅not just waste our time

[@tashuntka]

I call Bull Shit...

[@socalimermaid]

Saw a video on Tik tok with a camera behind a dressing room mirror. Ive always been one to try to peek through thinking someone is watching me undress lol but I was way off. Thanks for the tips!

[@OpticalMirror]

Thanks for letting me know about the tik tok two way mirror! Scary stuff. I'll definitely check it out!

[@socalimermaid]

Oh youre welcome! Im sure youll get lots more views soon because of it haha.

[@brunohplemos]

vm.tiktok.com/pbQdq2/

[@isiahkvd8683]

same, it has creeped me out a bit

[@messymelon2513]

socalimermaid came from that vid actually 😆

[@doe9de995]

Usually, it's not hard to detect a 2-way mirror. 1. There usually in places that a regular mirror would look out of place. 2. Unless there's a bright light right next to it you can usually make out shapes on the other side if you take a second to look.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

Good information! We've all heard about creepy motels and creepy landlords. Everyone should know this and test every mirror that could be a two-way. Thanks James!

[@TresPalmer]

You needed to show us the phone flashlight test on the standard mirror for comparison. If we were able to see if the light penetrates through to the other side of the mirror, then we could just go to the other side of the mirror to see if we can see through it.

[@therealjetlag]

I think his point is that it will reflect if it’s one way. There was no reflected light on that 2-way mirror.

[@enginepy]

I agree that part wasn’t explained or shown well

[@protorhinocerator142]

Carry around a rechargeable 1 million lumen spotlight. Hold it up to the glass at point A, and look through the glass at point B.

[@Pressity1]

Old mirrors will tend to have bubbles because the glass production wasn’t quite as perfect a century ago. They also tend to have some waves in the glass. Had an original bathroom mirror in a place that was built in the 1920’s, and grew up with my great grandmother’s vanity dresser from the 1920’s or 1930’s and they both had some bubbles and waves.

[@phaedrapage4217]

Old glass is wavy because of the effects of gravity on a liquid.

[@puff7145]

@@phaedrapage4217 Glass is not a liquid.

[@MrNotBot]

@@puff7145 Back to school with you.

[@puff7145]

@@MrNotBot If you don't know what a liquid is, you didn't get very far in school

[@MrNotBot]

@@puff7145 Sigh, have you ever heard of vitrification? Glass is made by melting the silica and quenching it in it's desired shape. And molten glass is indeed a liquid. Even today some really precise mirrors and lenses are made by dropping the silica liquid on a spinning surface. Did you perhaps think that glassware is made through machining, just like you would process a steel billet?

[@RealButcher]

As a dentist, I insisted on mirrors (for in your mouth) that reflects straight away, they have coated glass and only one reflection. All "normal" dental mouth mirrors have the reflection in the back of the glass, thus giving 2 reflections. Hope I'm clear. Those are terribleto work with, but very cheap.

[@Handles_arent_a_needed_feature]

Youd think they could just buff up a disc of metal til it just reflected

[@Martinit0]

Such front-coated mirrors are also what is used in scientific setups for exactly the same reason: a backside coated mirror will have a 4% intensity ghost reflection from the front side.

[@genera1013]

When you have a medicine cabinet, but you still do the tests out of paranoia

[@OpticalMirror]

Absolutely!

[@ashleyobrien4830]

Literally just did that lol before I read this I was like..hmm lemme try

[@Yhirmirs_Basement]

there in the walls

[@shashipancholi]

Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you !

[@Richard-wp6ep]

There could be a small camera in between door and glass

[@calypsq]

After this video I have been checking all mirrors even in my house

[@OpticalMirror]

Glad to know we helped!

[@waqasahmed939]

@@OpticalMirror Didn't help here. I tried the fingernail test with a portable mirror, and it didn't apply

[@stupidgay4493]

nobody: nobody at all: me: finds out 2 way mirrors exist and gets paranoid with every mirror and now knocks on every mirror i come by just to make sure

[@OpticalMirror]

Same.

[@praveenupadhyay6807]

@Dakota Patterson Me too .....

[@strawberryshorecake3187]

Same or do the finger nail test

[@cleyoyo]

Thank you so much for letting me know about this. This made me more aware if someone is watching me through a mirror, especially when I am in a dressing room. Subscribed!

[@OpticalMirror]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jonibarton]

I thought that was the point, having two way mirrors or cameras was something used in dressing rooms.

[@moe47988]

If he only he understood the technology of off-site backups, which have only existed for the past decade or so. :( It sucks being so unprepared. A fire could have destroyed his memories too

[@dougsmith5873]

If you have to stay in a motel, there is usually a service hall behind the back wall. If there is a mirror on that wall and scratches on the back side of the mirror, you are not alone.

[@shayjones3381]

If anyone is not sure if your mirror is a two-way or not then put a curtain up to cover it and buy your own mirror and put it on another wall.

[@OpticalMirror]

That's a good way to handle it!

[@Serai3]

Or hang a picture in front of it.

[@elwan_]

or hang your mirror on the mirror

[@winzyl9546]

Or just "accidentally" break it

[@tosfriendly]

but the mirror i hung up myself does not pass the fingernail test! Almost like this video is bullshit

[@TentoesMe]

Ok. During 1st grade, we took a field trip to do an activity. This was quite exciting. The school bus took us somewhere and we were led into a big, white room with mirrors high on one wall. As they were telling us about the activity we were going to do, I said to Mike, "I bet there are people behind those mirrors." He thought I was nuts, as he often did, correctly. So I walked over and turned off the lights. Sure enough, there were people behind those mirrors! And then we were led back to the school bus and taken back to school.🥴

[@nothanks5846]

What was the activity? Sounds like it’s a good thing you didn’t get to participate…

[@TentoesMe]

@@nothanks5846 They never told us what we did not get to do because Tentoes turned off the lights😋 "Ain't I a stinker?"

[@andrewd7112]

Sounds like there was going to be a psychology or behavioral study and results became invalid when the kids knew they're being watched.

[@jamesfrederick99]

We were all a part of a psychological and behavioral experiment during the Plandemic. 😢 It was all smoke and *mirrors, but it did irreparable harm to so many millions. So glad I didn’t accept the false narrative or the arm stick. Still, very frustrating when everyone around you just blindly followed and wouldn’t listen to logic or question the nonsense.

[@nugsymalone1247]

@@andrewd7112 Yea that the school was probably getting reimbursed for had it played out. Kinda creepy

[@chasecarter8848]

Every mirror in my house failed the fingernail test, even hand mirrors and mirrors hung over doors. The only reliable test I know of is a bright light. My edc light will throw enough lumens through 2 ways to brightly illuminate the space beyond, but the fingernail thing seems to just be a good way to make yourself paranoid.

[@markb2714]

Same here. This video is going to do an excellent job making everyone think they're being spied on.

[@user-le8ul4nr5t]

The finger bail test is a great way to tell if a mirror is a first surface mirror or not. Sadly not every first surface mirror is a two way mirror and not every two way mirror is first surface.

[@nathanb7281]

Me too. I think there’s someone hiding in the door of my medicine cabinet!

[@electricfishfan]

Right? A more sensible precaution is to bring a flashlight whenever you go out, which is handy in countless average situations anyway, and to only worry about mirrors as one of many possible tells that a place is overall shady. Anywhere that’d go so far as to set up two-way mirrors is gonna certainly have cameras as well, so it’s pointless to agonize over this in particular.

[@Inkling777]

I wonder if there's another way a smartphone could be used to spot a two-way mirror. Turn on the flash, raise the exposure, and aim it off to the side rather than directly. That should not only expose a two-way mirror, it should take a picture of what is on the other side.

[@void________]

Take a photo

[@thecurrentmoment]

Take a mirror selfie - then it looks legit, bit you can also test it

[@8miceinabox]

It’s important to realize that some normal mirrors can fail the finger test. Surface mirrors (mirrors without glass in front of them) will not pass the finger test.

[@saiajin82]

James looks like someone that loves his job, cool vid dude.

[@Serai3]

I take it by "two-way mirror", you're talking about one-way glass. Meaning glass that is transparent when looked at from one side but reflective when looked at from the other. Yes? "Two-way mirror" just makes it sound like both surfaces are actual mirrors, and can't be seen through at all from any angle.

[@joshuafoster23]

With the mirror film on glass there wont be any bubbles or scratches if installed properly although its understandable to point out there might be bubbles or scratches(on the glass or film) it defintly takes a little prep work and practice to be able to apply mirror film properly without bubbles scracthes or bits of dust or particulate between the film and glass. Thanks for the video good sir.

[@CarbageMan]

If you knock on it, and someone says 'stop knocking on my window' you know it's a two-way mirror.

[@Sych_Hyich]

Thank you, James. I hope this information will never be useful to me, but in case it would, I will pray for you

[@billhill3526]

If you go into an interrogation room and it has a mirror, it's not there to check your face or hair. No need for the test. However, it is interesting. Maybe a motel room might have an odd mirror on a wall that is common to the next room. Good information.

[@edwardvictormartin7511]

Also, even what appears to be ordinary wall mirrors that are definitely just "hanging" could have a really tiny pinhole camera in it including hidden behind the mirror glass. Seriously. And be battery powered and recording locally onto a digital memory card onboard it or transmitting via RF or WiFi. I haven't heard of those being found in hotel rooms or airBNBs though that's definitely possible it's already being done. Pinhole cameras can be hidden just about anywhere, including in televisions inside a hotel room.

[@lukepav6533]

Wrong. The fingernail test will only tell you if you have a first or second surface mirror. The flashlight test may or may not work depending on the percentage of light a two way mirror passes. Yes, they vary. As mentioned in another comment, if only a small hole is passing light, you may never discover the two way area. The only absolute way to know is to remove the mirror and examine the uncovered wall.

[@tubedude54]

Better yet... get some alligator clips attached to suction cups and hang something in front of the mirror.

[@barryschwarz]

The limitations of the fingernail test were already covered in the video.

[@nfamus540]

I hope one day I can be as passionate about something as this man is about mirrors.

[@docmartens101]

Wow! I’m a kid and every time me and my mom are going to a mall or hotel, I’m gonna test that.

[@OpticalMirror]

Let us know if you find one!

[@653j521]

Until your mother tells you she's leaving you at home!

[@anduinlothar4003]

I tried the knocking technique in a mirror at the mall's department store and its effective found out that there is nothing in the other side but sadly the mirror is kinda expensive.

[@OpticalMirror]

Yes, can never be too careful at stores.

[@itsmejinxfromleagueolegendsrea]

Bruhhh don't tell me you actually broke the mirror

[@JohnMiller-zr8pl]

too much force 😬😁

[@sirennightshade4977]

The fingernail test is bupkiss. There's two kinds of mirrors: those that reflect on the surface, and those that reflect behind a pane of glass. It depends entirely on what it's made of, so whether or not your fingernail touches its own reflection isn't an indicator of anything. DON'T go nuts trying to figure out if your mirror is a two-way one or not just because of that. Just see if you can take it down. If not, move on to the flashlight test others have mentioned in the comments.

[@nurlindafsihotang49]

Because i have make up mirror that reflection dont passed the fingertip test, but from the back, it was painted by reflective coating.

[@OpticalMirror]

Good to know! Thank you for the info.

[@unclejoker9975]

As a child, I discovered and was intrigued by the fingernail thing and it would drive my mom nuts cleaning mirrors all of the time. While watching this video, I decided to do this in the bathroom for sentimental reasons. To my surprise, the medicine cabinet in my new apartment doesn't pass the fingernail test. It does have a solid backing just like picture frame does though. Despite that, you better believe I gave it a thorough investigation. 😅

[@graymatters7584]

I’ve seen so many “2-way” mirrors in my life, I can tell just by looking at one.

[@donelmore2540]

In the antique business, that’s how we tell if a mirror is modern or antique. If there is a substantial gap between your finger and the reflection, it’s an antique mirror, if it touches its reflection, it’s modern.

[@xerotolerant]

Interesting. Do you mean antique mirrors have a much larger gap? I ask because I’ve never encountered a mirror, modern or otherwise without that gap

[@randomjapsi]

​@@xerotolerantin a mirror there is a reflective material and a protective surface on top of it (usually) back then there wasnt really any way to create super thin pieces of glass or plastic to make the "gap" smaller. That is why no antique mirrors will lack a gap or at least I think

[@donelmore2540]

@@xerotolerant Yeah, evidently glass makers back in the day couldn’t or just didn’t make thin mirror glass. The thick glass make the reflection not touch your finger. On modern thin glass they touch or nearly touch.

[@jessechoi571]

@@donelmore2540 so this contradicts with the finger experiment in the video - as modern mirror shoes touch fingers

[@donelmore2540]

@@jessechoi571 I can only report the wisdom of the antique business. There is also a legend that you can date an antique chest of drawers by pulling the back off the mirror as the mirrors were dated on the back. Early in my antique career, I went to an antique show and saw a chest of drawers dated something like “made 7/3/1911”. I asked the guy how he could date it so precisely and he told me the mirror back was dated. I never pulled one off to check it though.

[@SamFams.]

Dude, it's 5:30 AM when I'm watching this. Why was this recommended to me?

[@gregferguson7737]

I am somewhat colour blind. Whenever I go into a store I can mostly see through their two way mirrors which I guess are the acrylic kinds. Probably if it was not lit on the other side that would not happen but maybe useful to someone?

[@Justjaywon]

When I did it I just realized that I just cut my figernail lol

[@OpticalMirror]

😂

[@iikxrriganii]

Bruh 😂😂😂

[@unknownuser4110]

Same bro.

[@oddlyspecificmath]

For people who've ever wondered at an old movie having someone hold a cigarette lighter up against a mirror...this is why.

[@navajoredpilled6028]

This is the MOST informative video I have seen thus far. And I've viewed a lot of 'em.

[@a.e.h.schannel3593]

So I went to my bathroom to see if I had a two way mirror I probably knew I didn’t have a two way mirror because this is my parents house so I tried it and used my fingernail and they were touching.😳😳😳😳😳

[@OpticalMirror]

Thanks for sharing! Both two way mirrors and first surface mirrors (often used for makeup) have the coating on the face of the glass.

[@lilydryer2354]

A.E.H.S Channel same

[@miagomoski2739]

I checked all my mirrors there was no gap in any of them, none of them are 2 way mirrors

[@yunitatalia2773]

Omg

[@heyyylol5642]

Omg same I have two mirrors in my bathroom and I did it on both and on both my fingers were touching 😖😣😳😳😳😳 what does it mean when my fingers are touching?

[@dinosatay]

when i first watched this video a while ago it made no sense. but after recently having a brainfart that "the glass isn't what's reflective, the metal coating is" it makes so much sense

[@psdaengr911]

One form of partial reflective mirror is a half-silvered mirror, which can be laminated or installed in any orientation. There's a reliable way to tell if any mirror is a two-way mirror - put a light up to it . If 'it's "two way" you'll see the other side.

[@karmaxavier2745]

Finally someone who speaks the truth. Far too many click bait videos/articles out there.

[@lllIlIlIIII]

i love this guys energy

[@OpticalMirror]

Thank you! We love your feedback! ❤

[@FlooferLand]

I'm going to start testing mirrors everywhere just for the opportunity that i might end up finding a two-way mirror and get to stare and wave creepily at the person behind it while whispering "I see you"

[@HungaryMatee]

About the method of using a light source against the 2 way mirror, it's best if you also turn off all lights (or cover windows) in your room to make dark there

[@RayMak]

Thank you so much for this

[@ofnbhjs]

WHY YOU EVERYWHERE

[@jeremyhall2727]

Well that's interesting, thank you. Always check when you're staying somewhere

[@youtubemaster4282]

I remember going into dressing rooms at THE GAP when I was a kid and there was a sticker on the mirror saying something that basically was saying this mirror is a double mirror and you’re being recorded, but in very obfuscated language.. I was probably 8 years old and it was the mid 90’s and I never changed in a gap changing room again..

[@lordhiten]

Some public restrooms have mirrors with removable layers over it, to remove when people etch graffiti. These also have a space when a finger is placed on it.

[@electricfishfan]

Interesting! I always wondered about that.

[@mcdouche2]

Dude spent too much time making sure he had safety glasses on rather than delivering the content. This video left me searching for more.

[@TheKultMan]

Ive found this to be common in restaurants, Wal-Mart, and some rarer retailers...including mcd and bk...if the mirror is on an outer wall, no problem, if its on the inner wall, usually its a doublesider...

[@x0718]

Very useful- now i can check every mirror. After the dialy searching for little microphones and cameras.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

I had to look this up, because I've always heard it as a one-way mirror. It's mirrored to be a mirror from one direction. From the other side is more or less just a shaded window.

[@Atmos_Glitch]

Doing gods work keeping people paranoid here!

[@eloyuribe7041]

The small room, with the the two cops sitting across from you, is usually the give away.

[@edw9623]

One method you didn't cover is called the metal chair test, so what you do is pick up a metal chair and throw it at the mirror as hard as you can....if it breaks and there is just a normal wall behind it, it was just a plain mirror 👍

[@greenrobot5]

I tried that and the chair broke

[@rais1953]

Sounds like the old "witch" test. The alleged witch was thrown into the millpond to see whether she floated or drowned. If she floated she was judged to be a witch and killed. If she drowned she wasn't a witch.

[@joshoconnor9666]

I heard if you breath on the mirror and fog it up a bit and than take out your 45acp and mag dump the mirror is a sure fire method to see if it was in fact a 2 way or not.

[@NorsePJ]

I have a standard mirror up against a concrete wall and there is no gap between the finger in the reflection. It simply looks like the finger is touching the one in the mirror. So, there obviously doesn't have to be a gap between the reflection. By the way. I also did the same test on a hand-held mirror and my build-in wardrobe sliding door mirror and it was the same result with the finger against its reflection. Not a sure-fire way at all.

[@NorsePJ]

@@ania3187 No, he said that if your finger touches its reflection then it's a two-way mirror. But that's not what I found.

[@stevenfagaly3810]

I figure this will be as useful to me in daily life as learning in grade school how to survive quicksand was.

[@JohnMiller-zr8pl]

Until...

[@barriakarl]

So very?

[@sonicwaveinfinitymiddwelle8555]

Bro just broke the sound barrier in 0:00.283 seconds 💀

[@ELREASON44]

I don't fully understand the camera light test. I understand if you can see the back or side it would reveal it is a two way mirror. But if you only have access to one side, how can the light be used? Would you have to rely on the 'knock'? (hollow for 2 way, solid for 1 way) The knock may not be fully reliable because you may need a comparison. Is there a way to use the camera light and only the one reflective side? (about 2:30 sec in the video)

[@honeyyb]

Yea he should have also showed us how it would look on a real mirror, that one confused me as well

[@OpticalMirror]

The camera light will allow you to see through the glass if there is something behind the mirror. This is because a two way mirror has a % transparency which works in both directions. Shining a light at it could reveal the camera or hollow space behind it.

[@pickleboy6059]

@@honeyyb the sound it makes from knocking isn’t because of the material, but of the material is against something- ie a wall produced a more crisp short knock. Vs a hollow space behind producing a longer deeper knock echo.

[@mikaidev]

I'll probably never need this information, but I'm glad I have it now. Thank you.

[@scottperry3124]

Just make sure you have your goggles on before beginning any of these tests. Safety first.

[@Rosesraspberries72]

Lol yeah I wondered about the Saftey glasses, but one can’t be to careful in case of exploding mirrors 😂

[@Michaelonyoutub]

For demonstrating this, you should mount these on cardboard boxes or something so you can better show off the phone light trick, and potentially the knocking trick if you use something sturdier than cardboard

[@Burgerss]

Sometimes I think mirrors are just us in a parralel universe doing the same exact thing

[@OpticalMirror]

That would be an interesting discovery if we were!

[@Burgerss]

@@OpticalMirror would be lit

[@somethingofascientist58]

I mean I have always been confused about how mirrors reflect something that is way out of their sight....

[@kieranreynolds5896]

@@somethingofascientist58 huh

[@mxtty5633]

@@Burgerss fr until the mirror blinks and scares the shi out of you

[@irritatedslightly]

I don’t know why this popped up when I needed it.

[@theflexistentialist]

Love the size of the safety glasses required for this simple tip. Bigger than an underground miners’ safety glasses 😮

[@Gizziiusa]

he forgot the brick test. throw a brick at it. if it crashes thru to the space behind, it was probable a 2 way. if not, oh well just buy another mirror to replace it.

[@gionniblood]

@@Gizziiusa the 7 years of bad luck to that information:

[@volnartheunforgiving3952]

Isn't the correct term one-way mirror, because only one side of it is a mirror?

[@drummerboy4as]

Another way to test for a two way is a second type of “knock test”. If you knock and someone knocks back it’s a two way mirror.

[@vitkomusic6624]

The guy just explained all pervs how to make two way mirror undetectable.

[@Cows55]

We stopped at a motel in between our 12 hour trip and there was a GIANT mirro going from wall to wall behind the two beds probable about 20 ft I had seen a tik tok about a see thru mirror and I noticed that the mirror was dark and it was almost sucking the light up and I pointed it out bc there was a second mirror in the room by a desk and it was normal. The mirror above the beds was so dark like the one in your video and I checked with my nail and it passed but I also tried my phone camera but it was dark in the room bc it was night so I didn’t see anything luckily we didn’t need to change just needed a place to sleep so we could continue driving I am almost 14 and now I’m paranoid about mirrors anywhere in public thank you for this info

[@OpticalMirror]

Thank you for your story! It is important to check in places where you travel. I'm glad you did! :)

[@pepethefrog6809]

It actually helps when the light in your room is dim or darker, when you shine your flashlight through a two-way mirror, you'll be able to see to the other side better if there's a room behind it and the light is brighter than in your room.

[@menarussell]

There are different colored mirrors, including darker ones, brown ones and other colors. They are used in decorative ways, not for when one needs to view themselves to get ready, etc. Adults like them during intimate times. So, it's one reason a hotel might have one like that.

[@jamesfrederick99]

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[@faithlesshound5621]

@@menarussell Go on telling yourself that.

[@larrybruce4856]

Some people are so paranoid they will now be doing finger tests and cell phone light tests against the mirror on their rear view and side car mirrors.

[@wolfgangkranek376]

The potentially most dangerous two way mirrors are your smartphone and computer.

[@samwallaceart288]

Facts. My policy is to show my FBI agent more than they bargained for.

[@sebfox2194]

Most based comment on this thread. That's why I cover my cameras when I'm not specifically using them.

[@starsoffyre]

Normal mirrors can fail the fingernail test too. The assumption about the fingernail test is that the reflective surface is behind a piece of glass, which is not necessarily true. You could have a fully reflective coating on a glass surface.

[@jmi5969]

My Ikea mirror failed the finger test with flying colours. Absolutely no gap visible, nothing. Judging by weight and feel, it's certainly glass. And there's a meter-thick concrete column behind it.

[@tyhanni9029]

throwing my house away. I HAVE A 2 WAY MIRROR.

[@subaru6026]

Break it

[@OpticalMirror]

No need to throw it away, try ebay!

[@Eidel_Rose]

*BURN IT*

[@loralie4036]

SEND IT TO HELL

[@JupiMeow]

I was so paranoid about 2 way mirrors when I was younger. This is helpful!

[@jrruiz937]

Thank you for making this video my niece uses this when she goes to lil boutiques fitting rooms.

[@lazo3251]

I once knocked on a mirror in a mall in Malaysia, and then I heard someone knock even harder from the other side, so it was a 2 way mirror and the guy on the other side was trolling me.

[@OpticalMirror]

That's both scary and funny at the same time! Glad he let you know.

[@TheYoufuckingtubeabl]

Alternatively, the mirror was mounted on a thin wall and someone in an adjacent space heard a knock and knocked back.

[@supremechaosbeing2696]

this'll be helpful for when they finally lock me up for what i did back in '89

[@lukdeathrage2785]

so helpful, now i don’t have to be worried about 2 way mirrors :3

[@OpticalMirror]

That's great news!!

[@craig5477]

Lukdeathrage The more professional setup is with a pin hole camera set to video record activated by motion. Check all walls from floor to ceiling and thd entire ceiling then do a systematic search of light fixtures, lamps, desks, tables, chairs, medicine cabinets, doors, bed headboards and base boards. Enjoy your evening.

[@number1angel66]

Thanks for this extremely important information! Blessings of love and light to all!

[@ih8paper]

Imagine the anxiety level of the viewer if he wasn’t wearing safety glasses.

[@nandonando9203]

Dang. The flash phone thing is really easy. Thank you so much for this information. 🙏🙏🙏