Have you stood in front of a mirror and wondered if someone is spying on you?
In this article, we’ll show you several easy techniques for detecting a two way mirror.
A two way mirror is a transparent mirror that can look exactly like a regular mirror when the back side of it is dark. Don’t worry, there is more than one way to tell the difference!
Techniques
We have a series of three tests to use to confirm that the mirror you see in front of you is not a two way mirror.
Test #1: The Fingernail Test
The Fingernail Test Rules Out the Glass Two Way Mirror
More on the Glass Two Way Mirror
The glass two way mirror has a mirror coating that is 70% reflective. It only allows 11% of the light through the mirror. It is on a dark grey substrate, which makes it one-directional. The glass two-way mirror cannot cheat the fingernail test. The reflection coating must be facing the room that is being observed. That way the people being observed are only seeing their reflection. On the opposite side, the darker room is located where the observer will be watching.
Notice the fingertip’s reflection touching itself. Very different from that of the standard mirror’s reflection.
The light is even on both sides of the mirror in this picture. You are able to see through the semi-transparent glass at the moment.
Front
Side
Back
Glass two-way mirror cannot cheat the fingernail test. The reflection coating must be facing the room that is being observed. That way the people being observed are only seeing their reflection. On the opposite side, the darker room is located where the observer will be watching.
Test #2: Tint Comparison
Bring a Small Makeup Mirror With You
More on the Acrylic Two Way Mirror
70% reflective with 25% light transmission on a grey substrate, acrylic two way mirror is reflective from both sides of the substrate. Meaning it can be installed either way. If installed backwards ( the coated side on the back ) it can cheat the fingernail test looking like the reflection of a standard mirror! Something to think about if you are testing a questionable mirror. Acrylic tends to have a different feel than glass. Rubbing your nail gently across the surface may help you determine if you have found an acrylic two way mirror, or a standard glass mirror.
Acrylic two way mirror will closer match the reflection tint of a standard mirror as well. Whereas glass two way mirror tends to have a bronze tint.
More on the Glass Smart Mirror
Smart mirror is similar to the acrylic two way mirror in properties. It has a 70% reflection with a 25% light transmission. Its reflective from both sides of the substrate. Smart mirror can be installed backwards as well ( the coated side on the back ) it can cheat the fingernail test looking like the reflection of a standard mirror!
If you are testing a questionable mirror, smart mirror tends to have a warmer tone on the reflective coating. Observe the smart mirror on the right compared to the standard mirror reflection of the mug on the left.
As there are lots of ways to detect the two ways mirror as this mirror can be detected easily by touching the nails and by fingerprints easily without any hassle you can detect the two-way mirror. As there are too many ways to which can be easily detect the two-way mirror but these are the correct and easy way to detect the mirror.
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If you shine a laser through the dim side will it go through or reflect?
The laser will go through the mirror (some of the light may be reflected back as well).
Uhh My mirror is a two sided mirror that means that there is a camera on the other side OH NO…
You can always remove the glass and see what is behind it! You can also replace it with a standard mirror.
Has anyone ever encountered a two way mirror with a camera on the other side instead of a room?
I’m in a rented camper and did the fingernail test. It did not have a space and it’s a weird mirror above the toilet…..but I can’t imagine why it would be two way, unless it was possible to have a camera there.
It is possible. Another way to see if it is a two way is to hold a flashlight up to it. If the light looks like it is traveling through the glass, and you can see a room behind it, than it is a two way. You will need to do this in a darker area if possible.