Comparing Handmade and Premade Lash Fans

Choosing Between Handmade and Premade Lash Fans: What’s Best for Volume Lashes?

Let’s dive into a frequently discussed topic in the lash industry: premade lash fans vs. handmade volume fans. If you've been working in the lash world for a while, you might recall when premade fans were synonymous with cluster lashes and had a reputation for being heavy and potentially damaging to natural lashes. Fortunately, times have changed and premade fans have evolved, but how do they compare to handmade fans? Let's examine the pros and cons of each and see if there’s a clear winner.

Lash Fans: A Brief Introduction 

First, what are lash fans? A volume fan is made of several very fine eyelash extensions applied to a single natural lash. The result is a fuller, fluffier look that can range from subtly elegant to dramatically bold. For more on volume lashes, check out this blog post.

Handmade Volume Fans: The Custom Touch 

Handmade lash fans are crafted by the Lash Technician during the application process using various techniques. Each fan is uniquely made to fit a custom lash set tailored to the individual client. 

One major advantage of handmade fans is their customisability. Whether your client desires a full, fluffy look, a light, wispy finish, or a combination of both, handmade volume fans offer endless possibilities. However, due to their customisable nature, handmade fans can be time-consuming, both in learning how to create them and in their application. 

Mastering the art of making volume fans requires significant practice to ensure consistency and safety for natural lashes. Creating fans during a lash appointment takes longer than applying single lash extensions or premade fans, and while the result is worth it, it can lead to a less full lash look if time is limited.

Premade Volume Fans: Convenience at its Best 

We briefly touched on the history of premade lash fans, but the bottom line is that they’ve come a long way! The days of premade fans weighing down natural lashes and risking damage are behind us. Modern premade volume fans are still crafted by hand, just not yours! We collaborated closely with our supplier to ensure top quality, meaning each fan is uniform, safe for natural lashes, and contributes to a beautifully fluffy final look. 

The time saved with premade fans is another huge advantage. While they take slightly longer than classic lashes due to the extra step of picking them up from the base, they are much faster than creating fans by hand, especially for beginners. 

One drawback of premade fans is that they offer less flexibility in customising lash looks compared to handmade fans. If your client wants wet look lashes or a wispier top line, it’s often better to create fans by hand or use something like Easy Fan Lashes, which offer a faster alternative while still achieving a textured, wispy effect.

So, how do you choose? As a lash artist, it depends on your skill level, your client’s needs and preferences, and the time you can dedicate to each appointment. Keeping premade fans on hand for when clients are running late or have fewer extensions left than expected can help you deliver the desired lash look without added stress or cutting into your next appointment.