Handmade Fans vs. Premade Fans

The Volume Lash Debate: Handmade Fans or Premade Fans—Which Comes Out on Top?

Let’s dive into one of the most talked-about topics in the lash world: premade lash fans vs. handmade volume fans. If you’ve been lashing for a while, you probably remember when Premade Fans were nothing more than heavy cluster lashes, notorious for causing damage to natural lashes. Luckily, those days are behind us, but how do today’s premades compare to handmade fans? Let’s break down the pros and cons of each and see which, if any, takes the crown.

Lash Fans: The Basics

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, what exactly are lash fans? A volume fan is a bundle of super-fine lash extensions applied to a single natural lash. The result? A fuller, fluffier look that can range from natural to dramatic. For more details on volume lashes, check out this blog post.

Handmade Volume Fans: The Art of Customisation

Handmade fans are crafted by the Lash Tech during the application process using various techniques. Each fan is custom-made to suit the client’s unique lash set.

One major advantage of handmade fans is their customisation. Whether your client wants a look that’s full and fluffy, light and wispy, or a mix of both, handmade fans offer endless possibilities.

However, the flexibility of handmade fans comes with a trade-off: time. First, there’s the learning curve—mastering the art of creating volume fans takes time and practice. You’ll need to learn how to craft fans that are not only beautiful but also safe for your client’s natural lashes. Then comes the practice—hours and hours of it.

Even when you’ve mastered the technique, creating fans during a lash appointment takes longer than applying classic lashes or premade fans. While the results are undeniably worth it, time constraints could lead to a less dense lash look.

Premade Volume Fans: The Convenience Factor

We touched on the evolution of premade fans earlier, but here’s the gist: they’ve come a LONG way! Gone are the days when premade fans were heavy clusters that risked damaging your client’s natural lashes. Nowadays, premade fans are still handcrafted, just not by you.

We’ve worked closely with our supplier to develop a range of premade fans that meets our high standards for quality. The result? Uniform, lightweight fans that are safe for natural lashes and give you a beautifully fluffy finish.

One of the biggest perks of premade fans is the time they save. While they do take a bit longer to pick up compared to classic lashes, they’re still much quicker than creating fans by hand—especially if you’re new to volume lashing.

The downside? Premade fans aren’t as customisable as handmade ones. If your client is after a specific look like wet look lashes, or if they want a more wispy top line, you’re better off creating fans by hand or using Easy Fan Lashes, which strike a nice balance between speed and customisation.

So, how do you choose? It all comes down to your experience level, your client’s preferences, and the time you can dedicate to each appointment. Having premade fans on standby can be a lifesaver when a client arrives late or has fewer extensions left than expected. They allow you to deliver the lashes your client wants without the stress, or running into the next appointment’s time.