Are Handcrafted Fans or Premade Lash Fans the Better Option?
Let’s chat about something that always seems to stir up a bit of debate in the lash community: premade lash fans versus handmade volume fans. If you’ve been around the lash industry for a while, you probably remember when premade fans were more like cluster lashes—heavy and not exactly kind to natural lashes. But things have changed, and pre-made fans have really improved. The big question is, how do they compare to the handmade ones? Let’s explore the pros and cons of each to see which one might come out on top.
Lash Fans: A Quick Overview
First off, what exactly are lash fans? A volume fan is crafted from multiple ultra-fine eyelash extensions, which are applied to a single natural lash. The end result is a fuller, more voluminous look that can range from subtly chic to downright glamorous.
Handmade Volume Lash Fans
Handmade lash fans, as the name suggests, are made by the Lash Technician during the application process using a variety of techniques. Each fan is meticulously crafted to fit into a custom lash set tailored to the individual client.
One of the standout advantages of handcrafted fans is how customisable they are. Whether your client is after something full and fluffy, light and wispy, or a combination of the two, you can create a wide array of looks using handcrafted volume fans.
However, this level of customisation comes with a time cost. Handcrafted fans are typically more time-consuming than their pre-made counterparts, both in the short and long term. Initially, mastering the art of creating volume fans takes significant time. This journey starts with learning how to make fans and understanding which fan sizes are safe for natural lashes, followed by countless hours of practice to really perfect your technique.
For those who haven’t had extensive practice, creating volume fans can feel intimidating. They can be fiddly, and inconsistencies in your work can are easy to spot. When it comes to the actual lash appointment, creating fans by hand takes longer than applying single lash extensions or premade fans. The results are worth it, but if you’re short on time, it might mean you can’t achieve as full a look as you’d like.
Premade Volume Fans
We touched on the evolution of premade lash fans earlier, but the bottom line is that they’ve come a long way! The days of heavy, damaging premade fans are behind us. Nowadays, premade volume fans are still crafted by hand—just not yours!
When developing our range of premade fans, we worked closely with our supplier to ensure that quality was never compromised. As a result, every fan is uniform, safe for natural lashes, and helps create a beautiful, fluffy finish.
Another major advantage of premade fans is the time they save. While they take slightly longer to apply than classic lashes, as you first need to pick them up from the base, they’re much quicker than creating fans by hand—especially for beginners.
That said, premade fans aren’t as easy to customise as handmade ones. If your client is after a specific look, like wet-look lashes or a wispy top line, it might be better to go with handcrafted fans or something like Easy Fan Lashes, which give you that textured, wispy finish but are quicker than traditional handcrafted fans.
So, What’s the Verdict?
So, how do you choose? For Lash Artists, it really comes down to your experience level, what your clients want, and how much time you can spend on each appointment. Having some premade fans on hand can be a real lifesaver when a client is running late or doesn’t have as many extensions left at their lash fill appointment as you expected. They let you give your client the look they want without adding stress to your day or cutting into the next appointment.
