The pros and cons of using pre-made fans and hand made fans The difference between a lash stylist making their own fans or using pre made fans has been a controversial topic for lash artists. Volume lashes offer clientele a fuller and fluffy look. Unlike classic lash extensions, which are applied 1:1 on the natural lash, volume lashes use 2 and even up to 8 of very thin and lightweight eyelash extensions to create a fan by hand to attach to a single natural lash.
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ow, due to the rising interest and popularity of the volume look premade fans have become more popular. Pre-made fans are machine cut and come in a tray similar to individual lash extension trays. A note, do not confuse pre-made fans with clusters. Clusters have a larger knot at the base and are meant to be used for 1 night only, taken off and used with temporary glue. Handmade fans are made in real time during the appointment. Mastering the volume lashing technique takes dedication and a lot of practice. The lash stylist has full control of the lashing process from start to finish and it can create a volume fan that is the right length, diameter, and weight for the client’s natural lash. The lash stylists can take eye shape, brow shape, facial features and the client’s desired look into consideration. However, learning proper volume pick-up techniques, “fanning” and adhesive control takes time, effort and lots of practice. In general, we
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recommend a 2–3-day course for the volume lashing technique and depending on how many practice hours and clients it can take up to a full year to master the volume lashing technique. Due to the personalized look, mastery of a difficult technique lash stylists can have a higher pricing on their lash menu. Pre-made fans are machine cut and come in a tray similar to the classic/ volume lash extension trays. The bases of the lashes are sealed together to make the fan either using adhesive or heat i.e., glue-bonded or heat-bonded. In turn, you need a permanent adhesive to attach the fan to the natural lash. Pre-made fans come in all sizes, shapes and can range from 2D to 15D and .03 to .07 in thickness! A great use of pre-made fans is to bridge the gap between classic and learning handmade volume fans. Many lash stylists also use a mixture of hand-made fans and pre-made fans to cut down on appointment time. Pre-made fans, however, have flat bases which means it will not wrap around
