As a lash artist, you have a number of options for creating your volume fans: you can make them by hand or you can use premade fans that you then attach to your client’s lashes. In this article, we’ll break down the differences between handmade volume fans and premade volume fans so you can decide which is best for you to use.

WHAT ARE HANDMADE VOLUME FANS?

Handmade volume fans (click to ) are created individually by a lash artist. This process is known as true volume lashing.

Here’s how it works:

1. You create the fan yourself by putting a number of thin, lightweight lashes next to each other in the shape of a fan. The number of lashes in each fan will vary depending on how fluffy you want the final look to be.

2. Once you have your fan formed, you’ll carefully dip it into your adhesive. The goal is to make sure you only have a tiny amount of adhesive stuck to the base of the fan. Since a fan consists of multiple lash extensions, you want to use as little adhesive as possible to ensure you don’t weigh the fan down anymore than it already is.

3. After you’ve dipped your fan in adhesive, it’s time to attach it to the base of your client’s natural lash. If done correctly, the volume fan should be fully wrapped around the natural lash for the best retention.

Creating handmade fans takes a lot of practice and talent. You need to get used to maneuvering the tiny lashes and forming your fans. You also need to master the correct amount of adhesive so you don’t weigh down your client’s eyes.

If you’re struggling with making handmade volume fans, you might want to look into premade volume fans.

WHAT ARE PREMADE VOLUME FANS?

Premade volume fans(click to ) are easier to use than handmade volume fans. If you’re a newer artist or if you want to save time during volume appointments, you may explore premade volume fans to make volume lashing easier and faster.

A premade volume fan consists of anywhere from 2 to 8 lashes glued together at the base. Rather than carefully creating fans by yourself, you’ll simply select the fan you want to apply and adhere it to your client’s natural lash the same way you would a single lash extension.

THE TWO TYPES OF PREMADE VOLUME FANS

There are two types of premade volume fans: glue-bonded and heat-bonded. Let’s take a look at the differences between them.

TYPE #1: GLUE-BONDED PREFANNED VOLUME LASHES

Like handmade volume fans, glue-bonded prefanned volume lashes use adhesive to hold together the individual lashes that make up the fan. To add glue-bonded prefanned volume lashes to your clients, you’ll need to use adhesive to attach the fan to your clients' natural lashes.

Glue-bonded prefanned volume lashes look and work well, but may be too heavy for your clients. Because the fans are held together using adhesive, they weigh more than heat-bonded prefanned volume lashes. Additionally, since you’ll need to add additional adhesive to the end of the fan, it can be hard to achieve seamless attachment to your client’s natural lash. The adhesive that holds the fan together and the adhesive that attaches the fan to the base of the natural lash might form a small clump that’s not ideal.

TYPE #2: HEAT-BONDED PREFANNED VOLUME LASHES

If you’re concerned about lash weight or adhesive clumping, look into heat-bonded prefanned volume lashes. In these fans, the lashes are sealed together at the bottom using only heat.

Because these fans are sealed with heat, they’re lighter and easier to maneuver than glue-bonded prefanned volume lashes. You don’t need to worry about adding extra weight to your client’s natural lashes or dealing with adhesive clumps that make attachment harder to achieve.

ARE PREMADE VOLUME FANS BAD?

There are many misconceptions about premade volume fans. Here’s the truth:

Premade volume fans aren’t inherently bad. You can successfully use premade volume fans to save time and develop your technique as a volume lasher. Premade fans, particularly heat-bonded fans, also make it easier for you to control the amount of adhesive you use. They also come off easier than handmade fans.

That being said, there are some things to look out for when purchasing premade volume fans. The quality of the fans can vary drastically depending on who makes the fans. You should do your research to find premade fans with tiny stems that look similar to handmade fans.

If you’re looking to try premade volume fans, remember to purchase a range of sizes. You’ll want to have a variety of options on hand (we recommend having lashes from 2-8D and 0.07 thickness).

If you hear other artists denouncing premade volume fans, try not to take it personally! Many lash artists who create handmade volume fans have spent years and years honing their craft. Premade volume fans are a great way to learn voluming lashing as you build your own skills.

HANDMADE VOLUME FANS VS PREMADE VOLUME FANS

Volume lashes offer a full and fluffy look for your clients. You can create volume fans by hand or you can use premade fans to save time and effort, especially if you’re a newer artist. Either option will let you give your clients the show-stopping look they desire.