Premade Fans vs Promade vs Handmade Fans Explained

Course: Premade fans course · Module 1 of 4

Premade fans let you offer volume sets faster and with more consistent fans. But not all ready-made fans are the same, and the labels suppliers use (premade, promade, short stem, long stem, narrow, wide) don’t always mean the same thing from one brand to the next. In this first module you’ll learn what each type is, how it differs from a handmade fan and when each one makes sense.

Before you start: this online course is for educational and information purposes only. It does not replace hands-on, in-person training with a qualified educator and does not lead to any certificate or qualification. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for every product you use.

Module objectives

Understand what a volume fan is and what the “D” (2D, 3D, 10D…) stands for.
Tell handmade, premade and promade fans apart.
Recognise the different base and stem types and the look each one creates.
Know the advantages and limitations of ready-made fans according to industry sources.
Decide when each type of fan is the right choice.

What is a volume fan?

In volume lashing you don’t place a single extension on each natural lash. Instead you place a fan: a group of very fine fibres joined at the base and spread open. Lash Affair defines it as two to eight ultra-fine extensions arranged in a symmetrical spread; Sugarlash PRO talks about clusters of 2 to 10 or more. The whole fan goes onto one isolated natural lash.

The D tells you how many fibres are in the fan: a 3D has three, a 10D has ten. The key point for this course is that more fibres and a thicker diameter mean more weight on the natural lash, which we’ll cover in depth in module 2.

Premade fans vs promade and handmade fans

Handmade fans

You build these yourself during the appointment, one by one, from a strip of loose extensions. According to Lash Affair they have a thin, pinched base with a minimal attachment point and give you full control: you decide the width, fibre count and direction of every fan. The trade-off is that they take months of practice to master and make the appointment longer.

Premade fans

These are manufactured in advance and arrive ready to use, on a strip or in a tray. Lash Affair explains that a small amount of adhesive or heat is used to hold the fibres together, and that premades usually have a slightly thicker bonded base than handmade fans. Lash Jungle describes them as a way for lash artists to offer volume before they’ve completed Russian volume training: the supplier has already fanned the lashes, so you simply pick them up and apply them.

Promade fans

This is where it gets confusing, because the term isn’t standardised:

Lash Jungle uses “promade” for a newer generation of ready-made fans that resemble handmade ones. According to the brand they have extremely thin bases, a wider look, a slightly softer curl than its premades and a semi-shiny finish (its premades are matte).
London Lash says the difference is minimal: both are volume fans made by someone else for you to apply, and the brand sometimes uses the two words interchangeably. It explains that premades historically had the fan stem sitting on the strip, giving broader, flatter bases, and that some manufacturers call flat or square-based fans “premade” and pinched, slim-based fans “promade”.

Practical tip: don’t choose a fan on the word “premade” or “promade” alone. Check what the product listing actually describes: fibre count, diameter, curl, length and base shape.

Quick comparison

Feature	Handmade	Premade	Promade
—	—	—	—
Who makes the fan	You, during the appointment	The manufacturer	The manufacturer
Base (per sources)	Thin and pinched	Slightly thicker; flat on older designs	Very thin, close to handmade
Customisation	Full	Limited to the manufacturer’s sizes	Limited to the manufacturer’s sizes
Appointment time	Longer	Shorter	Shorter
Learning curve	Long	Shorter	Shorter

Narrow vs wide, short stem vs long stem

When people talk about a fan’s “base” they are often mixing two separate ideas: the base thickness (how much material sits where the fibres join) and the stem length (how far the fibres run together before they open out).

Stem length and fan width

Lash Jungle distinguishes between short-stem and long-stem fans:

Short stem: a shorter, pointier base and a wider fan. The result is softer and fluffier, similar to a handmade Russian volume fan, and the brand recommends them for filling gaps in sparse natural lashes.
Long stem: a longer base and a narrower fan. The result is dense and dark, with an eyeliner effect. Lash Jungle says they apply much like classic lashes, which makes them a good starting point for beginners.

Lashbase puts it another way: a short root creates a wide fan (the illusion of a fuller lash line) and a long root creates a narrow fan (a dense, dark lash line). It adds that narrow fans usually have long stems, which give a larger bonding area and, according to the brand, great retention. The downside is that a fan that is too narrow may not add much volume.

Type	Look	When sources recommend it
—	—	—
Wide fan / short stem	Soft, fluffy, lets light through	Sparse natural lashes, to fill gaps
Narrow fan / long stem	Dense, dark, eyeliner effect	Clients with plenty of natural lashes; beginners

Base thickness

Base thickness matters too. Lash Affair warns that a thicker bonded base needs more adhesive and adds weight, which is worth considering on very fine natural lashes. London Lash says slim, pinched bases reduce the risk of stickies compared with wider bases. Lash Jungle notes that the base on its premades varies with the dimension: thinner on 3D, slightly thicker on 8D and 10D.

Be aware of one disagreement: Sugarlash PRO states that premades are often lighter than handmade fans, while Lash Affair says the opposite because of the bonded base. Don’t assume either without looking at the actual product.

Pros and cons of ready-made fans

Advantages

Time: Lash Affair says skipping fan-making can shave 30 to 60 minutes off a volume set.
Consistency: good-quality premades are uniform in size, spread and fibre count (Lash Affair).
Accessibility: they let artists who are still learning to make fans offer volume (Lash Jungle, Sugarlash PRO).

Limitations

Thicker base on many designs, meaning more adhesive and more weight (Lash Affair).
Less customisation: you can’t open or close the fan to suit each lash.
Variable quality between manufacturers (Lash Affair).
Higher cost per fan than handmade (London Lash).

When to use each type

Lash Affair suggests a practical split: handmade fans where precision matters most, such as the inner corners and sparse areas, and ready-made fans for the bulk of the set, where speed and consistency count. The same source recommends learning to make handmade fans even if you mostly plan to use premades, because it gives you more ways to tailor a set.

As a general guide:

If you’re new to volume, Lash Jungle considers long-stem premades easier to apply.
For sparse lashes, wider, short-stem fans help cover gaps.
For plenty of lashes and a bold look, narrow, long-stem fans add density.
Always choose the fan size by the weight each natural lash can carry (module 2).

The ready-made fans in our shop

You’ll find three ranges in our lashes category that we’ll refer to throughout this course. These are the details from their product pages:

Product	Volume	Diameter	Curls	Lengths
—	—	—	—	—
Premade Fan	6D, 8D, 10D	0.07 and 0.10 mm	C, D	10 mm and MIX 8–15 mm
Pestañas Premade Con Volumen Ruso 320Fans (Russian volume premade fans)	5D, 10D, 14D	0.05 and 0.07 mm	D	11, 12, 15 and 16 mm
Promade Fans Volume Ruso 520 – 600 Fans	3D to 16D	0.05, 0.07 and 0.10 mm	C, D	9 to 16 mm and MIX

Not every combination suits every client: in module 2 you’ll learn how to compare the weight of each one.

Common mistakes

Trusting the product name. “Premade” and “promade” don’t mean the same thing at every brand; read the listing.
Assuming ready-made means “suitable for anyone”. Fan weight still depends on fibre count and diameter.
Using long-stem fans on very sparse lashes and expecting a fluffy look: you’ll get dense lines and visible gaps.
Ignoring the base. A thick base needs more adhesive and raises the risk of stickies.

Module summary

A volume fan is a group of fine fibres joined at the base and applied to one natural lash; the “D” is the number of fibres.
You make handmade fans yourself; premades and promades arrive ready-made.
“Promade” isn’t a standard term: depending on the brand it means a slimmer-based fan or is simply another word for premade.
Short stems give wide, fluffy fans; long stems give narrow, dense fans.
Ready-made fans save time and improve consistency, but limit customisation and their base can add weight.
Many artists combine handmade fans in delicate areas with ready-made fans across the rest of the set.

Self-assessment

What does the “D” in a volume fan stand for?

The number of fibres in the fan: a 6D has six fibres, a 10D has ten.

What is the main difference between a premade and a handmade fan?

A premade arrives already formed and bonded (with adhesive or heat) and usually has a slightly thicker base; a handmade fan is made by the artist during the appointment, with a thin base and full control over the spread.

Does “promade” mean the same thing at every brand?

No. For Lash Jungle it’s a generation of fans with very thin bases that resemble handmade fans; London Lash considers the difference minimal and sometimes uses both terms interchangeably.

Your client has sparse natural lashes and wants a soft look. Which type of fan do sources recommend?

Wider, short-stem fans, which help fill gaps and give a fluffy effect.

Why does Lash Affair advise learning handmade fans even if you work with premades?

Because it lets you customise the areas that need the most precision, such as inner corners and sparse sections, where ready-made fans are less adaptable.

Note: this online course is for educational and information purposes only and does not replace hands-on, in-person training with a qualified educator. Always follow each product manufacturer’s instructions.

Sources

Buy the course supplies

All the supplies for this course are available at Lash Canarias:

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